Tips for a Vegetarian Wedding
Last weekend, my wife and I got married. It was a wonderful day that went off without a hitch - vegetarian menu for the reception notwithstanding. We were a bit concerned about a negative reaction from our omnivorous family members, especially after a conversation with my wife’s grandfather before the wedding. We had stopped by to visit, and as we chatted about the weather, he brought up a spaghetti dinner that they had eaten not too long before.
”So the waitress came by with some sausages, and I said, ‘Well, where’s the meat?’ She told me that those sausages were all they had prepared. You know what I told her? I said, “Then you should go out of business.’”
Fortunately, our menu didn’t cause any friction. So, if you are planning a vegetarian wedding but don’t want to cause an uproar with your family - here is how it worked for us.
We served a generally italian menu, starting off with a few appetizers (brie/rasberry cups and breadcrumb stuffed mushrooms). The main course was eggplant parmesan - a hearty dish - accompanied by a pasta bar with options of marinara, pesto, and alfredo. We also served roasted vegetables, a salad, and dinner rolls. We finished the meal with overflowing trays of cookies and of course, wedding cake!
I think that many non-vegetarians assume that a “vegetarian” meal consists of nothing more than tofu wrapped in lettuce, or a tray of raw vegetables. By going with a hearty meal like eggplant - which has a meaty texture - and offering a number of options for our guests, everyone was able to find something that fit their palate.
If you have had a vegetarian wedding or are planning one, please share your experiences!
November 16th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
We attended the wedding of a vegan friend recently. They had an excellent array of mexican food, with all the fixin’s. Everything was in its own warming tray separately, like rice, sauteed onions and bell peppers, beans, etc. Almost everything was vegan, but at the end of the table, there was a large warming tray of meat for people to put into their burritos or fajitas if they wanted. It was delicious, easy, and everyone was happy. They didn’t want to pay a lot for a vegan wedding cake, so they had cupcakes on tiers.