Saying “I Do” to an Inclusive Wedding Feast

Published on Monday, August 9, 2010, by James Norton / Edit Post

The definition of edible varies wildly, and never are the stakes higher than at a wedding. The New York Times ran a story this weekend on whether vegetarian brides (and the article refers primarily to brides; grooms are largely nonentities) are obligated to cater to the dietary preferences of meat-eaters. Many (such as Chelsea Clinton) make the concession in the interest of general harmony. Many others do not.

But the article misses a rather obvious contrary point. To paraphrase a friend on Facebook: What about the rather thoughtless meat-eaters who provide nothing for vegetarian guests beyond dinner rolls and lettuce?

Or, to recount a story from a wedding photographer friend, what about those in rural Minnesota who only provide a chicken entrée, thereby depriving guests of "meat"? ("I thought they'd be serving meat," said a number of guests, with completely straight faces. "Where's the meat?")

Speaking as an omnivore, it's your wedding, serve whatever you like and we'll deal with it. I tend to choose the vegetarian option when it's provided, since it'll guarantee that I get to skip the miserable chicken cordon bleu. But if you're meat-eaters, make allowances for your vegetarian guests—meat-eaters can subsist on vegetarian pasta or veggie burgers, but it's not fair to expect those who abstain from meat to have to choose between carb-loading on rolls or passing out on their feet.

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  • Miss Veg - never thought of the shrimp cocktail in a Jewish wedding angle. Amen!

  • Amen. We had a vegetarian wedding, and although my very carnivorous family complained heartily for the year leading up the wedding, everyone raved about the food. We made sure to have plenty of choices (2 salads, caprese and arugula, and 3 entrees family style, savory stuffed phyllo triangles, ravioli with pesto and artichokes, and eggplant parm ) all served family style. For of us who are...+READ

    Amen. We had a vegetarian wedding, and although my very carnivorous family complained heartily for the year leading up the wedding, everyone raved about the food. We made sure to have plenty of choices (2 salads, caprese and arugula, and 3 entrees family style, savory stuffed phyllo triangles, ravioli with pesto and artichokes, and eggplant parm ) all served family style. For of us who are vegetarian for ethical reasons, it's hard to imagine our "special special day" as one which compromises our morals. Would you go to an orthodox Jewish wedding and complain about the lack of shrimp cocktail? As long as the food is delicious and plentiful, I think omnivores should be diplomatic about having one vegetarian meal.
    And even my dad (who loathes all things green) said the food was tasty.-COLLAPSE

  • I served only vegetarian food at my wedding. Its ok for omnivores to go veg one day in their lives. I'm often struggling to find things to eat on road trips or when I get out of Nor Cal so I have no sympathy whatsoever. I wish Chelsea had made a statement and not served meat/fish/fowl.

  • As long as there's an open bar, who cares.