Vegan hitches – Getting married animal-free.

Ten, may be even five years ago, vegetarian weddings were not
that common. As for vegan weddings well this was a very brave
step indeed. Now, hearteningly, both are more common and
this, I believe, is due not only to the increasing rise in numbers of
those choosing a vegetarian/vegan diet but also to the number of
people choosing to eat more healthily in response to the health
scares that seem to besiege the meat industry on a regular
basis. This has had a domino effect in that even those not
choosing to change their diet are forced to consider these others
who do not fit under any convenient umbrella. Some will not eat
red meat, only white, some will not eat fish and some will not eat
dairy. The potential permutations are endless and can be both
the hosts' and caterer's nightmare. Conversely, this should
make the animal-free option an even easier one since there are
no such complications.

An individual's reasons for following a particular diet obviously
will vary, but it is clearly going to be an important part of their life,
and their partner is likely to be at least sympathetic to that dietary
choice, if not sharing it. As a result there are an ever increasing
number of couples who consider meat-free weddings, wanting
their food to reflect their own tastes. Frequently family pressures
may be brought to bear on them, but in our experience more
couples are standing firm, possibly because many are now
paying for the reception themselves, but also because many
families now recognise that it is ultimately the couple's day.

We have grown used to the resistance shown by some guests to
the idea of having to eat vegan food- the inevitable "Well what is
there that I can eat?", where it is so difficult not to reply
"Everything" without a trace of sarcasm. Or the recent wedding
where 2 carnivorous guests guiltily started devouring the
children's section containing sausage rolls- we never had the
heart to tell them that they were actually vegan sausages! Nor
the chocolate lover who refused to eat our vegan chocolate cake
because she was afraid of what was in it! The reason we are
able to overlook these incidents is the fact that without fail the
comments from guests is always so positive. Guests are
genuinely pleased to be served food that they know has been
freshly prepared for them- it might be from guests who are
already vegan or vegetarian which is nice, but it is particularly
satisfying when it is someone who does eat meat.

Many people, it has to be said, cannot even conceive what a
vegan diet comprises but what is very rarely appreciated is that,
ironically, vegans enjoy a wide range of foods, far wider than
those who eat meat, are more willing to experiment and are
generally more adventurous. Thus if you can find a caterer that
offers you a varied and imaginative menu there should be far
more choice to tempt even the meat eaters.

The greatest reward of all, of course, is when having abided by
all these rules as we as a company do, the food is presented
and consumed with relish by the guests. It is wonderful to be
thanked afterwards not only by the veggies present but also by
those confirmed meat eaters who having been brave enough to
test (either that or starve!) what for them is, no doubt, a culinary
nightmare and surprised themselves by actually enjoying what
was on offer – and for those still sceptical parents I can confirm
that it happens with gratifying regularity.

More important than any other consideration though is that those
who have chosen a veggie diet as a way of life are comfortably
able to share this with their family and friends on one of the most
important days of their lives. It is after all a wonderful opportunity
to proudly say to people that this is the food that you enjoy. You
never know, your function might be the one where a guest
grappling with yet another health scare/suspected food
intolerance might finally discover that there is another way. Even
if you are not responsible for a wholesale conversion you might
have improved a lifelong carnivore's view of vegan food, which
can only be for the better. Now, anybody know a good caterer?

Cavanaghs was formed several years ago, and both the
owners, Kathleen and David Smith are vegan. David received a
formal classical training from Leiths School of Food and Wine
and is probably the only vegan chef that the school has ever
produced! They specialise in providing both vegan and
vegetarian food for all types of family events from weddings for
over 200 people through to small dinner parties. Although they
are based in Essex and work mainly in London, the South East
and East Anglia they have catered for weddings as far afield as
Oxfordshire, West Sussex and even Cornwall, in venues as
diverse as the abbey ruins at Abingdon and a Napoleonic Wars
fort in Cornwall.