Vegetarian wedding meal?

ostrichnomore_2

On the one hand, it's their wedding, they are a veggie family, so I would not be at all surprised or disappointed to find myself as a guest eating a veggie meal. No-one else has the right to tell them what to serve and I think the complainers are the ones being rude, not the couple.

On the other hand...they aren't veggie due to any moral/ethical/religious concerns. It's only because they think it's healthier. So it does seem a bit of an odd reason to make the meal veggie - I can understand 'it would be against our beliefs to serve meat' a lot better than 'well we think you should all eat our idea of healthier food'. After all, wedding meals aren't exactly known for healthy eating, are they...are they going to not have a cake because it isn't a healthy thing to eat? I can also see why people would be a bit miffed if the couple could allow their guests a choice of meat or veggie without compromising their principles, but don't. It's still rude to complain about it of course.

Fuzzy_Duck

I don't see a problem with this whatsoever. It's their wedding; they should eat what they want to eat.

In my view it's not rude to serve a meat eater a vegetarian meal. They eat vegetables anyway! As a meat eater myself I don't want to eat meat every meal, and I frequently choose the vegetarian option simply because it sounds the tastier choice.

They will also save money serving vegetarian food only, and it's likely to be nicer given that meat can be difficult to prepare for a large number of people.

I would advise your friend doesn't even mention it OP. As long as it is tasty food, people are unlikely to notice there's no meat. And if they are bothered by it, perhaps it will be good for them to try some vegetables for a change.

I do think it's important to be considerate of people's dietary needs and beliefs, but I don't see why you should pander to a bunch of fussy meat eaters. It's not going to kill them to have one meal without meat in it!

sulkisu

My friend says thank you for your replies - it does make interesting reading.

I have been asked to clarify something. In my original post I said that she went veggie because she felt a meat free diet was healthier - which is true but it wasn't simply a matter of less cholesterol or whatever. Other issues played a part such as the CJD outbreak, mercury in fish and other concerns about the way that meat was being produced at the time and since, and the risks to our health as a result (I hope I've got it right now ).

These are still not moral, religious or cultural reasons so probably won't affect peoples opinions on this, but she just wanted to make that clear.

Also - to answer questions about what food would be available, they have planned an Asian buffet (with something for all palettes) of about 30 dishes catered by an London based vegetarian Indian restaurant/catering company who specialise in vegetarian food.

DKLS

Its up to them but personally I would decline the invitation if there was no meat on the menu.

When I had my wedding we accomodated guests who were vegetarian and people who religious dietary requirements.

Dekazer

Your friend's menu sounds awesome.

I don't see that it matters whether you're veggie for religious/ethical reasons and veggie for environmental/health reasons. If they would prefer a non-meat wedding breakfast they should go for it

We took all our guests for a curry! I'm sure there were some people who wouldn't choose to eat food like that, but no one was rude enough to complain, and we chose a varied menu so not all the dishes were spicy.

If I went to a veggie wedding I'd be very happy, provided that there was a bit of choice (e.g. I can't stand fennel, hubby hates mushrooms) and the food was good quality!

If there are people who are rude enough to complain about not having any meat, they're probably rude enough that they'd find something else to complain about anyway. Pay them no heed

Dekazer

DKLS wrote: »

Its up to them but personally I would decline the invitation if there was no meat on the menu.

I don't believe you What else would make you refuse to attend a wedding of a friend or relative who *wanted you there*?? Didn't like the colour scheme? Worried the flowers would cause hayfever? No alcohol served? Too far to travel? I think you're just pulling our collective leg

fabforty

DKLS wrote: »

Its up to them but personally I would decline the invitation if there was no meat on the menu.

Really? Even if it were your child/grandchild/sibling/best friend?

Wow. Now I have really heard it all .

GwylimT

If an invited guest is petty enough to decline a wedding invitation due to the type of food provided, really why would you want them there, if they cared about you and loved you they would want to see you married, they wouldn't care about the food being served, the type of venue etc.

Sazzarella

Personally I would still go and the food sounds lovely. However I do wonder why meat eaters are urged to offer vegetarian menus but not vice versa.

aileth

I think their idea of a meal sounds delicious. As someone said above, I am a meat eater but often I will go into restaurants and order the veggie because how nice it sounds, e.g. a mushroom ravioli is one of my favourites.

They're getting proper specialised vegetarian catering, so maybe they can convert the skeptics!