Being vegan comes with its fair share of challenges, especially since most people don’t share your tastes. So, when you’re planning a vegan wedding that you want your guests to enjoy, you might be wondering how to include your vegan tastes without excluding your guests. Thankfully, there are dozens of ways to incorporate your vegan lifestyle into your vegan wedding without isolating others.
1. Find An Excellent Caterer
Being vegan often gets a bad rap. People associate the lifestyle with foods and drinks that they wouldn’t normally eat. With a great caterer, you can show them that being vegan actually means some pretty great food, even if it doesn’t include animal products.
“Not all caterers are equipped for such an occasion, and you want to make sure you find a caterer who understands your needs and will go above and beyond to make your wedding food perfect,” warns an article from the specialty blog Our Organic Wedding. “When speaking with caterers, be sure to ask if they’ve catered vegan (or similar) weddings, what dishes they would recommend, and how they ensure that there’s no cross-contamination.”
Aside from communicating your wants to the caterer, make sure they’ll actually deliver vegan food. Sometimes caterers say they’re vegan, but they don’t really know what that means. Screen your caterers carefully.
2. Shop For Animal-Friendly Clothing And Décor
Though you’ll have to do a little extra searching, there are plenty of designers who make animal-free fashion and decor. It won’t be easy, and your selection will be limited, but if you’re willing to move outside your comfort zone, you can find the perfect gown, bridesmaid dresses, shoes, and tuxedos that are made without animal byproducts.
The big problem is finding something without silk since that’s one of the most popular wedding gown options. You might consider spending the extra money to make sure your dress is 100 percent vegan and have it custom made.
3. Choose A Great Location
[pullquote]The first step is researching vegan venues in your area.[/pullquote] If you look in larger cities, you’ll obviously have more options than if you go somewhere a little more remote.
“Being vegan doesn’t preclude you from choosing the same places as non-vegan wedding parties but you might wish to reflect your love of nature, the outdoors, or similar in your choice,” recommends an article from WikiHow. “It is also important to take into account the ease with which your guests can get to the wedding location and reception, and any personal preferences.”
If you live in an area that’s not particularly vegan-friendly, consider choosing another location with more options.
4. Communicate Clearly
It’s tempting to simply not inform your guests about your vegan wedding because you don’t want to listen to their complaints beforehand. However, you’re more likely to receive bad reviews if you don’t tell guests ahead of time. This is an important tidbit to share when you send out your “save the date” cards.
You might also include an individual menu in each invitation. Ask guests to RSVP with their preferences. That way, you have the right headcount for your food, and you can get people excited about the tasty food and drinks waiting for them, despite the vegan label.
IMAGE: PEXELS
5. Make It The Theme
Fully embrace your vegan tastes by tying it into your theme. Being vegan is all about preserving animal life, and a woodland creature, cow, or lamb theme could be a cute and memorable way to celebrate your union.
If your style is a little more sophisticated, there are still ways to embrace the animal theme without getting too cutesy. This cake from Crust Vegan Bakery, for example, is a great way to have your cake and eat it too.
6. Prepare For The Cost
As you may have figured out by now, a vegan wedding will be a little more expensive than a traditional one. The demand for vegan weddings, although growing, is still low, which drives up the cost significantly. Make sure you have the extra funds to cover these costs.
You may not get everything on your wish list, so before you begin shopping, define your priorities. Shop for the must-haves first. That way, if you run out of money, you’ll at least have the most important things on your list.
7. Remember It’s Your Wedding
You’ll always get some criticism for your lifestyle, and being vegan only amplifies that noise. Don’t worry about what other people say.
“While it’s always important to consider your guests’ comfort when planning an event, most people understand that a wedding is the bride and groom’s special day,” PETA employee Cehn advised in a Martha Stewart article. “Most vegan couples see their wedding as a chance to wow their guests, many of whom may be unfamiliar with the wide variety of vegan fare. They want their family and friends to enjoy the great food and walk away saying, ‘That was delicious. I can’t believe it was all vegan!'”
It’s your wedding, which means it’s all about you and your spouse-to-be. Tune out the negativity and nay-saying. You can prove them wrong with a beautiful vegan wedding that’s catered exactly to your tastes.
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