For wedding couples or wedding guests interested in plant-based eating, it can take a little more time to find fantastic vegan or vegetarian wedding catering options. However, with the right caterer and a few simple tips, it’s possible to plan a wedding menu everyone will love. Explore our guide to learn all about how to successfully choose the right wedding catering package or menu with vegan or vegetarian dishes.
Why Should You Include Vegetarian Wedding Catering Options?
More and more couples are choosing to have plant-based weddings. When you add vegetarian and vegan foods to your menu, you can enjoy many excellent benefits:
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It ensures your wedding menu reflects your personal choices and stays true to your lifestyle or that of your guests.
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Going vegan can make it easier to accommodate loved ones with common allergies such as dairy or egg allergies.
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Since plant-based food tends to be eco-friendly, it can keep your wedding as green as possible.
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Vegetarian and vegan foods easily work with a variety of dietary needs, so you can be sure every person at your wedding has a tasty dish to eat.
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Healthy, plant-based options make it easy for your guests to relax and enjoy their meals without stressing about their diets.
Even if you don’t plan to have a fully plant-based menu, including thoughtful options, beyond a mere vegetable plate or side salad, will show that you care about your guests’ comfort.
How to Select a Vegetarian or Vegan Wedding Caterer
The right caterer can ensure you have the perfect food, and they also help your event run smoothly. Follow these steps to make sure you choose the best vegetarian wedding caterer for your needs.
Research Well-Reviewed Caterers in Your Area
Harnessing the power of the internet makes your search a lot easier. By looking up local caterers’ web presence, you should be able to get an idea of the food they prepare and what their customers say in reviews.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Once you find a few viable candidates, contact the caterer and ask about their vegan and vegetarian options. Make sure that the caterer has the expertise to create the right food for your wedding. During your talk with them, you can ask things like how they handle cross-contamination and whether they work with vendors to source fully vegan ingredients, if those issues are important to you.
Take the Time to Try Their Food
When it comes to choosing a caterer, there’s no substitute for actually sampling the food. Even if a caterer has pictures of incredible-looking meals, you still need to make sure it’s actually to your liking. Schedule tastings before picking a caterer, so you can find someone with delicious food. When it comes to vegetarian wedding catering this may be especially important, because not every caterer understands how to make plant-based food flavorful.
Never Settle For Less than the Best
Some couples make the mistake of just picking the first caterer who can provide a vegetarian meal. However, the reality is that the modern wedding catering scene is very diverse, so there are a lot of high-quality caterers out there who can make fantastic plant-based meals. Don’t be afraid to keep looking until you find someone whose food truly interests and excites you.
Good Vegetarian Wedding Catering Is Never Boring
A good caterer puts in the effort to ensure that all of your guests will enjoy their food, whether or not they adhere to a vegetarian diet. One way to do this is to focus on a particular style of food for the menu, unifying the plant-based, and, if any, non-plant-based dishes.
For example, Elysian Events Catering offers New Orleans cuisine that includes many delicious vegan and vegetarian options. Our vegan or vegetarian dishes feature ingredients and dishes such as roasted oyster mushrooms, eggplant creole, red beans and rice, white bean stew, and even vegan ceviche! We love to amaze your guests with the complex and flavorful food we can create while keeping within your dietary preferences.
How to Plan Your Vegetarian Wedding Menu
Once you have your caterer, it’s time for the fun part of planning. Here are some things you might want to think about when you plan your menu.
Choose Your Style of Food
To avoid getting overwhelmed with vegetarian menu planning, it’s a good idea to start by thinking about the structure of the part of the event where you will serve food. Do you want a traditional sit-down dinner, a cocktail hour, a buffet, or a family-style meal? To narrow down your menu, ask yourself how much food you want to serve and where you want your guests to eat it.
Pay Attention to the Season
Since vegan and vegetarian food lets plants shine, make sure you include items that are in season during your wedding. In addition to ensuring you have the freshest, tastiest food possible, this can also be a great way to choose a theme. Options like Louisiana strawberries in the spring or roasted squash in the autumn add a little extra flair to your wedding. Adding local and seasonal ingredients is great for sustainability and makes for tasty food as well!
Find Ways to Mix and Match
If you plan on doing a blend of vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals, consider selecting versatile options that allow you to mix and match ingredients. For example, instead of a soup with cream blended into it, consider serving a salad that can be topped with shredded cheese for non-vegan guests. This can make it a little easier to handle a variety of dietary requests.
Prioritize Color and Texture
Blow your guests away with a meal that’s a feast for all the senses. Things like crunchy, fried foods and silky sauces add variety to a meal, while brightly colored vegetables and fruits provide plenty of visual appeal. The food at your wedding should be special, so try to pick dishes that truly stand out.
Create Protein-Rich Dishes
Especially if your wedding has a lot of non-vegetarian guests, it’s helpful to focus on options that will feel hearty and satisfying. Since protein helps people to feel more full, it’s a good idea to plan dishes with a lot of protein. Consider making plant-based proteins the star of the show and no one will feel that anything is missing.
Make Personal Choices
Your wedding is all about celebrating your love story, so try to think carefully about foods that have a personal connection to you and your partner. Consider options like your favorite foods, foods that remind you of where you met, or foods that are common in your family’s culture. These little personal touches help you make a unique vegetarian menu for your wedding.
Ultimately, there are a lot of delicious and elegant catering options for a vegetarian wedding. With a little creativity and some help from professionals, you can design the perfect meal for your special day.
Elysian Events Catering Has The Perfect Vegetarian and Vegan Wedding Options
As experienced wedding catering professionals, Elysian Events Catering accommodates a wide variety of dietary needs and preferences. We can make your vegan or vegetarian wedding catering truly special, ensuring that you and your guests enjoy your meal. Whether you want a fully plant-based menu or just to mix in some delightful vegetarian or vegan dishes, we will work with you to make sure that you get exactly the result you want. Together we will plan the greatest meal of your life, one that will keep your guests talking for years to come! Reach out to us today to get started!
