How to Plan a Delicious Vegan Wedding Menu Everyone Will Love

When you're about five months out from your wedding day, it's time to complete the most fun wedding checklist task: finalizing your menu. Whether you're plant-based and want a vegan wedding menu or would like to reduce your carbon footprint, veganism is growing in popularity. Because of this, there are plenty of delicious vegan wedding food ideas you can serve to satisfy you and your meat-eating guests. So, if food will play a major role in your wedding, celebrate your love with cuisine that stays true to your and your partner's beliefs. If you're unsure where to start, find expert tips from vegan culinary pros and menu options that'll make you hungry for more below.

Vegan wedding menu 101: How to Create One & Menu Ideas

How to Create a Vegan Wedding Menu

Planning a vegan menu doesn't have to cause wedding planning stress. Below are the top details you should consider and the essential tips you need to know.

Think about vegan and non-vegan menu cost variations.

As you and your partner begin creating your vegan wedding reception menu, you'll need to know the costs required to make it—so you can stick to your wedding budget. According to The Knot Real Weddings Study, the average wedding catering cost in 2023 was $85 per person. Fortunately, you can breathe a sigh of relief because vegan food may be less likely to cause you to overspend. Generally, "the cost for beans, rice, vegetables and fruit are less expensive than high-end meats," says Doron Petersan, founder of Sticky Fingers Bakery with 20 years of culinary experience. But even though vegan food is typically less expensive, Petersan says your costs will ultimately depend on your chosen caterer. "Most of the cost of catering comes down to labor and the time spent to present, prepare and serve the meal."

You don't need to announce that you'll be having a vegan wedding menu.

Your guests will want to know what they're eating regardless of what you serve, but that doesn't mean you need to tell them you've decided to have only vegan wedding meals. Let's face it, if guests know you follow a plant-based diet, they might presume you'll serve vegan food at your wedding anyway. And remember, a vegan wedding menu not only represents the food you and your partner love but what you both support too. "Having a vegan menu is a way to make an ethical and environmental change," says Petersan. For those that want to inform their guests about the vegan menu, mention it on your wedding website on the FAQ section. "Couples who choose a vegan menu are raising awareness and getting their community involved in something they care about. If you tell people what it means to you, they might make the change too."

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Having non-vegan options for guests isn't a requirement.

No, you don't have to offer non-vegan options for guests if you're serving vegan wedding food. As with other important planning decisions you and your partner will make, your wedding is supposed to be about you. "Your guests should support you and who you are. It's not about the guests' dietary preferences," Petersan explains. If you want an opinion from a non-vegan person about your menu, we recommend asking a close loved one to join your tasting appointment. This way, you can test if your vegan wedding menu options appeal to multiple palates.

Courtesy of: Sticky Fingers Bakery

A vegan wedding menu can help you achieve your sustainability goal.

Yes, having vegan wedding catering may help you have a more sustainable wedding. According to a report from the United Nations Environment Programme, generally, "animal products, both meat and dairy, require more resources and cause higher [greenhouse gas] emissions than plant-based alternatives." So whether you're serving a couple of vegan options or doing an entirely vegan wedding menu, you can reduce your carbon footprint.

Want to know more ways you can have a sustainable wedding? Consider planning local wedding festivities to reduce carbon emissions caused by travel or compost your leftover wedding food to reduce food waste.

Have plenty of choices on your vegan wedding menu.

"The number one thing to keep in mind when planning a vegan wedding menu is variety. If you're vegan but your guests aren't, you want to get them excited and intrigued so they're more open-minded about an entirely vegan meal. That's why we highly suggest thoroughly exploring your options," say Krystal Quiñones and Chef Kujo Kumro, passionate vegans and co-owners of Forage & Flame.

Choose the right caterer for your vegan wedding menu.

Book a caterer that cares about vegan food as much as you do. "There's a huge difference between someone who is accommodating your dietary preference because they have to and someone who is excited about producing a vegan and cruelty-free menu for you and your guests to enjoy," Quiñones and Kumro say. Also, the duo highly suggests helping small businesses while doing your wedding caterer search. "If you can support a small business, do it. For you, it may be a minor part of your day, but for a vendor, it's a huge opportunity financially and helps with exposure and growth."

