- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
Okay, I know I'm not the only bride who has ever wanted a vegan wedding. I'm hoping you guys can help me. Our venue reassured us time and time again that vegan cooking was no issue, and they were happy (and capable) of accomodating us.
Fast forward 9 months to our tasting. The chef proceeds to present cheese-laden entrees. We ask what happened, and everyone pointed the finger at everyone else. We had been given a choice of 5 entrees that could be made vegan, we thought we chose three to try. We got none.
I was told that I could provide a recipe for the chef. Which is fine. But I would have appreciated being told, "You know, vegan is really hard for us. We're willing to work with you, but we'll need your help coming up with a meal." Not "Oh sure, no problem. Here's a plate of cheese."
So, I provided a manicotti recipe. FI really loved their vegetable lasagne, so we may keep that. But, I kind of don't want manicotti and lasagne to be our two options, since they can be so similar.
Does anyone have thoughts on dishes that are good for a crowd and don't have to be served immediately? I'm thinking of providing more recipe options to them.
I've been vegan for 15 years, so I know how to cook it, and sometimes I forget that it's not normal to most people! I'm thinking of a vegan alfredo with mushrooms and roasted red peppers or a vegan chikin piccata. Those are always amazing!
Any suggestions? Thanks!!
What about a really robust ratatouille with great bread or roasted cauliflower steaks?
@Miss Longcoat: Thanks for the suggestions! The cauliflower steaks sound really intriguing! I'll have to look those up. I'm a big fan of tofu steak and wasabi mashed potatoes, but I think that might be too complicated...
OMG, it's SO good and easy. Try it at home! Cut the cauliflower lengthwise (you'll get 2-3 steaks out of 1, plus end pieces), brush with olive oil, S&P, then roast at 450 about 6 minutes on each side, flipping 2-3 times until nutty brown. This one in the picture is probably served on cauliflower mash... Nummy...
That sounds SO good!
Stuffed peppers. Especially if you can get green/red/orange/yellow/purple. I like to do a filling with sauted mushrooms and onions, white beans, and spiced breadcrumbs, similar to what you'd do in poultry.
Eggplant cutlets.
Chana masala.
Post Punk Kitchen (www.theppk.com) has loads of good recipes that would be suitable for wedding dinner.
I'm assuming you mean vegan lasagna and manicotti? Personally, I would lean towards vegetable laden dishes instead of the sort of tofu substitute type dishes. As a vegan - I would be in heaven at your wedding. I just know that the majority of guests I have coming ot my wedding - people turn their nose and ask for something with out that 'weird vegan stuff' or something like that. I'm going for things like sauteed veggies with pasta, stuffed portobellas and stuffed baked squash.
As an aside - I have the worry that the exact same thing will happen to me. Our catering hall had a number of vegitarian dishes on their sample menus and was told that vegan would be no problem at all. We won't have our tastings for a few more months still...I need to brace myself for this possibility I suppose.
Good Luck!
What about quinoa and veggie stuffed baked red peppers? FI had a wedding venue make him that and it was awesome. Or skewers of roasted vegetables and cajun tofu? Those are some of our favorites at home.
@Miss Longcoat: Wow! We'll have to try that for dinner this week!
@lmoss78: Yes, definitely prepare yourself going in. We were shocked by the cheese, and it kind of put a sour note on the day. But, the chef is theoretically working with us, so I'm cautiously optimisitic. I'm concerned about our guests not wanting a pile of veggies, but I know I love stuffed peppers and eggplant.
@bananejaune: I'll definitely try suggesting stuffed peppers. They are tastey!
Thanks so much for the thoughts!
@Ms. Gremmlin: I've already gotten comments from some of my friends and family like "you're not going to make me eat tofu, are you". I'm sure they have a certain vision of mushy white stuff on their plate - but it still has caused some anxiety with what can be a middle ground. I've been to so many weddings where I'm given a plain salad because there's not really anything else I can eat...I guess you can always make that an option for the non-adventurous omnivores.
@lmoss78: I'm okay with the comments- I've gotten them much of my life. My true concern isn't about the vegan meal (come on, everyone can stand to go without dead animal for ONE meal), it's that I'm not the one making it. I mean that it takes a lot of seasoning and practice to make tofu and even veggies taste really good-- but it is totally possible. I'm just afraid the chef won't try. I guess I had dreams of grandure when I envisioned this being a tastey vegan meal. It doesn't need to be amazing, but I don't want my guests hungry either!
I think for vegan, you almost have to do a buffet. I'm all for plated dinners, but here's my logic... With vegan cuisine, you're sort of pushing people outside their comfort zone. If you do a buffet, you allow them to try a few different things and they'll surely be able to find something they'll like. That way everyone is happy and you don't have to worry about wasting money on entrees people won't eat.
I went to an almost-vegan wedding a couple years ago.... For cocktail hour, they went around with a few different things (some vegan, some vegetarian) and they had TONS of mediterranean style stuff like grape leaves stuffed with rice, hummus, baba ganoush, olives. They also did the standard crudite and cheese/crackers. The cheese and crackers were a HUGE hit with the non vegans (and non vegetarians too).
