Have you ever considered having a vegan or vegetarian wedding? Are you yourself a vegetarian, vegan, or full on meat eater? Decided on your Wedding breakfast yet? For those getting married in 2018, its around now or in the New Year you usually get invited for your tasting evening. Generally when it comes to the ‘big meal’ or wedding breakfast you will be asked “should we include a vegetarian option” ? For me it’s always going to be a YES… seeing as I’m vegetarian and dairy free! I will generally ask for a vegan option if there is one. However, if you are committed to a lifestyle like veganism for example, reversing the question and asking yourself “should we include a meat option” seems absolutely crazy to me. Plus people can go one meal and one day without eating meat, surely?
I’m a veggie and dairy free (for allergy reasons), so now and again I do eat a bit of fish. Mainly because whenever I’m out in restaurants the veggie option is either Mac n Cheese, Lasagne or basically anything smothered in cheese. My husband coined a new phrase for me the other day called Seagan, I quite like that! Seems pretty hipster, I’ll go with it. But this post isn’t about getting into any ethical debates regarding my opinion or choices on the meat or dairy industry, I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind. I’m just trying to share with people how wonderfully creative the Wedding Industry can be nowadays with catering to the way we live. It can be an opportunity to show and hope that your guests enjoy it and learn something from it. Being vegan isn’t scary! I mean look at this amazing feast from Peng Burger Company who wouldn’t want that on their wedding day!!
I’m really lucky with my couples, I mean really lucky. Most of them like to plan sustainable weddings as best as they can and this is often reflected in the food. I get so excited to hear people tell me all about their caterers and what they are planning for their day. Its pretty tricky to plan any large celebration for others while staying true to yourself, cooking a Sunday lunch for more than two people is enough to fill me with dread! Did you both actually get together via being vegan/vegetarian in the first place, are you both foodies? – we all have a common ground don’t we? Therefore the decision you will make for your food, will surely depends on your own philosophy of weddings; is it really all about you as a couple, or does the comfort of your guests come first? It’s hard to switch out of hostess mode, but also SO important that you do. Nobody wants to make their friends and family feel as if they’re being forced to submit to a certain lifestyle, but also nobody wants to compromise on their beliefs. Its all about finding the balance between your own tastes and that of your guests. Vegans don’t just eat cous-cous and roasted vegetables by the way!
My own philosophy for my couples is 100% always about celebrating you coming together and who you are, your journey. Personally I don’t think you shouldn’t have to compromise on that. So just how do you find that happy ground for an enjoyable day?
Well I think you certainly have to learn not to be afraid to think outside the box. A well-thought out menu can be the quickest way to make your guests feel welcome. Feed your guests constantly would definitely be on my list of “to-dos”! Perhaps don’t even tell them you’re creating a vegan or vegetarian day, too many cooks spoil the broth as they say! But also, don’t feel like you have to come up with the menu on your own though, consult your caterer, or go to a caterer that specialises in your dietary requirements. I shot a wedding this year where Change Kitchen catered, oh my, the food was amazing! Plus having spoken to fair few in-house caterers now, most cater for vegan and are more than happy to experiment with and for you. How wonderful is that!
Colour and presentation can go a long way to feeding guests, think about having platters, comfort food we all love, excite peoples senses and the battle is halfway won! I mean look at those salads above, they are beautiful work’s of art, go check out Mel & Alex’s Wedding for more inspiration. Food is such a crucial part of any gathering that it can really make or break an occasion; if you’ve ever been to a formal event where the food was somewhat terrible, that’s the first thing that typically comes to mind when you look back. Memories are so clearly tied to our senses, just like my own job as a Wedding Photographer. I mean when you see something that looks good you can’t help but want to try it!
The same goes for evening food as well, it can be just as important. When everyones dancing and the alcohol is flowing all people want on an evening is often a dirty burger to soak up the effects, (although I do love the evening drunken attics!). What do you offer people then, a bacon butty? Sorry but no thanks!! One option for example is something like these guys, a vegan doner kebab! I mean, come on it looks so delicious. Or pizza. To be honest pizza is never a bad option at any point in time, but at least it offers your guests an option of their own toppings. Being vegan and vegetarian is often much more about the food and a lot to do with ethics, environmental and health reasons. There are some great inspirational articles out there to help and inspire you to do just that. I strongly feel at the end of the day it is you guys as the couple getting married that needs to be happy and to be able to look back and remember a day that reflected all your favourite things right back at you. So ban those sweet bars full of gelatine and go forth and plan your day exactly how you want it, vegetables and plants galore! Oh and of course drop me a line if you’d like me to photograph your vegan or vegetarian wedding day. I’d LOVE to hear from you, just fill out the contact form!
