Planning a wedding menu can feel overwhelming, and if you are a vegan couple, trying to create the perfect menu that reflects your values and pleases a crowd may feel impossible. Vibrant Occasions Catering offers one-on-one consultations with the goal of helping couples customize a meal for their special day that pleases them and their guests. Check out these helpful tips on how to host a vegan wedding with style and ease.
- Bring a carnivore buddy to your tasting. You will need an opinion from someone who does not live a vegan lifestyle so that you can gain a more universal perspective. This will ensure that the majority of your guests will enjoy the meal. Ultimately, you will make the final selections, but having an outside opinion should give some clarity on those selections.
- Incorporate plant-based desserts. Vegan desserts can be rich, chocolatey, and creamy, so this is an opportunity to include sweets that please everyone. From peanut butter cookies to chocolate-cherry dessert bites to pecan butter millionaire bars, these decadent treats can be served with or after dinner. Need a gluten-free option? Apple crumble is both vegan and gluten-free, with a cinnamon and ginger filling that’s irresistible.
- Set up vegan action stations. There are so many options available for a flavorful and filling vegan taco bar. Serve colorful peppers and onions, corn, black beans, avocados, pico de gallo, grilled zucchini, yellow squash, and even portabella mushrooms with corn tortillas to create a truly delicious spread. This also happens to be a totally gluten-free option, combatting any guests’ health concerns on that front. Vegan cheeses, vegan meat replacements, and even creamy vegan sauces are available as well.
- Display an international food sampler. Thai foods are so flavorful, and many of them are already vegan, such as pineapple fried rice, spring rolls, cucumber salad, and various appetizers served with coconut sauce. Serve a bevy of Italian olive oils with different styles of vegan bread for dipping and olives for a filling and interactive menu item. Dal Chaawal is an Indian dish made in most Indian homes; it consists of rice and lentils. You could choose one culture of food to focus on or set out an array of international dishes for a good conversation starter at your wedding.
- Host a brunch wedding. Did you know that vegan quiche is a thing? Traditionally, quiche is excluded from vegan menus, but you can substitute the eggs with tofu to give this dish that classic quiche texture. Use a vegan crust and accent it with any vegetables you desire, such as mushrooms, broccoli, or bell peppers. Waffles made with applesauce instead of butter and served with an array of fruits and vegan syrups are sure to please any palate. Top everything off with a mimosa bar complete with a variety of juices as mixers.
- Wrap it up. Veggie wraps make such a great dinner option or cocktail hour appetizer. Serve them with cucumbers, alfalfa sprouts, or tomatoes, then arrange everything on spinach wraps and dress them with a squeeze of lemon. Offer dipping sauces and spreads such as hummus and guacamole—yum!
- You can never go wrong with burgers and fries. Vegan burgers have become highly sophisticated in their recipe ingredients. Burgers can be made from black beans, quinoa, tofu, or even portabella mushrooms. You can get really creative with toppings ranging from onions, avocados, hummus, tomatoes, pesto sauce, or any veggie treat you can dream up. You can create fries in traditional form using russet potatoes, or you can substitute in sweet potato fries on the side or as a topping to your burgers. Sliders can be fashioned as a great appetizer option for cocktail hour.
- Vegan pasta entrees or vegan pasta salads can be hearty and tasty. Pasta is the perfect blank canvas for many delicious ingredients. Balsamic roasted grape tomatoes pasta salad, pasta with lentils, mushroom spaghetti, potato pasta, broccoli pasta with vegan breadcrumbs, and so much more can be a wonderful addition to a wedding menu. San Marzano marinara sauce or a basil pesto sauce offer the types of flavors that keep pasta interesting, especially when tossed with a favorite vegetable and protein such as chickpeas or lentils.
- Baked potato bars are simple, versatile, and economical. You don’t need butter or bacon bits to make a baked potato tasty. Top a baked potato with plant-based chili, salsa, mushroom gravy, or even taco toppings. Options for baked sweet potatoes can be sweet or savory. Some sweet topping options may include walnuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Not all cocktails are vegan. You may be surprised to learn that some types of liquor actually do contain non-vegan ingredients or use animal products during processing and filtration. The good news is that with a little research, there are ways to create substitutes for otherwise non-vegan spirits. For instance, you can swap Irish cream liqueur with a mixture of ingredients, including coconut milk and coconut cream. Besides substitutions, bartenders can infuse alcoholic beverages with your favorite fruit or vegetable for a refreshing drink option. Avoid adding Worchester sauce to your Bloody Mary as it contains anchovies. Any honey-based drinks or ingredients are off-limits for vegans as well. Garnish your sweet cocktails with fresh herbs, cinnamon sticks, and fruits instead.