For the buffet, they had 2 different green salads, a variety of steamed, grilled & sauteed veggies, a few different grain dishes like rice and couscous, and pumpkin ravioli. There was something sweet like baked apples with raisins, too. They also had tons of different breads and rolls.
For dessert, they skipped the cake cutting (bride doesn't eat any animal products or gluten), but they had a big display with cupcakes and fresh whole fruit like apples and grapes.. It was a harvest themed wedding, so it was very fitting.
Honestly, it was some of the best wedding food I've had. Everything was fresh, healthy and delicious. It was a nice change of pace!
@seven12: Hmm... You raised some really good points. The chef was trying to push us toward a buffet but couldn't articulate why (so I thought it was because it was more expensive option). We opted not to do a buffet because our wedding is really late, so folks won't get to dinner until after 8:30 and I didn't want them to have to wait in line for food. We have a really amazing vegan baker, so the cake is the only foodthing I'm not concerned about! Thanks for the idea. I'll bring it up to FH and see what he thinks.
Is the chef a part of your venue? If they promised you vegan, isnt that a breach of contract considering the food is a major part of a wedding and you may not have chosen to have your wedding there if they could not accomodate you?
I went to a vegan wedding this past saturday--the food was good (even for a non-vegan/vegetarian) but it was a backyard wedding and had been catered by a reputable vegan restaurant (Three Brothers). They had great things like seitan bbq strips, crab cakes (fake of course), and vegan stuffed mushrooms as some of the appetizers.
If possible, I would try to cater from a local place as well, if not possible there are tons of wonderful vegan websites that you can dig up recipes from (test them out and see if they are worthy of being served at your wedding) Goodluck!
@Ms. Gremmlin: Also, why not ask your vegan baker if he knows of any good places/recipes? Who better to ask than a vegan foodie :)
OK just a thought and please do not get mad - I have seen Vegan's and Vegetarians complaining that there are not choices that they can eat at normal weddings. Isn't serving a pure Vegan menu just putting the shoe on the other foot? Can you have a few non Vegan dishes - even if they are Vegetarian for the non Vegans at your wedding?
@smiles731: I would LOVE to have catering brought in, but unfortunately we have to use the caterer provided by our venue. The vegan part wasn't written into our contract (though now that sounds like an amazing idea), but we do have quite the paper trail proving it was promised. Now we just have to hound them to make sure they're working with the recipes I'm supplying. All of those dishes sound scrumptious! I'm timid to ask for much because when I asked the chef if he had access to nondairy cheese he said, " I think if I ask enough in advance the supplier can order it." If you can't get nondairy cheese, how the heck will you get seitan?! We're doing another tasting the week before the wedding, so hopefully this all works out. Otherwise, it'll be vegetarian, and I'll be disappointed and hungry.
I agree with the PP who said you should try to stick to grains and veggies rather that subsitute ingredients. If I went to a wedding and was served some sort of Tofu product I would not be psyched about it. What is used in the lasagna and manicotti to replace the cheese? I have a feeling it probably wouldn't be very appetizing to someone who isn't used to this type of food.
@unixfairy: I promise I won't be snarky. Well, I've thought about that. But really, this is the one day that I feel I can be selfish. And it's not like I'm shoving raw broccoli and turnips in my guests' mouths. Vegan food can be really, really good, and I'd like to demonstrate that. It's important to me, and FI supports me. Actually, if I'm honest, I told him I'd be okay with a dead animal dish (he's an omnivore), but he wanted it vegan. So, this was a joint decision, and even family on both sides support it.
And there is a difference in situations... I will literally vomit and be truly ill if I eat an animal product... omnivores won't get sick from veggies.
@Moose1209: Actually, folks can't tell the difference (seriously) in the manicotti. I've made it for office potlucks, birthday dinners and random get togethers. It's a vegan failsafe!
And once again, tofu isn't scary. It's not even gross. Just because it may be new to some people doesn't mean it's bad.
@Ms. Gremmlin: And I am allergic to Bell Peppers which almost EVERY Vegetarian and Vegan dish has and my FI is pre-diabetic so he needs to eat a balanced diet that is not heavily carb loaded.
I am not suggesting that you have a majority of nonVegan food but I know as a guest I would be happier if I could get a dish that is higher in natural protein that is dairy based like with cheese.
Just my .02 but I am sure it will be lovely and I am glad you are comfortable with your choices - it truly is all that matters.
@unixfairy: You couldn't count on getting non-vegan food that doesn't have bell peppers or loads of carbs, either. Those are special dietary concerns that your host should be aware of (or made aware of) no matter what the specific cuisine. :)
I agree with previous posters suggesting to choose vegan meals that don't include imitation meats. I would also skip tofu (sorry, I've had it prepared many ways, still don't like it) and non-dairy cheeses and things... imitation foods in general. There are so many good vegan Middle Eastern and Greek foods to use for inspiration that are filling, popular, and that people are more familiar with and more comfortable preparing and eating.
