A vegan wedding doesn't need to be any harder to plan than any other wedding! However, there are a few details (including some you may not have thought of!) that you need to consider when making vegan provisions for your wedding. Take a look at our handy guide to planning a vegan wedding for our suggestions and tips...
Vegan Wedding Food
Of course, one of the most important aspects of planning a vegan wedding is to get the food right! Most wedding caterers will be happy to offer vegan options at events, but not all are willing to do a fully vegan menu. This is often simply due to inexperience with vegan cooking. If your wedding venue doesn't offer a fully vegan menu, make sure they allow outside caterers so you can then bring in a more suitable supplier. Your guests may have preconceived ideas of what vegan food is like, so you’ll want to wow them and prove them wrong!
It might be an idea to include foods that are at least somewhat familiar in taste and texture to your guests, such as pasta or soup. Alternatively, a buffet is a great option as then guests can pick and choose which foods they want to try and be as adventurous as they like! Another unique and fun idea is to have a vegan food truck. This ensures you have experts at cooking up delicious food for large crowds!
As to your wedding cake, finding a vegan alternative should be a piece of cake! There are many exclusively vegan bakers around the UK offering wedding cakes. If you can’t find a totally vegan bakery, then go with a baker who offers a vegan option. Most are most than happy to offer egg and dairy-free wedding cakes.
Vegan Wine
Some may not realise that, due to manufacturing processes, many wines and beers aren’t suitable for vegans. Thankfully, there are common alternative processes that can be used to make vegan wine. Check your local organic or health food stores or local organic winemakers for vegan options. If you can't find any, most regular wine stores will order in vegan wines upon request.
Your Wedding Venue
As we previously mentioned, one of the considerations when choosing a venue is whether they offer vegan catering or allow for outside vegan catering. However, the considerations should not end there! If you are looking into a rural or barn wedding venue, you may want to research whether the venue is attached to a farm that manufactures any animal products. Similarly, country houses and stately home hotels are often surrounded by parkland and woodland which could be used as deer parks, or for county shows or hunts. Make sure the entire venue, not just the part you’d be using, is vegan-friendly!
If you want an actively vegan venue, why not consider having your wedding at a farm animal sanctuary? Many of them are well-equipped to host weddings, and the venue costs would then go towards a cause that's important to you.
Vegan Wedding Dresses
Most vegan brides and grooms know to avoid clothing that contains silk, pearls, wool or leather. Of course, this can be difficult when shopping for a wedding dress. Silk is a popular bridal material and some satin, chiffon, and tulle can be made of silk, so check your labels! You don’t want to fall in love with something non-vegan before you realise, so it's best to be upfront with your bridal boutique about your needs.
Some designers, such as Grace Loves Lace, are very clear about which of their dresses are vegan-friendly, so finding an appropriate dress should be easy. Although, if you are struggling to find your dream dress in vegan materials, another option is to have your dress custom-made. Plenty of designers and seamstresses can design a gown especially for you, then you can select both the design and the fabrics. Or, if you want a less expensive option, you could buy a second-hand wedding dress. Not only is a more eco-friendly option, but it would also count as your ‘something old’!
Vegan Suits and Accessories
It’s not just the brides who have to consider their fashion choices - the grooms do too! As well as watching out for silk in ties, suits and shirts, suits and tuxedos are often made from wool or silk. As with wedding dresses, a custom-made suit or tuxedo can be made from whatever materials you specify. But, if again you’d rather go down the less expensive and traditional route of renting suits, things can get tricky. Make sure you check in with your suit hire company to see what options they can offer.
When it comes to completing your outfit, everything becomes a little more simple. No leather shoes, of course, but there are plenty of vegan shoe companies out there who can provide gorgeous alternatives. Choosing vegan-friendly accessories to go with your wedding dress is easy too. Just avoid real pearls or hairpieces with feathers!
Vegan Makeup and Hair Products
When it comes to getting your bridal look right, search for hair and makeup artists who use cruelty-free and vegan products. If you can’t find anyone who uses exclusively vegan products, don’t worry! Simply ask if they would be happy to use products that you supply. There are plenty of big name companies who offer vegan ranges or are 100% vegan, such as Urban Decay, Too Faced, and Kat von D. If you're confident in your skills, you could always do your own bridal makeup!
Your Wedding Decorations
While not necessarily a vegan issue, it may be worth considering the flowers you use for your wedding. If you opt for real flowers at your wedding then try to make sure they’re Fairtrade. Rather than having cut flowers, a lovely idea for centerpieces is to have potted plants that could then be taken home by your guests! If you choose to buy artificial flowers, be careful to avoid ones that contain silk. Other decoration considerations include considering vegan candles (i.e. those without beeswax) or opting for battery-powered ones. You may also need to ensure that your tablecloths or chair covers aren’t made of silk.
Still looking for wedding inspiration? See more wedding planning ideas on our blog!