How to Have a Vegan Wedding

It is totally okay to have a vegan wedding. For couples who follow a vegan lifestyle, having a vegan wedding is a great way to celebrate their commitment to each other while staying true to their beliefs.

Planning a vegan wedding is a conscious choice that might seem daunting due to peer pressure and lack of availability, but with some careful consideration and planning, it will be the finest, most delicious and most thoughtful event you and your guests will remember forever. Here you'll find all the tips and tricks on how to have your vegan dream wedding.

This is more than just knowing what is or isn't vegan- it can be controversial

Updated March 8, 2024

If your venue doesn't do catering, find a vegan caterer or work with whoever you've hired to create a delicious vegan menu that will appeal to all of your guests. Many caterers already have food that they make that is vegan, and they just don't know it!

I recommend sticking to foods that you know most people will enjoy. It's always nice to get creative, but when you're really trying to "wow" people and make sure they can see how amazing vegan food can really be, stick to something you know your audience will like.

Definitely do a tasting with your caterer first, if you haven't tried their food before. I've had pretty boring vegan catering, so it's definitely worth it to make sure they will do an amazing job for you. This is the best part, anyway!

Depending on your caterer, you will probably want to find a different place to get your desserts. And yes, this means you have an excuse to do another taste testing! If you're getting married around Lake Como, Milan, or the Dolomites, I highly recommend giving Lisa Bakery a go. She speaks perfect English and makes the most beautiful cakes! Contact her and feel free to tell her I sent you... and hopefully she will repay me in cake ;)

Don't forget to find your vegan wines, if you choose to have alcohol at your wedding. There are a few options for fully vegan wineries, such as Querciabella in Tuscany and Loaker in the Dolomites!

1. Plan a vegan menu:

Look for a venue that offers a vegan menu or is willing to accommodate your vegan requests. You can also consider having your wedding at a vegan restaurant, farm-to-table restaurant or a venue with a sustainable food focus. If you're eloping or having wedding in Italy, I can already recommend some places to check out. Here's a list of the best vegan venues in Italy:

1. Paradiso Pure (Alpi di Siusi, Dolomites)
2. La Vimea (Merano, Alps)
3. I Pini (San Gimignano, Tuscany)
4. Casa Bella Vista (Tuscany)
5. Agriturismo Polisena (Bergamo)
6. Mia Mason (Dolomites)

2. Choose a vegan-friendly venue:

If you look for vendors who are vegan, or at least vegan-friendly, you support the vegan community directly. These vendors should use cruelty-free products so you don't have to feel guilty on your special day. Over here in Europe, I know a vegan planner, vegan hair and makeup artist, wedding cake artist, and photographer (myself!). I am always working on my list of vendors, so if you know of anyone other vendors who are European-based, or you yourself are a vegan European vendor, please let me know!

3. Hire vegan vendors:

Use cruelty-free materials such as vegan leather or faux fur instead of real animal products. Use recycled or sustainable materials for decorations and favours. If you've hired a planner and/or decorator, make sure they can supply you with the right decorations.

4. Choose cruelty-free decor:

Dress shopping can be so much fun, and even better when you can find that perfect vegan dress. Most dresses are inherently vegan, considering they are made from plastic materials, but often the shawl (or whatever you choose to put on top) is not. Whatever you're buying, just check the label or ask the shop to let you know what it's made from.

I found a wonderful article here from Good on You to help you find a sustainable, and most likely vegan, wedding dress.

5. Choose cruelty-free attire:

If you are someone who wears makeup, then you know that not all of it out there is vegan. Make sure to hire a makeup artist and hair stylist who uses vegan products, or if you're doing your own hair and makeup, you have full control on what you use. It's better for the health of the planet, and your personal health.

6. Choose plantbased makeup:

Instead of traditional wedding favours, consider donating to an animal rights charity, sanctuary, or rescue farm on behalf of your guests. You could also look for something like re-wilding forests and grasslands for the bees. There can be some really worthy options out there if you look for them.

If you're not sure where you would want to donate your money to, there are other vegan favour options out there, like vegan truffles, spiced nuts, or even personalized spice blends or tea. Succulents are another great option, or seeds to plant some wildflowers in your local neighbourhood.

7. As a wedding favour, consider donating to a vegan cause.

8. Don't worry about what others think:

Ignore outside social pressures. When I told my dad I was having a fully vegan micro wedding, he said, "No, you have to have at LEAST steak and potatoes for everyone." First off, potatoes are very much vegan, thanks for that dad. Second, no I do not have to have steak! Not at all! So I hired Chickpea Catering in Vancouver, and you know what, everyone loved the food. It was super tasty, I got to impress my closest friends and family, and I got to stick to my values. And for the most part, people won't even judge you, it's in your head, so don't worry about it ;)

By following these tips, you can have a wonderful wedding that aligns with your beliefs and values. You can show people that it's not hard to be vegan and it can be just as, if not MORE delicious than animal-based foods! Remember to enjoy the day and leave a lasting memory for your guests that a whole wedding can be both vegan and delicious.

As a vegan, I love supporting the vegan community. I am very happy to give you more tips and tricks and help you make your dream vegan wedding come true.

Need more information?

Want to read more?

• How to make your Wedding more Environmentally-Friendly
• Which Vendors to Hire for Your Elopement
• Why have a non-traditional wedding
• Back to the resources

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