Ettiquette for Food @ Reception...

[mrs.g]

Both DH and I are vegetarians. We do not eat any type of animal including seafood. We are paying for everything ourselves, so what is the proper ettiquette as far as the food goes at our reception?

At this time I would really like to have a sit down dinner, but it's not set in stone, especially since I just realized I have no clue what would be served.

All of our friends and family that would be attending know our lifestyle, if that helps any.

TIA

[Dmsangel]

You could make it veggie while pleasing everyone else. What about some type of pasta bar where people can pick their pasta & sauce?

[MemphisMom]

The pasta bar is a great idea!
You do not have to serve meat if you don't want to. They are your guests and should appreciate whatever you choose to serve.

I do think a plated meal will be more difficult though. Maybe a stuffed portobello mushroom entree with sides?

A buffet with salads, vegetables and pasta/breads would be easy to serve and people would have more choice as to what they want to eat.

[mrs.g]

Thanks Dorothy & Memphismom (sorry don't know your name)!!! I just wanted to make sure that it was okay not to serve meat. :D And now I don't know why I even thought it wasn't okay. :lol:

Maybe b/c I was thinking it would be pushing our lifestyle on our guests? But then why should we give up ours on our wedding day and when we're paying for it? The things that go on in my head. :dizzy: :lol:

The pasta bar sounds like an interesting and fun idea! Thanks again! :)

[Deidre98]

Just make sure that if you do a plated meal, that it is something that all of your guests would enjoy. I know for me, I would not like stuffed portobello mushrooms....I do like the idea of a pasta bar/salad bar .

[MemphisMom]

LOL, even though I suggested the portobello mushroom, I would not really like it that much, just trying to think of a non meat entree.

I do think the buffet would be easier for this type of menu and NO, you are not imposing your lifestyle whatsoever on your guests. As long as you serve good food, you should be comfortable choosing the menu that suits you!

[Kari]

I agree. I don't like mushrooms so I would probably wind up hungry if that is all that was being offered.

[Deidre98]

Oh no Memphismom, I understand what you were saying but I just wanted to point out that if she did go the plated meal route, that not all of her guests may like the same thing. I do agree that I think a buffet would be easier in this case just so you can have some variety so everyone is happy. But, no, you aren't forcing your lifestyle on anyone, especially if you give them a ton of options!

[MemphisMom]

Thinking about a vegetable, salad, pasta buffet is making me hungry, I'm logging off to go to the gym!

[mrs.g]

Thanks gals! I don't like it when I go to places and only have one option, so I will make sure to have a variety of choices. :D

I was more concerned about whether not serving meat would be considered as trying to impose our lifestyle on our guests.

I like portabella mushrooms, but only if they're prepared a certain way. I can tell you right now that they won't be on the menu. ;)

There are several meat substitutes available, as it gets closer to our date, DH and I just have to decide on what what will be offered. :)

Thanks again!!!!!!!!! Have fun at the gym Memphismom!

[Mandy]

Carolina- if I was at a wedding of vegiterians, I wouldn't expect them to serve me meat. I wouldn't feel as if their lifestyle was being pushed on me, I would feel that they wish to not leave behind their lifestyle choices at their wedding!

I say no meat would be fine. I love the Pasta bar idea. You could also do fettuchini with broccoli (:drool:), any number of meatless dishes. It sounds so yummy!

[Winter_Bride]

I was more concerned about whether not serving meat would be considered as trying to impose our lifestyle on our guests.

May I ask your reasons why you're vegitarian? Is it a spiritual reason, or a health choice?

If it's spiritual, I see NO PROBLEM in offering a "no meat" menu! I would also choose a buffet, just to allow your guests a variety of options (I for one am not a mushroom fan either! :lol:) You could include tofu dishes, and I'm sure not a single person would mind! In fact, I'm sure people would think it was something unique, and definately out-of-the ordinary (every wedding I've been to - mine included! - has had similar selection - beef, chicken, maybe ham, and sides).

If it's a health choice, is there a reason why you couldn't include chicken, or other "healthy" meat?

