How to Plan a Sustainable Vegan Wedding Menu

The plant-based way of life is on the rise! Health, the environment and a love for all living things are the main reasons why so many are embracing meat-free eating. If you are vegan and you are planning on getting married this year, you may be excited about planning a reception that is 100% plant-based.

Not all your guests will be vegan, which is a great opportunity to show them how delicious and irresistible sustainable vegan cooking can be. For instance, the Sweet & Smoky Vegan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese is a delectable dish! Regardless of what you choose to serve, keep the following tips in mind when planning your vegan wedding menu.

Reducing Waste

When organizing your eco-friendly wedding and menu, try to keep waste to a minimum. The average wedding generates over 56 tons of carbon emissions, which is the same amount produced annually by the energy consumption of six homes.

To plan more effectively, forego buffets in favour of a set list of dishes. Serve your food on biodegradable plates and have a plan for your leftovers. You can organize for excess food to be brought to a local food bank or pack food for guests to take home.

Choosing Local Suppliers and Caterers

Try to rely on local suppliers so that the products used in your meal fit in with the "slow food, zero-mile" concept.

The latter involves sourcing and consuming locally grown, organic food, sourced from suppliers that keep energy and water waste to a minimum. Consider serving a couple of traditional local dishes as a way to pay homage to the land and the people in the area you live in.

Choose venues, caterers and chefs that have a true commitment to sustainability and that have their own suggestions on how to reduce the carbon footprint of your reception meal.

Wowing Guests with Flavour

Whether you prefer traditional or quirky menus, aim to please with dishes that are as visually appealing as they are tasty. For one of your starters, for instance, instead of serving a salad, why not dazzle guests with a pumpkin, beetroot, and spinach tower, stacked several "stories" high and topped with vegan crumbled white cheese and caramelized onion?

Just a few additional starter ideas include an artisanal cheese and biodynamic wine pairing, kale salad with a coconut lime dressing, spiced nuts, and avocado slices, and hummus with colorful credits and homemade pita bread.

For your main meal, how does a vegan lasagna or smoked king oyster mushrooms with vegan barbecue sauce and black pepper sound?

For dessert, wow guests with homemade raw chocolate pudding, raw chocolate "cheesecake" (made with nuts instead of cheese), and a coconut cream pie with macadamia crust and strawberries.

Offering Guests Post-Meal Treats

If you are having a big dance party after the wedding, then make sure your guests stay fueled up by offering them tasty plant-based treats that stand out for their wow factor.

Just a few ideas include a vegan donut stand and a table full of raw chocolate. The latter is essentially chocolate made with raw cacao. It is heated only very slightly and can be made in a matter of minutes. For something really special, place a drop of your favourite therapeutic grade essential oil in your wedding chocolates. Good choices include bergamot, peppermint, and orange.

If you are having a winter wedding, a soup stand will be much appreciated by guests, as will hot tea and coffee. Midway through your party, a few steaming hot vegan pizza slices will definitely be welcome.

Sending Guests Digital Menus

Your sustainability efforts can be enhanced by sending the vegan wedding menu options digitally. Doing so will ensure guests can indicate any special dietary needs they have so that less food will be wasted. Publishing your menus online will also eliminate the need for paper.

Menus can also be written in chalk next to tables so that guests can be reminded of the fare they will be enjoying throughout the evening.

Opting for Eco-Friendly Dinnerware

Rented premium tableware always adds a touch of elegance to a table but if you are keen on going completely green, consider the amount of water that goes into washing various dishes per person.

Consider replacing traditional crockery with degradable/compostable plates. Instead of metal cutlery, consider wooden cutlery, and for cocktails and other tall glasses, make sure to use paper instead of plastic straws.

Jazz up the look of your table with natural materials such as braided plate holders, natural linen table covers, beeswax candles and any items you have at home that will add a little artistry to your table decor scheme. Tie napkins up with string, taking time to create cute shapes that can provide elegance to your monochromatic plates.

Putting It All Together

Veganism and sustainability are the buzzwords for couples tying the knot in current times. Throwing a sustainable wedding is easy if you plan ahead and know what to do with excess food.

For the vegan wedding menu itself, dazzle guests with beautifully presented dishes that boast an array of colours, textures and heights. For the after-meal danceathon, keep a few vegan pizzas, soup, or a colourful donut wall on hand to serve to guests who wish to party the night away.

Try to rely on digital technology as much as you can to reduce your reliance on paper. Consider replacing traditional dinnerware with compostable plates and wooden cutlery. Make up for the simplicity of these items with cute napkin ties, candles, and beautiful natural materials for table covers and plate holders.

Have a plan with respect to any food that remains uneaten. Contact local food banks or charities and ensure the food you give them is well plated in sustainable packaging. Avoid the use of plastic food containers, opting for containers made from innovative materials such as sun-dried areca palm leaves, sugarcane, or other rapidly renewable resources.

Finally, let your guests know about all these initiatives so they can be inspired to organize their next event in an equally sustainable manner.