I think it's awesome you are doing a vegan wedding. Some vegan dishes I love are vegan tamale pies, enchiladas, and fajitas, and vegan curries with coconut milk and veggies.
@SoupyCat: Thanks for the encouragement! I'm excited about it. I just want to make smart decisions right now. Really, even if the food sucks, I know the cake will make up for it!
We love curries! We made one last night actually. haha
I also agree about the susbtitute items.
There are so many great vegan recipes that people wouldnt notice are really vegan that are easy for non-vegan cooks to make
watermelon salad with arugala, cherry tomatoes, mint and basil, drizzle of good balsamic and toasted almonds
tostadas topped with shredded cabbage red onion, black bean, avocado and peptitas
a great pesto and butterbut squash ravioli
I don’t have any menu suggestions, but as an omnivore I wanted to chime in and say that I’d have no problem with vegan food at a vegan’s wedding. I’d probably find it tastier than the usual wedding food (chicken in sauce/rice pilaf/steamed veggies).
As a guest, I believe you are entitled to reasonable accommodation of dietary restrictions (i.e. food allergies) but not dietary preferences. I know people debate whether being vegan or vegetarian is a restriction or a preference, but I think it’s safe to say that meat eating is definitely a preference.
Our vegetarian option is also vegan and my guess is it's not too difficult to make. It's a white bean and spinach "cake" with wild mushrooms on top. It was the most amazing item at our tasting. I plan on getting it for the wedding day even though I'm an omnivore! Good luck :)
Is an awesome salad an option?
I know I've been to some veggie restaurants with to die for salads that did not feel like starters whatsoever.
Kale, cabbage, quinoa, roasted walnuts, corn salsa - from Veggie Grill.
Alfalfa sprouts, garbanzo beans, cucumbers, mandarin oranges, sunflower seeds, raisins -- from Malibu Fish Grill.
I could eat those salads every day, they are gorgeous and filling. I'm not a big fan of "fake" meat. Give me a bowl full of beautiful veggies prepared perfectly and I'm a happy camper.
I forgot to mention that our vegetarian option is vegan, too!
It's a roasted vegetable "napoleon" (no pastry, though) with seasonal vegetables that are grilled/roasted with sea salt, olive oil and I think balsamic vinegar? It's served with roasted baby potatoes with fresh rosemary and these little steamed baby carrots (they leave the tops on and fan them out on the plate... the presentation is SO cute!). The whole meal has no butter. We have one vegan and a few Kosher eaters and they were all happy with this option. I'm now an omnivore, but I was a vegetarian for YEARS, and I think it sounds delicious. I might order it myself.
I agree with the suggestion for an awesome salad. Pretty much everyone eats salad. We're offering green salad with vinaigrette (no cheese, meat, etc.) as our 1st course.
Lots of people have soy allergies, so I'd try to stick to veggie dishes. I try to stay away from soy as much as possible for that reason (it is in everything to some extent it seems), but try to remember that.
Another good thing you might want to consider is polenta. It's more uncommon than rice, and it would be very hearty for a wedding in November. Maybe polenta with some truffle oil and roasted seasonal veggies and mushrooms.
There are TONS of options. Vegan items can be great for many people and when done correctly are often more flavorful than many standard wedding food options (because people use standard food options instead of creating new options).
Instead of going with a regular caterer, you might find a vegan/vegetarian restaurant in your area and ask if they can cater your reception. They would probably jump at the chance.
A vegan restaurant is a good idea. I actually had the idea to get the local Govinda's (Hare Krishna center that usually run a restaurant) to cater.
Thanks for the great ideas!
As I posted earlier, I'd love to have a restaurant cater, but I'm stuck with our venue's caterer.
@BackyardLoveBird: Good point. It's good to have some stuff that doesn't have soy in it.
OP just wanted to say that I am a big meat eater and I would love to attend a vegan wedding (actually I am next month...at least I think. Bride is vegan and I hope she has vegan stuff on the menu!). Why not? Nothing wrong with getting more vegetables in, and some of these creative preparations are truly inspirational! Yum!
@MsJeep23: Thanks for the words of encouragement! I was all set on the menu selections until we found out at the tasting that the chef didn't actually make anything vegan! I had chosen from a list of "vegan entrees" I was provided... but they were actually vegetarian. So that's why I cam here... to find inspiration for the chef.
@Ms. Gremmlin: How annoying. I think everyone should know the difference between vegan and veg at this point! Especially a chef.
Hmmm...maybe a PP has mentioned it, but vegan spring rolls (like in Thai restaurants) with peanut sauce would be quite tasty. Grilled portobello mushrooms? Green papaya salad? (I have Thai on the brain apparently)
Oh, I had a blackbean and corn salad at my wedding which I am 99% sure counted as vegan too. It was quite tasty.
Good luck!
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| ellisrobertson | 22 |
| MsPanda | 14 |
| aduarte3201 | 14 |
| pengoala | 11 |
| ShellVee | 10 |
| londonchick | 9 |
| londonpeach84 | 8 |
 KimKimmieKim |
8 |
| ladyartichoke | 6 |
| MrsBlueSeptember | 6 |
Sorry, there are no users yet.