Regardless of what you decide, I'm sure you will be extra mindful as a vegitarian who never gets options herself at weddings! :lol:

[mrs.g]

Thanks for your input Mandy & Erie! :D

May I ask your reasons why you're vegitarian? Is it a spiritual reason, or a health choice?


I'm a vegetarian for both reasons, if that makes any sense. It originally started out as a health choice, but led to spiritual reasons. DH is vegetarian for spiritual reasons. :)

Well, we ARE planning on having a unique wedding to begin with, so I guess having a unique dinner menu will go right along. :)

I gotta have tofu, at least for my meal, cause I LOVE me some tofu (as long as it's prepared properly)! :drool: :lol:

[Winter_Bride]

If it's spiritual, then I don't think it would be RIGHT to include meat in your menu!

Do the vegitarian thing, girl! I can't wait to see the dishes you come up with!

[mrs.g]

Thanks! Me either. We first have to decide on a theme. :lol:

I know that DH LOVES vegetable fried rice with hot oil (spicy) and I love the way they do the tofu, so right now I'm thinking maybe Asian. But he might not love it so much by then or we will have found something much better.

This is going to be fun though! :D

[Winter_Bride]

What about something like Thai?

[mrs.g]

:shuffle: I'm not so fond of Thai, at least the Thai that I've eaten. I will have to see what DH thinks. ;)

[Jaime]

Even though I do eat meat, I would never want my hosts to serve something that goes against their own beliefs for my sake! I agree with the others, you can make something meatless that is yummy and elegant. Good luck!

[mrs.g]

Thank you Jaime!!! ;)

[angie]

How many different dishes will you serve? If you can serve 3 different dishes, perhaps one should be a meat choice. We all have different diet needs, likes etc.

[mrs.g]

Thanks for your input Angie! :D

I understand everyone has their dietary needs and if it's such a need, they have the option of having it earlier in the day for breakfast and/or lunch, but we have decided to stick with our lifestyle and not serve eat/poultry/seafood at our wedding. We have not decided on the choices to be offered yet, because our event is over two years away. But we will make sure there is PLENTY of food to choose from. :)

[Jaime]

Thanks for your input Angie! :D

I understand everyone has their dietary needs and if it's such a need, they have the option of having it earlier in the day for breakfast and/or lunch, but we have decided to stick with our lifestyle and not serve eat/poultry/seafood at our wedding. We have not decided on the choices to be offered yet, because our event is over two years away. But we will make sure there is PLENTY of food to choose from. :)

In my very humble opinion, asking a vegetarian to have a meat dish at their wedding is a bit like asking them to provide a Catholic mass when they are Jewish.. know what I mean? :shuffle:

[pricelessredhead]

A pasta bar sounds like a great idea that fits your lifestyle and will make your guests happy.

I really don't think everyone has to have a meat dish. That's silly. You don't need to offer any meat dish at all, IMO. Surely people can live without meat for one meal on one day.

[Tanyak]

I really don't think everyone has to have a meat dish. That's silly. You don't need to offer any meat dish at all, IMO. Surely people can live without meat for one meal on one day.


Uh, no we can't. :lol:

Hee just kidding. I'm the biggest meat eater ever, but I could totally deal with the pasta bar and be happy. :)

[lalalola]

I am a vegetarian and FH is not. For our wedding, we decided to do only one meat choice and a abudence of vegetarian side dishes. We were going to do two mea selections but to hell with it!

I like your idea of a pasta bar! I think that would go over great with everyone!

[nekorayne]

I personally don't eat red meat at all..... and my friends/ family are ok with this...but mine is a little easyer because most pepole like chicken (so i still have meat options)..... but, I think everyone expects thier to be no red meat because I haven't ate it since middle school!!! So, I'm sure your friends/family will be the same way.... they all probally know your a vegitarian!!!! It's deffintly NOT forcing your lifestyle on them...if anything it's just giving them a new taste (it's just like if you were serving chinese instead of mexican!!!) I think that pasta salad bar idea is great!!! plus, not every meal has to include meat!!! I know i eat atleast 3 dinners a week that don't!!! So, if you give them optiopns they may not even notice!!!