Guests Have Decided to Go Vegan and I Don't Have Food For Them

The problem isn't that they don't usually do it. The problem is that you're the client. And you made a request.

As a professional 'client' (we hire contractors to do our work) - when I ask for something to be done, I expect them to say one of three or four things:

"absolutely yes we can handle it no problem",

" absolutely but here is the cost difference",

"we can't do that but here are two solutions for how we can solve the problem"

A company that just says "no" is unacceptable to me.

Also. I'm game to start a company called meats in my mouth. Because that should totally be a thing.

@JoRocka - I'm sorry but on what footing? The said from the getgo that they don't accommodate vegan diets. Not a "not usually" or "rarely". They don't. Full stop. You wouldn't ask you dermatologist to give you a strep test.

I think it's wildly different BUT there's a Supreme Court case going to be heard about a cake maker who refused service to a gay couple requesting a wedding cake. For the record, I think it's terrible he refused them service. But, it just shows how much power individual business owners have in refusing to accommodate client, or their case potential client, requests.

Celia nailed it on this one.

Also, OP already said she is going to look into vegan restaurants to have a few meals brought in for her guests so they will be accommodated. For those saying she should find a new caterer, she is 6 WEEKS out. In a major city. Her wedding is 2 days before Christmas. She is not finding a new caterer. She has a solution. She is getting vegan meals brought in. Problem solved. People can be angry at the caterer if they want but in the end that caterer will still be used for her wedding. And for other events I am sure. Best we can hope for is that maybe one day they will come up with an awesome vegan meal they can offer. But for the time being it seems like they are okay with bringing in outside food to acxommodate.

OP, good on you for being willing to accommodate your guests. Even though you dont know them and it is less than 2 months out from your date.

Was just waiting on Celia to comment because I knew she would nail it, and she did.

I went vegan a few weeks before a wedding I attended and honestly planned on just eating salad. When the waiter came around and I said I'm okay, I can't eat anything on the menu but it was no big deal they whipped me up an oil based pasta primavera. It was really nice to be accomodated but honestly I didn't really expect them to go out of the way like they did. Definitely the sign of a great caterer!

I'm not offering vegan unless salad is what your looking for.

They already chose what they wanted on their rsvp card and their is way to much the last month to be doing beside worrying about someone's dietary wishes. I'm sure salad and veggies will be available if not..sneak some snacks in.. Good grief.

@mary What does a business owner being a bigot have to do with offering a vegan option?? Not even sure where you'd pull the parallel to this situation...

Does your caterer accommodate dairy allergies? Gluten allergies? Whether it’s a lifestyle choice or allergy, something needs to be made available to them.

Mary, don’t bring that into the conversation.. You got the answers you needed,. Find a way for vegan food to be served.

Am I the only one who doesn't expect other people to cater to my dietary restrictions or preferences?? I would never think twice about attending a wedding where they only served stuff I couldn't eat! I just wouldn't eat. This is insane to me. But good for you, OP. You're handling this with much more care than I would!

If they just went vegan I mean maybe they wont mind a vegetarian mealninstead? Or just pack em a nice salad and have them serve it up or something?

@Mary.. stop trying to justify your decision. Just own it and know that it's not your fault that they can't have a vegan meal.

I have dietary restrictions, and I don’t expect to be catered too. I always try to find something on the menu to eat, even if it could make me a little sick.

There’s more than enough time to find a solution. You’re irritated by your guests’ request, you don’t seem to like them nor care if they attend or eat. So why were they invited? I feel like if this were a close friend or family member you would absolutely make it happen.

My aunt is sometimes vegetarian, sometimes not. We will have an option available for her.

I have a handful of vegans coming to my wedding. I told them to pack snacks lol

I literally just t alked about this in another vegetarian/vegan post today

I had a girl who was doing a spiritual vegan cleanse. I had the caterer bring hummus and vegetables with a mixed nut tray for her. She was placated with that. How inflexible is your caterer? I can't understand that...I'd write up that in their review.

I agree, arrange for some vegan food to be brought in and let your guests know ahead of time that it's not from the same caterer. If the caterer gets upset calmly remind them that you have guests that need to be fed - end of story. It's not their fault that they don't do vegan, nor is it your fault for not assuming you'd need someone more flexible. Nor is it the vegan people's faults though as a former vegan I'd say they should be able to eat before they show up. Being vegan means fending for yourself and being creative. Try and bring in some food that just has to be warmed by the oven and make sure your doc is on top of it or moh

Seriously? Ugh! I'd seriously tell these people to take a hike. I get accommodating guests--and if I had people I knew were vegans, that's one thing, I'd make sure I had options, but these people were talking about eating animal flesh up until recently...so I call that being overly difficult. I have friends who are vegan that make things work because they realize the world doesn't revolve around them. Same with other friends with major dietary restrictions. Can the caterer do pasta with olive oil or marinara? That seems like a low reach. If not, I'd say "sorry, no can do, my newly veggie friends."

For some people, it is more than just an ethic choice. My sister and a few other family members have cancer. while on chemotherapy, they are on a vegan diet because it is easier on the stomach for digestion, and helps with nausea.

I'm pretty sure these two don't have cancer.

Exactly as the poster above. I would never expect people to conform to my dietary restrictions. Especially at a wedding! So much entitlement in my opinion. I don't even ask my family to not serve dishes with nuts in them at holidays and family dinners. Just because I can't have it doesn't mean I'm special enough to force everybody else to cater to me!