Planning the Perfect Vegetarian Wedding to Make Everyone Happy

Whether it is for taste purposes or because you want your wedding to be sustainable – you have decided to select a vegetarian or vegan wedding menu. Great idea!

There many food intolerances and dietary requirements linked to meat, fish, and eggs. By taking them off from your menu, you increase the chance of ALL your guests enjoying your offerings! However, it is always a good idea to ask your guests beforehand if they have any other food restrictions. By using an online RSVP, you can ask your guests multiple questions, track their answers easily, and stay organized! If you’re interested in using an Online RSVP check out our guide here.

But still many people struggle with making the decision of offering a vegetarian menu. If you are considering it, here are some tips for planning the perfect vegetarian wedding.

Tackling Anti-Veggie Opinions

You may be feeling super excited at the thought of a vegetarian, however, some people might not agree. Some wedding guests might tell you that you could not possibly serve vegetarian exclusively at your wedding! We have heard everything from ‘maybe your guests will starve’ or ‘it might look cheap?! ‘. Try to stay determined and positive despite negative comments from your guests.

Don’t listen to them because most importantly it’s your wedding and if you’ve made this decision, there is a good reason for it and they should support you.

Afterward, they will tell you how amazing the food was, for sure!

Selecting a Vegetarian Wedding Caterer

This doesn’t mean the caterer must be vegetarian themselves, but they should have an appreciation for plant-based food. To be on the safe side, select a wedding caterer who has experience in planning and preparing full vegetarian wedding menus.

A vegetarian meal is not a « normal » dish where you simply withdrawn the meat/fish. It has to be thought through and created as such, in order to be well balanced in both flavors and presentation.

Meet with several wedding caterers and find out if they have already created a vegetarian wedding. This needs to be more than just a few vegetarian options in a nonvegetarian wedding. Challenge them on every aspect such as presentation, seasonality, the origin of the products, and the cooking process.

Use a Variety of Plant-Based ingredients & Flavors

Be sure to include a variety of ingredients and tastes. Plant-based does not mean you have to compromise on diversity. When we think about a vegetarian dish, people usually have 2 or 3 famous ones in mind. These include lasagna, gnocchi, or salads. Try to avoid these go-to options and show your guests that a vegetarian meal can be much fancier and more diverse than they ever imagined.

For a well-balanced menu, you can include:

Many different vegetables
A variety of different cooking methods
Legumes or tofu as a source of proteins
Cheese if you are not vegan
Carbs to fill your guest up!

Also, do not hesitate to include high-end vegetarian products such as truffle, wild mushroom, and cheese to give it that special feel.

Example Dishes for a Perfect Vegetarian Wedding Menu

Below is a list of nice and sophisticated ideas for your wedding menu:

Vegetarian Wedding Canapés

Soy and spiced marinated tofu skewers.
Parmesan Panacotta with sundried tomatoes.
Tomato tartare, mozzarella bowl with pesto.
Cucumber cups with Thai salad.
Griddled halloumi & fresh pineapple salsa.

Vegetarian Wedding Appetisers

Asparagus cream, goat cheese mousse & crispy mushroom.
Gorgonzola cheese and walnut tiramisu.
Carrot soup with coconut and spices.
Watercress salad with quail’s eggs, ricotta & mixed seeds.
Baby broad bean, roasted garlic, lemon & mint ricotta on toasted sourdough.

Vegetarian Wedding Entree

Crispy polenta cubes, zucchini eggplant onion, & tomato wok, basil sauce.
Vegetable curry with Saffron rice.
Feta-stuffed capsicum with crispy onion and potato patties.
Tallegio, spinach & soft herb roulade.
Smoked aubergine & yogurt vol au vent with pomegranate seeds.

The presentation of the meals is key! Ask your caterer to add edible flowers. Or include colorful sauces on pretty plates.

Vegetarian & Vegan Wedding Desserts

This is the easy part! Most desserts are vegetarian anyway. However, in your online RSVP some guests may have highlighted that they are vegan. Remember this means no animal products at all. This would include eggs, milk and honey. As this is a little more tricky we have pulled together a list of fully vegan beautiful desserts;

Gluten free vegan vanilla cake with summer berries.
Vegan cheesecake with raspberries.
Vegan orange cake with coconut whip frosting.
Eggless pomegranate mousse.

In conclusion, a vegetarian menu at your wedding is totally your choice. Moreover, you do not need to fall to everyone else’s opinions. Hold your head high, get planning a feast, and enjoy a wedding where you will finally be able to eat everything!

What are your thoughts on having a vegetarian or vegan wedding menu? Did you already have one? What were your guests’ responses? Any ideas we need to add to our list? We would love to know how your special wedding dinner went so comment below to get involved in the discussion.