Traditionally, a wedding day is the best day of a person’s life. A wedding also embodies the personality of a bride and groom, from carefully tailored speeches sprinkled with inside family jokes to favourite foods and gorgeously-styled outfits. However, can a vegan bride and groom successfully host a vegan wedding that represents their ethics? If so, will their friends and family be satisfied? Ultimately, will a vegan wedding spread love – or hate – among families and friends?
The current vegan landscape
Veganism in Australia is on the rise at a rapid rate. According to Vegans Australia, about 2% Australians are vegan and almost 2.5 million Australians observe a diet that’s all or almost all vegetarian. Additionally, almost 10 million Australians are eating less red meat. So, it’s inevitable that vegan weddings will occur and require vegan food, a vegan ceremony and vegan-friendly aesthetics.
Just like any vegans, Melbourne vegan couple Tamara Catlin and Jeremy Methorst was keen to host a wedding that reflected their vegan ethics. After meticulous research, they achieved a memorable, and successful, vegan wedding day. “Most places said that they could organise a vegan menu,” Tamara and Jeremy confirm. “Location was important, so that also reduced the number of options we could ask.”
The vegan couple found a suitable venue that could cater for their modest wedding and satisfy their guests at the same time. While guest were aware of the vegan food, they were unaware that the wines and outfits were also vegan. “Our wedding was low key and on a budget, and remarkably stress free,” they explain. “We hired a local restaurant that was keen to show off their skills and they wowed everyone with the buffet. Everyone raved about how fantastic the food was.”
The most important factor is what the couple wants…
While vegan couples want to ensure their special day reflects their ethics, there is a fine balance between what a couple wants and what a family expects. Some couples may be torn depending on assertive, non-vegan, requests from family members. Tamara and Jeremy were fortunate and were relieved from such drama because families and friends knew what to expect. “There were many choices and everyone raved about the food. There was no guilt as everyone [who came] knew that we were long-term vegans.” The couple explains further about juggling their parent’s expectations: “I think at the start my mother may have made some comments in regards to not providing vegan options but she was very happy with the end result.”
So, how are wedding venues meeting the vegan demand while keeping all guests happy?
About an hour’s drive from Melbourne, The Yarra Valley is world-famous wine country and a popular wedding destination for excited couples. Acres of rolling grapevines are peppered by wineries and picturesque wedding venues, all against a backdrop of cascading curves that form the Yarra Ranges. One such non-vegan venue, The Farm Yarra Valley, understands the growing trend of vegan weddings and is meeting the demand.
The Farm Yarra Valley’s Head Chef Anthony Cutajar is experiencing this demand first-hand. “Yes, we do receive quite a few requests for vegan requirements,” Anthony confirms. “They are becoming more and more popular as the years go by. More and more people are becoming environmentally conscious these days [so] it continues to be the fastest growing lifestyle choice to this day.”
Anthony has catered for vegans for much of his career, so catering for vegans is much easier for him now because there are many more vegan foods and wines available. For him, creativity is not an issue when he designs an all-vegan menu. “I do enjoy going down to the veggie patch at The Farm and seeing what is fresh and available at the time.” he reveals. “There are so many new items created so it is interesting to play around with them!” While Anthony can create an all-vegan wedding menu, he has never experienced an event when family members and friends have demanded non-vegan options or asked for non-vegan options to be secretly prepared during the meal service. Anthony’s allegiance, therefore, lies with the couple. “No, I have never come across this problem. If so, I would stick to the package and serve the regular vegan food on the menu, out of respect.”
The demand for vegan weddings is clearly there, and rising!
The Farm Yarra Valley has recently released an all-vegan wedding package, which is one of the first for the wedding-friendly region. The venue has recognised that the demand needs to be met, and it’s one that isn’t slowing down. Anthony: “Culinary views are definitely changing these days. I am not aware of any other venues offering a vegan-only menu, however I am sure that they will be jumping on board soon.” So, what do the guests think? “We get heaps and heaps of positive feedback regarding vegan meals,” he confirms. “People are very surprised of the tasty food that can be made utilising vegan produce.”
Whether a vegan wedding will spread the love or hate is a case-by-case scenario. Though, at the end of the (wedding) day, it’s what makes the newly-wed couple happy and fulfilled that counts. Tamara and Jeremy explain: “Families need to accept that it is the couple’s special day and not try to change it to suit other family members’ needs.”
