Vegetarianism and veganism are still quite niche. According to Gallup, as of 2023, about 4% of Americans identify as vegetarians. As for the global percentage of vegetarians, a recent survey claims that 18% of the population are vegetarians. So, it’s understandable some people might question a strictly vegetarian wedding.

This couple decided they wanted to serve vegetarian-only meals at their wedding. Because the bride’s parents were paying for it, they started to raise some concerns, saying it was discriminatory. So, the bride decided to check with the Internet: would it be unreasonable to have no meat at a wedding?

A wedding menu caused some drama between this vegetarian couple and their parents

Image credits: AlexanderLipko / envato (not the actual photo)

The bride and groom wanted to serve only vegetarian meals, but the parents thought it would be ‘disrespectful’ to the guests

Image credits: Wavebreakmedia / envato (not the actual photo)

Image source: SwimmingFew6861

A strictly vegetarian wedding menu might subvert the expectation that a meat menu is the default

Image credits: joaquincorbalan / envato (not the actual photo)

The dilemma in this story is pretty tricky. The couple doesn’t want to force anyone to submit to their lifestyle, but on the other hand, they also don’t want to compromise their beliefs. What’s more, the bride’s parents are paying for the catering, so they feel entitled to have a say in what’s going to be on the plates.

Vegans and vegetarians are usually the ones in the minority position. Event planners and caterers often have to accommodate these two groups at events such as weddings by including vegetarian and vegan options. So, in a way, this couple might be subverting the expectation that meat-eaters are the default.

If the theme of the wedding is sustainability and the vegetarian lifestyle, an only vegetarian menu would be very on-brand. Roquette Catering claims that every menu should echo the overall theme of a wedding. “For instance, a beach wedding might call for lighter, seafood-centric dishes, while a rustic barn wedding could lean towards hearty, farm-to-table fare,” they write.

However, weddings are also about accommodating the guests. Although wanting to eat meat doesn’t necessarily constitute a dietary restriction, it is still a preference. “Remember to prioritise the guest experience alongside your personal preferences,” Roquette Catering writes.

“The ultimate goal of your wedding menu is to contribute to a fantastic guest experience. This means considering the needs of all attendees, including children, the elderly, or those with special dietary needs.”

A meat-free wedding menu can be sustainable, inclusive, and, above all, tasty

Image credits: halfpoint / envato (not the actual photo)

Did you know that even weddings have a carbon footprint? Eco-wedding website Mindfully Wed has a wedding footprint calculator. It’s where couples can check how environmentally friendly their wedding is.

It takes into account things such as what percentage of guests will be traveling by car, airplane, or public transport; whether the attire of the guests and the couple will be reused or new; whether the servicewear will be reusable; and, of course, what percentage of the meals will be vegan/vegetarian. A menu with meat is actually their top third environmental polluter.

Tenille Evans from Vegan Wedding and Events also argues that vegan/vegetarian weddings are more inclusive. “Plant based food can be eaten by more people. Vegans and vegetarians but also people with dairy, egg or shellfish allergies along with kosher and halal guests.”

She also says that vegan caterers are more willing to customize menus. “Working within smaller parameters makes them more creative. Or maybe because they personally understand what it’s like to not be catered for. This means that they can also easily cater for your gluten free guests and those with other allergies like nuts and soy as well.”

Omnivorous people might be put off by an only vegetarian menu because they think meat-free foods are often bland and unexciting. However, modern caterers have come a long way and can offer some interesting vegan and vegetarian options.

Recipe developer for Bon Appetit Sarah Jampel writes that long gone are the days when the only entree option for vegetarians was a veggie stack. The answer, according to her, is family-style meals. A vegetarian entree, for example, can be made out of several smaller dishes.

In the end, Jampel writes, most guests didn’t even remember what they ate on her wedding day. “Your friends and fam are ultimately there for you, not the food (meaning that you’re more worried about it than they are).”

Some people defended the couple’s decision; in the end, it’s their Big Day

Others sided with the parents, claiming the couple needed to concede since they were not paying for it themselves

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