Just a few years ago, if you told someone you wanted to have a vegan wedding, you would have come off sounding crazy.
These days, though, this is becoming a more acceptable practice. Just look to social media to see all the gorgeous pictures of cruelty-free weddings!
In fact, vegan wedding food is a trend that is continuing well into 2019. People are no longer just requesting one or two vegan dishes.
Instead, they are requesting that their whole menu be plant-based and cruelty-free.
Of course, while such nuptials are now more common than they were, planning a vegan wedding does take quite a bit of thought and practice.
So, there’s a good chance that you are going to need some guidance on how to get started. Here’s what you need to do.
Start Your Planning Early
If you want to have a vegan wedding, then you are going to need to start planning well ahead. In fact, this may take a bit longer than the average wedding arrangements.
Keep in mind, it may take you a while to find venues, caterers, and designers that are willing to work with your requirements.
So, to avoid being disappointed, jump on the organizing process as soon as possible.
Vegan Wedding Planner – Is There Such a Thing?
Considering just how much there is to do, it is only natural for you to hire a wedding planner.
Of course, as you are looking for viable options, you may be asking yourself “should I hire a vegan wedding planner? Is there even such a thing?”
Well, depending on where you live, doing a little research may dig up a vegan wedding planner.
More often than not, however, it is difficult to find individuals who will specifically label themselves as cruelty-free wedding planners.
This doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. Due to an increase in the number of vegetarians and vegans in the general population, planners are more aware of what goes into planning a vegan wedding.
So, rather than trying to find a planner who only deals with vegan clients, look for one that is willing to plan a vegan wedding.
Here are a couple of questions to ask the planners that you would like to hire:
- Have you ever planned a vegan wedding before?
- What does vegan mean to you?
- Do you have any contacts – caterers, venues, etc. that are specifically vegan?
At the end of the day, it is all about finding someone who understands what it means to be vegan.
They will take the necessary precautions to ensure that your wedding is both meat and cruelty-free from start to finish.
To Tell Or Not to Tell – That Is the Question
One of the things you are going to have to decide rather early on is whether or not to tell your guests that you are hosting a vegan wedding.
After all, it stands to reason that many of your friends and family members are omnivores. So, they may have mixed feelings about this announcement.
If you do decide to tell people that it will be a wholly plant-based and cruelty-free event, prepare for some rather extreme reactions.
You may just find people bowing out of your wedding all together. Or, you and your partner may be bombarded with questions about what you will be serving on the day.
Due to the many misconceptions surrounding veganism, many of your guests will imagine that they will be served nothing but “rabbit food”.
Therefore, many will try to convince you to have a few meat options at least.
If you want to save yourself some hassle, then you can avoid telling your guests that only vegan fare will be served at your wedding.
In case you choose to do this, however, keep in mind that many people do have food sensitivities.
So, if you are offering nut or soy-based food, for instance, make sure that none of your guests have any allergies or intolerances.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Destinations
Remember, being vegan is so much more than just being considerate about animals.
To be a truly involved vegan, you also need to think about the ethical aspect of your wedding. After all, if any of your decisions have any impact on the environment, then they have an impact on animals as well.
So, before you go ahead and book your wedding destination, ask yourself: “is this destination sustainable or eco-friendly?”.
If it isn’t, you may want to re-think your choices. After all, there are quite a few stunning sustainable venues to select from.
To save on energy usage, consider having an outdoor wedding where sunlight is the only light source you will need.
In case you prefer to have an indoor event, make sure to consider a place that is specifically green or eco-friendly.
You can also make the ultimate vegan statement by having your wedding in an animal sanctuary!
Vegan Catering
How easy it is to find vegan catering will largely depend on where you live. If you live in a more metropolitan area, then you are sure to find plenty of caterers that can offer up vegan food.
In case you live in a more remote area, though, your search may be more difficult.
One way to solve this issue is to be very particular about the requirements of your food. A good catering company should be able to offer a variety of dishes without meat, egg, or dairy.
At the very least, you may be able to come up with a suitable menu and have them stick to it.
When selecting the dishes, you should focus on the fact that quite a few of your guests will be omnivores. So, you do have to pick items that are going to be suitable for their palates.
One way to do this is to focus on “meatier vegetables” such as mushrooms, eggplant, cauliflower, and lentils. These are more likely to satiate meat-eaters.
Now, your wedding cake is probably going to be the easiest part of the food situation. There are so many bakeries that are well-versed in baking all kinds of vegan cakes.
If you can’t find a mainstream bakery, you may be able to find a freelance baker who is willing to create the right cake for you.
When selecting a baker, there is one thing you should be aware of. Keep in mind that “egg-free” doesn’t always mean vegan.
Although these items may not have eggs, they may contain other animal-derived food products like dairy and honey. So, insist on your cake being fully vegan.
Vegan Photography
There is a good chance that you may not have known that traditional photography isn’t vegan. This is because printed images are actually coated in gelatin to make them last longer.
You need to know this fact when you go looking for a photographer.
For your wedding to be truly vegan, it is going to need to be all digital. This is something you will need to convey to the photographer that you are going to hire.
While this may sound like a minor detail, many wedding photographers make money by claiming the rights to your wedding photos.
So, you may find it a bit of an effort to locate one who is willing to only provide digital images to you.
Cruelty-Free Clothing
Interestingly enough, one of the trickiest aspects of planning a vegan wedding is choosing the outfits.
This is because, traditionally, gowns and suits are made from silk, wool, and other non-vegan fabrics. So, you do have to carefully read labels prior to buying your clothing.
In some instances, you may be able to find better luck online when it comes to wedding clothes. However, make sure to always stick with a reputable site so that you can be certain of what you are getting.
Or, you can simply have a custom dress or suit designed from scratch. This way, you can have complete control over what is used for your clothing.
Of course, for this option, you will need a talented tailor and more time for the creation of the clothes as well.
Hair and Makeup
Last but not least, hair and makeup. As you are probably aware, quite a few hair and makeup products are not vegan.
Therefore, you do need to think carefully before making an appointment at a salon or hiring a makeup artist.
Now, you may be able to locate a hairdresser or makeup artist that strictly deals with vegan products. You should be aware that such individuals can be tricky to come by.
Instead, consider buying your own products and providing them to the hair and makeup professionals. This can make your life a lot easier and make your conscience feel lighter too.
This is all you need to know about planning a gorgeous yet ethical wedding. Follow these guidelines and you are sure to have a wonderful day that you will remember for the rest of your life.
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