Catering to Your Wedding Guests
Part 1: Vegetarians
In this day and age, so many people have made the decision, either voluntarily or for medical reasons, to stay away from eating certain foods. When it comes to wedding cocktail hours and receptions, food plays a big role and there aren’t always options for those who do not or cannot eat certain foods, like vegetarians, those who are gluten-free, and people with severe food allergies. If you know you are going to have guests at your wedding that have dietary restrictions or allergies, you may want to make sure there are enough options for them to feel happy and full when they leave. Many Long Island Catering Halls offer a variety of choices that cater to all your guests needs.
The writers at Long Island Bridal have decided to compile a three-part series that will cover great ideas and the precautions you can take to ensure that every guest at your wedding will be safely accommodated. Part one is dedicated to all the vegetarian wedding guests out there. At weddings, there usually aren’t many vegetarian options at the cocktail hour and even less on the dinner menu. If there are any vegetarian entrée options at weddings, it usually consists of some sort of pasta dish. After some extensive research, we have found some fantastic vegetarian alternatives for your cocktail hour and other options for vegetarian entrées at your wedding.
Vegetarian appetizers for cocktail hour are very simple and can be playful or elegant. If your wedding has more of a rustic feel to it, try variations of comfort food. Miniature grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup shooters are delicious and fun. Have a mashed potato or polenta bar where vegetarian wedding guests can pile on their own toppings, like cheeses, gravy and sauces, sour cream, or just enjoy the delicious food as is. Sliders don’t always have to be made of meat. Ask your caterer to make some with Portobello mushrooms or beet rounds for your vegetarian guests. Luckily, many classic foods found at a cocktail hour are vegetarian friendly appetizers, such as cheese and fruit platters, crudités, and salads.
As for vegetarian entrée options, pastas are always a great choice. However, try to choose more unique pasta entrée choices. Just because your guests don’t eat meat, doesn’t mean they should be forced to eat something plain. Ask your caterer if they offer a mushroom or butternut squash ravioli or lasagna. Gnocchi is also a great option that will keep your guests satisfied. Stuffed Portobello mushrooms or roasted vegetable Wellington are great vegetarian alternatives for steak or chicken.