Vegan Weddings: A Guide To Animal-Friendly Nuptials

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to food options. If you're vegan, you may be wondering if it's possible to have a completely vegan wedding. The answer is yes! A vegan wedding is a great way to share your values and lifestyle with your guests. It's important to remember that veganism goes beyond just a diet, and your wedding can reflect that in many ways. From the food to the decorations, there are plenty of options to make your big day vegan-friendly. Keep in mind that some guests may have different dietary restrictions, so it's essential to accommodate their needs as well. With a little creativity and planning, you can have a vegan wedding that all your guests will enjoy.

Vegan food options

If you're planning a vegan wedding, the food is likely to be the aspect that receives the most attention and scrutiny. Here are some ideas to ensure your guests are satisfied and that your wedding reflects your values:

Find a vegan caterer: Opt for a caterer specialising in plant-based meals rather than one that will simply tweak classic dishes to make them vegan. This way, you'll have a range of delicious choices crafted to be vegan. Consider Mediterranean food, which typically includes lots of vegetable-based options like pasta, couscous, and curry.

Bring a non-vegan friend to the tasting: To ensure your vegan menu appeals to a wide range of tastes, bring a non-vegan friend to the food tasting. This will give you another perspective and help guarantee delicious food for all your guests.

Offer a plant-based cake: There are now many dairy, egg, and butter substitutes available, making it easier than ever to create a vegan wedding cake. Bananas, vegan milk, and applesauce can be used as replacements for dairy. Alternatively, you can opt for other vegan dessert alternatives.

Set up creative vegan food stations: Add an interactive twist to your wedding by setting up food and dessert bars where guests can come and go as they please. For example, you could have an olive oil bar with a variety of olive oils from around the world, paired with vegan bread or breadsticks.

Provide vegan alcohol options: Some alcoholic drinks are not vegan due to their ingredients or filtration process. Hard liquor is usually vegan, so you can provide vegan-friendly mixers. If you prefer wine, consider renting a sangria truck that serves vegan wine, or opt for vegan beer if your wedding is more casual.

Offer a variety of vegan options: From creamy cheeses and marinated veggies to lentils and vegan wines, there are numerous mouth-watering vegan dishes and drinks to choose from. Impress your guests with vegan sushi rolls, baked cauliflower tacos, spicy tofu nuggets, or baked falafel.

Vegan attire

When it comes to choosing vegan attire for your wedding, there are a lot of stylish options that can appeal to the vegan lifestyle.

If you want to wear a dress or suit, look for materials such as brocade, chiffon, and georgette. Silk is another common material found in dresses, and wool is extremely prevalent in suits, so be sure to pay attention when shopping.

There are very few wedding gown designers that exclusively use vegan materials, but some labels have higher percentages of silk-free options. For example, Made With Love and Emmy Mae Bridal (both founded by the same designer, Carla Jenkins) have confirmed that their boutiques are silk-free. However, their menswear suits are not vegan as they are made with wool. For a more classic and high-end look, you can try the Made With Love label, while the Emmy Mae Bridal label suits a modern boho-chic style.

Another designer with a high percentage of silk-free options is Rime Arodaky, a Parisian designer. Kenneth Winston gowns rely heavily on intricate lace and beaded embroidery, with very little silk in sight. BHLDN is also a great option, with only a handful of dresses containing silk. For over 30 years, Moonlight Bridal has been creating custom gowns worldwide, most of which are silk-free. Australian brand Rue de Seine opts mostly for lace, netting, and cotton crochet instead of silk.

If you're looking for a vegan suit, Brave Gentleman offers a range of tuxedos and suits made with organic cotton, recycled polyester, and "future silk" (made from recycled plastic). TopMan is another good option, offering wool-free suits and tuxedos. Most suits from TopMan have a slim/skinny fit, so you'll need to decide if that's the right look for you.

When it comes to accessories, you can avoid leather belts and shoes or opt for vegan leather alternatives. For vegan wedding shoes, you can try brands such as Beyond Skin, Cri de Coeur, Cult of Coquette, Bhava Studios, Roni Kantor Shoes, Betsey Johnson Blue, and Will's Vegan Shoes.

Remember, if you're shopping on a budget, you're in luck, as most budget-friendly wedding dresses are silk-free. However, if you're looking for a super high-end dress, you're more likely to encounter silk. In this case, you may be able to request that the designer makes the dress with a non-silk lining.

Vegan decorations

Vegan weddings are becoming more and more common, and decorations are a key part of the day. Here are some ideas for vegan-friendly wedding decorations:

Centrepieces

A plant-based centrepiece is a great way to showcase your vegan values. Use fresh fruits or seasonal vegetables to add pops of colour to your reception. These are tasty, sustainable, and free of plastics and other animal-based products.

Candles

Candles are a romantic addition to any wedding, but many are made from animal-derived products like beeswax and animal fat. Soy candles are a vegan alternative, using soybean oil, and they burn longer than traditional candles.

Garlands

Garlands can add a beautiful, natural touch to your wedding. However, many are made with fake flowers and plastic attachments. Opt for real greenery or florals, and look for hand-crafted options on sites like Etsy, so you know exactly what materials have been used.

Lighting

Fairy lights and lanterns can be used to create a romantic atmosphere, without the need for animal-based products.

Table Settings

A PETA staffer and her husband used silk-free satin chair wraps, floral centrepieces, and homemade table numbers for their vegan wedding. You can also use animal-friendly fabrics like chiffon, georgette, and brocade for table settings and decorations.

Transport

When it comes to transport, limousines, town cars, bicycles, party buses, and electric cars are all animal-friendly. Avoid horse-drawn carriages, as they are neither romantic nor cruelty-free.

Vegan cosmetics

There are now many vegan makeup brands that are also cruelty-free, so you can be sure that no animals were harmed in the making of your wedding makeup. Some brands to look out for include 100% Pure, KVD Beauty, Exa, Milk, Huda Beauty, About Face, and Glossier.

If you are hiring a makeup artist for your wedding, be sure to find one that uses an entirely vegan and cruelty-free kit. These artists often advertise this on their website or social media, but it is always worth discussing any concerns you may have and asking for a list of products they will be using.

Vegan makeup performs just as well as non-vegan makeup, so you can be sure that you will look amazing on your big day without compromising your values.

Vegan alcohol

It is possible to have a vegan wedding, and this includes the drinks as well as the food. Some alcoholic drinks are not vegan due to their ingredients or the filtration process. For example, tequila is sometimes filtered through bones and some alcohol is filtered through egg whites or bone char.

The easiest route is to choose hard liquor, which is typically vegan, and provide vegan-friendly mixers. If you're having a laid-back wedding, you could stick to vegan beer. If you prefer wine, consider renting a sangria truck that serves vegan wine.

If you want to serve cocktails, there are plenty of vegan options. You could serve virgin cocktails, such as virgin daiquiris, piña coladas, and Bloody Marys, or create new concoctions as signature sips.

Frequently asked questions