Picky Eaters and Vegans - The Hungry Bride

by Sarah De Heer, Posted Jun 5th 2009 @ 5:00PM

I know that it's impossible to please everyone, especially at a wedding, but you can try, right? Maybe, maybe not. I've recently run into some issues with picky eaters and new vegan friends and family members in terms of what they will or will not be able to eat at our wedding. Luckily, I can count the fussy eaters on one hand and there are only two vegans attending, so with the small number, should I cater to them?

I've gotten some mixed advice. Since we're doing a cocktail reception, it's not as easy as having a different dish available for their dinner, such as chicken fingers and fries. Adding an extra reception station would cost too much money. While the picky eaters have several munching options, including roast chicken, salad and risotto, there's not a ton. We're also a little worried: are summer vegetable rolls and a salad station filling enough for a vegan?

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How did (or would) you handle picky eaters/ special diets at your wedding?
Offered them a special menu	100 (14.5%)
Crossed your fingers and hoped they ate beforehand	32 (4.6%)
Let them know ahead of time of your concerns	253 (36.6%)
Not your problem	306 (44.3%)

Filed Under: The Hungry Bride
Tags: picky eaters, PickyEaters, the hungry bride, TheHungryBride, vegan menus, VeganMenus

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Reader comments (Page 2 of 2)

6-08-2009 @6:29PM a.mlady said... I am a vegetarian myself and I find it really frustrating when everything at a restaurant or gathering HAS to contain meat or animal broth of some type (like the soups or rices), and the only alternative for me is a side salad. I think to myself, "Really, how difficult can it be to Not add meat or animal products to Everything?" I am not trying to come off as being rude, but if can be very frustrating for us at times when this seems so simple. Add a fruit tray. A vegetable tray with a couple sauce options, making sure at least one is dairy and egg-free for the vegans. Grilled vegetables are great too, like asparagus, zucchini, mushrooms, and onions..you can even make kabobs if you like...and it is something non-vegans and vegans can all enjoy and it is non-expensive to add to the menu. I absolutely LOVE the idea of labeling the items that are vegan! That is sooo helpful to us so we don't have to skip over food or take a chance eating a rice/casserole/ or soup not knowing what the base is made from.
There are severl cheap things that you can adjust to the menu that will make it so that everyone can enjoy the food and it won't seem like you are neccessarily making a Special menu just for those couple of guests.
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6-08-2009 @12:02PM Liz said... Letting them know beforehand what the options will be is a nice gesture of goodwill. It lets them know you're thinking about them. That said, you don't have to go out of your way for only a couple guests. This is your party, catered for you, and if there aren't enough options, they'll eat before they come so they aren't starving. Plus, it's a cocktail reception and most cockails are vegan! No one will come expecting to be fed a full meal, so no one should come starving.
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6-08-2009 @2:40PM jennifer said... How in-depth will the salad station be? If there are some sunflower seeds, then a nice salad with some nuts thrown on top will be plenty. And I would have NO problem filling up on salad and spring rolls. Yum!

I do think you should ask them ahead of time, however. Chances are they will tell you not to worry about them, but it lets them know that you DO care enough to be concerned.

And if they are that miserable about the situation, they can toss a small bag of nuts or their favorite treat in the bag to enjoy after the meal, make sure they eat a big meal before the reception, or have something in hand and ready to eat when they get home.
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6-08-2009 @5:54PM Brian said... maybe it isn't your concern, but what if you are paying $100/head and that person isn't getting a dinner? What are you paying for? Why not make sure they are getting food? You paid for it! But on another note, you are inviting to people to be your guests at your event, it seems really selfish not to think of your guests when hosting. If this however is your attitude, perhaps you shouldn't be hosting an event with guests and you should just keep the self-centered event at a guest list of two:
"Honestly it's your wedding, it's not really your concern. If they are picky or eat different food then the majority they should already know to expect that you would be fulfilling their needs for food."
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6-09-2009 @11:51AM susan said... We offered a grilled-vegetable plate at the sit-down dinner while the majority were having chicken, becaus ethere's no greater buzzkil -- for the veggie guests OR the others -- than having 2 people at a table sitting with no food while everyone else chows down. During the cocktail hour, there were one or two vegetarian passed hors dourvre, and we figured guests could do what everyone else usually does, anyway, and ask "what is that?" before popping a tidbit in their mouth. We got narried at 11 a.m., so figured that nost intelligent people had had SOMETHING for breakfastbefore coming, and therefore wouldn't starve during cocktails if they had to wait for their veggie plate at 1 p.m. Good luck!
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