Planning a Vegetarian or Vegan Wedding

If you are planning a vegetarian or vegan wedding, you must first understand what choices are available to you by understanding what constitutes the different types of vegetarians.

Lacto Vegetarian: A lacto vegetarian is a type of vegetarian that does not eat meat, fish, poultry, eggs, or products containing eggs. However, a lacto vegetarian does consume dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.

Lacto Ovo Vegetarian: A lacto ovo vegetarian does not consume meat, fish or poultry, but does eat eggs, egg-containing products and dairy.

Vegans: Vegans are a type of vegetarian who eat a restricted diet and are extremely concerned with animal rights. Vegans do not eat meat, fish, poultry, dairy, eggs or products containing eggs. Vegans also avoid white sugar because it is sometimes processed using a derivative of animal bones that whiten the product. Many vegans will not eat honey because bees may be harmed or killed during the harvest.

Macrobiotic: Macrobiotic diets avoid meat, eggs, and dairy but do eat fish. A macrobiotic diet also restricts what are known as “nightshade vegetables” like pepper, eggplant and potato. Macrobiotic diets emphasize fresh, organic, locally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and seeds.

Fruitarian: A fruitarian only eats fruit, as well as vegetables that are actually fruits such as tomato and zucchini. Fruitarians may also eat nuts and seeds.

Raw Foods: A raw food or living diet consists of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds that are not cooked. People who follow this diet believe that raw foods are the healthiest and that cooking destroys vital nutrients.

Choices for Wedding Menus

Your choices for a wedding menu will depend on the type of vegetarian you are planning the food for. Lacto and lacto ovo vegetarians are the most common types of vegetarians, and in this case, there are a wide variety of choices available. You can offer crudities with dip, vegetable soups and stews, vegetable lasagna, many different types of salad, and for those guests who may miss meat, try Portobello mushrooms to give that meaty texture and flavor.

Choosing a Caterer

It’s important to choose a caterer who is experienced with planning vegetarian wedding menus. You will want to meet with your caterer long before the wedding to come up with a menu for your big day. As far as your wedding cake is concerned, there are recipes for cakes that do not contain eggs if your diet does not allow them. Another possibility for an offbeat yet popular wedding cake is a tofu based cheesecake adorned with fresh fruit.