. . . Different Strokes for Different Folks
Click Here to E-mail this Page to a Friend.The word "wedding" and the word "traditions" have always gone hand in hand. Planning any wedding is exciting and labor-intensive, so when
something "unusual" is thrown into the mix, it becomes that much more complicated and that much more difficult. It has become much more
popular in recent years for wedding couples to veer from the norms and traditions of the past and to establish new traditions which reflect
their own way of thinking and living . . . and so, vegetarian weddings have begun to come into their own.
Before discussing the special issues involved in planning a vegetarian wedding, for the sake of clarity, a few definitions are in order. A
vegetarian diet, in the most generally accepted definition, is one which contains no meat, fish, shellfish or poultry. Some vegetarians
catagorize what they will not eat as "anything that has a face."
Another level of maintaining a vegetarian diet is "ovo-lacto." "Ovo-" refers to eggs, and "lacto-" to milk (and, by extension, to all dairy
products). An ovo-lacto vegetarian is comfortable eating eggs and dairy products. An ovo-vegetarian eats eggs but will not consume dairy products;
a lacto-vegetarian consumes dairy products but will not eat eggs. A majority of vegetarians are ovo-lacto.
A vegan refers to those who will eat nothing at all containing an animal product. That includes products which have nothing to do with causing an
animal's death to obtain the product. Vegans eat neither eggs nor dairy products. Many vegans also avoid honey and refined (white) sugar.
The process involved in planning a vegetarian wedding is much the same as planning any other kind of wedding, except that the choices are fewer and
the legwork may be greater. First the couple will need to address the emotional issue of dealing with family, for there is no doubt that they
will want to avoid offending guests who may expect meat at the wedding and especially they will want to avoid offending those who are
contributing financially to the event. The key words here are conversation and compassion. The couple will need to discuss their beliefs with their
families, in the hope that the people closest to them will understand, respect and support their wishes. The couple needs to be mindful that
sticking to their beliefs need not mean offending others or criticizing those who "don't understand." One really good way to mitigate the problem
is to offer familiar foods that just happen to be vegetarian. Items such as breads, pasta bars, vegetable trays, sweets, cheeses, soups, salads
and potatoes are all familiar and will help make guests comfortable with the food choices. It is probably also a good idea, in keeping with
the emphasis on sensitivity, to let guests know, in advance, that the reception will be vegetarian. There are a few ways to do that. The least
formal is to have key family and members of the wedding party know and have them casually mention the fact to the friends and family with whom
they have contact. The more formal option is to include special wording on the wedding invitation, such as "Vegetarian reception to follow," or
to give guests a choice of vegetarian meals to return with their response card.
Once that issue is resolved, next comes the choice of a caterer. It will be easy to find a caterer to accommodate a vegetarian event, but it may
require a bit more of an effort to find one who can suggest a varied and interesting menu. Vegetarian cuisine has come into its own and there is
no reason to have to settle for pasta primavera or stir-fried veggies. Even if the decision is to have a completely vegetarian wedding, there
are many delicious ways to cater the affair as an elegant sit-down dinner or as a more casual buffet. If the choice is to hire a caterer, there is
no reason not to make it a cooperative effort. In any event, talk, talk, and keep talking. Sit down with the caterer, make suggestions and even
provide him or her with recipes. Ovo-lacto vegetarians might do well to look for a caterer who does kosher receptions, since the laws of kashruth
prohibit meat and dairy in the same meal, a kosher caterer probably has experience with meatless meals. Just remember that no matter what anyone
says, it is absolutely possible to have a delicious, innovative vegetarian event.
There are also several alternatives to hiring a caterer to create the menu. Booking a vegetarian restaurant to cater and host the wedding
reception is one option. If the restaurant is one at which the couple has eaten often, they can be relatively sure of the quality of the food. It's probably a good idea to limit the numbers of exotic ethnic dishes in order to accommodate the palates of guests. If the restaurant will be catering off-site, it is important to make sure they have experience catering for large parties outside of the restaurant.
There is also, of course, the do-it-yourself alternative. Although this may save money, it's an ambitious, time-consuming and labor-intensive
choice. If that's the chosen route, the couple will begin by selecting a menu, collecting recipes, and recruiting helpers to do the cooking and
serving. As the wedding day approaches, the food will need to be purchased and as much of the food as possible prepared ahead of time.
Last minute cooking assignments will need to be delegated so the couple can enjoy their wedding and be host and hostess to their guests.
Perhaps the most difficult part of planning a vegan wedding is finding a vegan wedding cake. Unfortunately, many bakers don't know how to make a
cake without eggs, butter, and milk. If the couple is not fortunate enough to find a local baker with vegan baking experience, they can try
to find one willing to use a recipe the couple provides. One way of dealing with the problem is to use an egg substitute like flaxseed in a
regular cake recipe. Unfortunately, some people are allergic to flax. A product called Ener-G egg replacer, is available in most health food
stores. Vegetarian cookbooks will provide recipes for vegan chocolate cake and white cake. Other possibilities include
vegan carrot cakes or applesauce cakes, or tofu-based cakes like tofu cheesecakes.
The little extra time and effort will pay off in the end. What a delightful and pleasant surprise it will be to many of the guests when
they find they have experienced and enjoyed a vegetarian wedding!
What follows is a sort list of menu suggestions which can be mixed and matched.
SOUP
cherry
cucumber
gazpacho
minestrone
miso
mushroom
barley split pea
squash
tomato/dill
vegetable
Breads
anadama bread
anchovy-free Caesar salad bruschetta
challah
cornbread
crostini
garlic bread
pita bread
polenta cakes
potato and rosemary
foccacia bread
rolls
scones
Salads
antipasto salad
bean/tomato salad
fruit salad
green salad
Japanese pressed
cabbage salad
pasta salad
potato salad
Romaine lettuce, mandarin oranges, candied almonds and a vinaigrette dressing
spinach salad with walnuts
tabouli
three-bean salad
white bean salad with sage and arugula
Sides, Hors d'oeuvres, Buffet Foods
artichokes filled with fennel and yellow and red tomatoes
baba ghanouj
black bean spread
empanadas
falafel
finger sandwiches
fluted tomato and basil tarts
fruit trays
grilled Portabello mushroom sandwiches
guacamole
hummus
mushroom and leek empanadas
potatoes (baked, mashed, fried)
rice pilaf
roasted vegetables
samosas
sesame noodles
stir-fried Sugar Snap peas with shiitake mushrooms
stuffed grape leaves
stuffed mushrooms
Entrees
fusili primavera in marinara sauce
garden lasagna
marinated vegetables
mini-quiches
morel-stuffed enchiladas
mushrooms with asparagus and a melange of sweet bell peppers and herbs potato pancakes
pasta with creamy or tomato based primavera
penne with marinara
spicy ratatouille served over rice
stuffed cabbage
stuffed peppers
stuffed squash
vegetable stir-fry
vegetable skewers with garlic and rosemary
wild mushroom ragout with fettucine
Desserts and Sweets
baked apples
baked peaches
cookies
filo dough layered with honey and pistachio nuts
jams and jellies
mints
plum tarts