Make sure your vegan menu is flavorful.

No matter a couple's cuisine choice or dietary preference, the wedding food needs to taste good and be memorable. "Don't skip a tasting if you've never tried the caterer's dishes. The company might say they're well-versed in vegan food but turn around and serve you bland steamed vegetables or some lackluster tofu," Quiñones and Kumro say. If the tasting menu blows you away, you can feel confident the wedding menu will too.

Courtesy of: Melissa Mercado Photography,Restaurare

Vegan Wedding Menu Ideas

Now that you've decided to go with a vegan wedding menu, it's time to get some inspiration. Here's our list of mouthwatering vegan wedding menu ideas you need to try.

Try vegan margaritas.

Margaritas are versatile enough that you can craft numerous tasty flavors, like pomegranate or spicy jalapeño, that'll leave your guests wanting more. If you want to add sweetener to your cocktails, opt for agave syrup, a 100% plant-based product, or raw sugar as an alternative to honey and white sugar.

Serve tasty vegan espresso martinis.

These delicious cocktails are all the rage right now and luckily vegan couples don't have to miss out on the fun. Espresso martinis include a few simple ingredients: vodka, coffee beans, espresso and coffee liqueur (some coffee liqueur contains milk, so double-check with your bartending service to find one labeled dairy-free).

Get glam with vegan cosmopolitan mocktails.

If you want to forgo animal byproducts and alcohol, try this idea. Tap into your "Sex and the City" dreams by offering cosmopolitan mocktails at the cocktail hour. Bonus: No alternatives are needed.

Credit: Courtesy of Forage & Flame

Consider having seared "scallops."

"Our favorite appetizers are the ones that take guests by surprise. We serve a seared colossal 'scallop' made from king oyster mushrooms with cauliflower puree, saffron, Calabrian chili 'caviar' pearls that we make by hand and top it with a citrus foam," says the owners of Forage & Flame.

Have "crab" cakes at the dinner table.

"A staple for any wedding should be 'crab' cakes made from hearts of palm. We char lemons and then zest them into an aioli with roasted garlic to create a really bright but complex accompaniment," Quiñones and Kumro tell us.

Enjoy some vegan arancini.

"Our personal favorite is a crispy arancini. Risotto gets mixed with a pancetta alternative, peas, parmesan and is breaded and deep-fried. Served with a side of marinara, they are filling and pleasing for even the pickiest of eaters," the Forage & Flame owners say.

Impress guests with vegan "filet mignon."

One of the vegan wedding entrees Quiñones and Kumro love is a lion's mane mushroom "filet" served with whipped potatoes and petite rainbow carrots. "The meat eaters always revel at the texture and taste since it mimics the texture of meat."

Make chik'n your favorite word.

"We also really enjoy serving handcrafted chik'n dishes." Kujo stresses working with a caterer that makes seitan by hand (no mixers or beaters) to ensure the best possible texture. "We serve it with either an apricot thyme glaze or piccata sauce alongside a parsnip or cauliflower puree, depending on the season," say Quiñones and Kumro.

Put "beef" bourguignon on people's radar.

The owners of Forage & Flame suggest couples with fall or winter weddings try "beef" bourguignon. "We mix seitan with shredded lion's mane in a Burgundy sauce, which is accompanied by herb-roasted crimini mushrooms and whipped garlic potatoes."

Credit: Courtesy of Forage & Flame

Add dark chocolate mousse to your dessert menu.

The number one dessert Forage & Flame serves is dark chocolate mousse domes. "It's a decadent showstopper that leaves guests talking about it far beyond the wedding day. We use organic cacao, oat milk, agave and avocado to build a creamy chocolate filling. The domes are topped with 24k gold foil, candied pistachio, citrus segments and a cherry gastrique."

Feature classic cupcakes at your vegan dessert table.

People love vegan wedding cakes, so you can't go wrong with serving the miniature version at your reception. We love the idea of offering yummy caramel-pecan cupcakes as after-dinner treats for the wedding.

Be bold with vegan wedding pies.

This dessert doesn't have to be presented only on Thanksgiving. Ask your local vegan bakery if they can make a delicious vegan wedding pie that will make your guests beg for seconds.