Vegetarian wedding meal?

sulkisu

I am asking this on behalf of a friend - i.e. with her knowledge and permission - as she would really like to gauge opinions.

She is getting married in November 2014. My friend is a vegetarian and has been for 20 years - not for moral, cultural or religious reasons, she decided that a meat free diet was healthier and stopped eating it. Her fiance is also vegetarian for pretty much the same reasons - he used to eat meat but gradually stopped a few years after they got together (been together 10 years).

Their question is would you feel put out/annoyed if there was no meat, chicken or fish at the reception? they had always planned to have a vegetarian wedding reception, but a few people have questioned this (not fair on meat eaters, rude, antisocial, selfish, imposing their views on others etc.,) and they are now doubting themselves.

WWYD in their shoes?

ETA - they have 2 children (aged 6) who are also being raised vegetarian - in case that's relevant.

aileth

No, it's their wedding. Just like if I went around to a vegetarians house, I wouldn't expect them to serve meat or think they were selfish for not doing so.

We had a veggie starter at ours, a goats cheese tart, which everyone said was one of the most delicious things they had ever tasted!

Torry_Quine

It's their wedding so have it vegetarian if they want. If I knew the couple were vegetarian then it wouldn't have surprised me to not have meat for the meal.

How do people know now anyway?

Toothfairy4

I would think it a bit odd, after all meat-eaters often make special arrangements for veggie meals at their weddings so i don't see why it should be any different the other way around?

Saying that, they are paying so can have whatever they want!

azzabazza

Personally, depending on number of guests, I would put on a non-vegetarian option alongside the vegetarian meal.

I would imagine your friend will know best how a totally vegetarian menu will be received by friends and family attending the reception.

fake_smile

Toothfairy4 wrote: »

I would think it a bit odd, after all meat-eaters often make special arrangements for veggie meals at their weddings so i don't see why it should be any different the other way around?

Saying that, they are paying so can have whatever they want!

Excellent point! Should work both ways, although as also mentioned the guests aren't paying but the couple would want them to enjoy their food I would imagine.

What are there reasons for "not allowing" meat eaters to eat meat if it's simply a personal choice?

tom9980

Every single time i have come across a large-ish catered event where meat has been served almost without fail the meat dish is frankly ****! this is because meat is hard to cook and serve to large amounts of people to their own personal tastes.

For this reason i always go for a veg option even though i am a meat eater, (top tip always have the veggie option when flying its always much nicer than a shrivelled sausage and cold eggs).

Value for money is almost certainly in the veg dishes.

aliama

If they were vegetarian for moral reasons, I wouldn't hesitate to agree that it's their wedding and they should be able to serve whatever they like. However, since they aren't vegetarian for moral reasons, it's a little trickier.

Honestly, while it is ultimately their wedding, I do think it's considerate to provide a meat option for the guests who would prefer to eat meat. I wouldn't say it's rude or selfish of them not to have meat, but I personally believe that a good host should anticipate the needs and wants of their guests.

sulphate

Why not?

We had a totally gluten free wedding.

lostinrates

I'd RATHER it was really good vegetarian food.

(Personally I'd prefer it wasn't meat substitute).

Why not? Really great food that happens to have no meat in it? (As a commit carnivore who likes vegetables and vegetarian fare)

hawk30

I like veggie food and wouldn't mind, as long as there were options. Goats cheese is often used as a starter (e.g. the goats cheese tart mentioned above) and number of people I know, including myself, detest goats cheese.