Planning for a vegan wedding doesn’t have to be daunting nor exuberant. Take it from Michelle Taylor Cehn, the force behind World of Vegan and Vegan Break, who planned and created her romantic wedding in the redwoods of Berkeley California. Michelle got a non-vegan caterer to create a delicious vegan feast as well as got her hands on some DIY projects with a personal touch. She was also able to find a gorgeous vegan wedding dress that didn’t break the bank. Below are her top 5 tips on how she was able to pull off all of these and more.
TOP 5 TIPS: HOW TO PLAN FOR A VEGAN WEDDING BY MICHELLE TAYLOR CEHN
Dan and I met in college in Ohio. We were friends throughout college, and it wasn’t until the very end that we got together. I flew back home to California, but we missed each other so much that Dan bought a car, packed up his stuff, and drove across the country to move to California! That was almost 8 years ago now. Time flies!
1. How do you find vegan vendors?
Vegan vendors are becoming easy to find, especially if you live in a major city. From vegan bakers to vegan photographers, there are tons of compassionate professionals that pride themselves in running a completely vegan business. But don’t worry if you can’t find a vegan vendor that you love—you can always work with non-vegan vendors and simply educate them about what vegan means (activism opportunity!) and find out if they’re able to work with it.
That’s what I did with my wedding caterer. There were no vegan caterers within my budget so I emailed several lower-cost caterers asking about their experience with vegan cooking and if they would be able to cater an all-vegan wedding. Some responses were less-than-exciting, but it wasn’t hard to find a highly rated caterer who was happy to customize a completely vegan menu for my big day. It was their first all-vegan wedding, and they did a great job! Plus, I was thrilled knowing that I’d be paving the way for future vegan couples looking for vegan catering options in the Bay Area.
2. Did you get any resistance from loved ones about holding a vegan wedding? How did you handle it?
I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 8 years old, and vegan for more than 9 years, so most of my friends and family expected my wedding to be vegan. Even so, I did get my share of sassy comments from a few relatives, like “Oh boy, looks like we should eat before we come!” None of that bothered me though. As vegans we have to learn quickly to shake off insensitive remarks and not worry about other people.
Bottom line is that there are only two people who should be making decisions about the food at a wedding—and that’s the two people getting married. My hubby Dan has also been vegan for many years, and there was never a doubt that our wedding day would be fully vegan.
3. How did you choose a vegan menu that will please both your vegan and omnivore guests?
I chose foods that were both filling and familiar. I didn’t want to throw a hunk of vegan meat on everyone’s plate because I knew that for many people, that would be out of their comfort zone. Instead I went with a buffet of traditional foods that everyone knows and loves, like bruschetta, stuffed mushrooms, pesto rotini, vegetable tian, roasted petite red potatoes, vegan quiche, and artisan bread and olive oil.
Dessert was another story. I really wanted my guests to walk away thinking: wow, I can’t believe that was vegan! My husband and I went with a dessert bar with an array of treats from a local vegan bakery (Timeless Coffee Roastery & Barkey). Our guests raved about the red velvet and salted caramel cupcakes, chocolate-covered strawberries, giant doughnuts, Rice Krispies treats, and twinkies.
4. What’s the one thing you wished you knew when you were planning your vegan wedding?
That bridesmaids dresses need to be ordered far in advance—almost as far in advance as your own wedding dress. Don’t delay, even if you’re shopping at major bridal shops like David’s Bridal! Yup, you heard it, the biggest challenges of wedding planning have absolutely nothing to do with being vegan.
5. How do you stay within your budget while still planning the wedding of your dreams?
Just remember that the things that traditionally cost the most are not the things that matter.
There are endless ways to cut costs for your wedding. I kept costs down by getting married outside in a redwood grove—a place filled with natural beauty so that I didn’t need any decor. Food is the most expensive part of a wedding, so I kept my guest list intimate, went with a low-cost caterer, and kept it simple. I knew I wanted to invest more in a photographer, so my husband and I decided not to get engagement photos, and instead to put that money toward hiring a better photographer. My dress was another big one. Vegan wedding dresses need to be silk-free which can help keep costs down, but your dress can still be the most expensive garment you’ll ever wear—and you’ll only wear it once! I fell in love with a few wedding gowns that were slightly out of my price range, but my amazing best friend kept looking with me until we found “the dress” that didn’t break the bank. I also made the decision to sell my dress to another bride-to-be soon after my wedding. It sold for more than 50 percent of what I bought it for! And finally, I got crafty and made much of the decor myself. Luckily the DIY trend is huge, so it was easy to find ideas galore on Pinterest and supplies at craft stores like Michael’s.
But remember what matters—that you’re marrying the one that you love. When your day comes, you will barely notice all the details you spent so long planning for. The flowers, the food, the decor—it will all be a blur because you’ll be so absorbed in friends, family, and love!
♥ Photos by Emily Jane Photography
♥ Vegan Desserts from Timeless Coffee Roastery and Bakery
♥ Food from Serves You Right catering (their first all vegan wedding!)
♥ Wine from The Vegan Vine
♥ Vegan Wedding Dress by Watters (Wtoo)
♥ Wool-free mensware from Mens Warehouse (cotton!)
♥ Silk-free ties from bows-n-ties.com (thanks for the tip Drew!)
♥ Ethical Rings from Brilliant Earth
♥ Ceremony located in the Redwood Grove at the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens (just happened to be on the day the Corpse Flower bloomed, which only happens every 5ish years for 1-2 days!!!)
♥ Flowers from Natalie at Belle-Flower
♥ Hair and makeup by my amazing vegan friend Lia, Hair & Makeup By Lia.
Thank you Michelle for all the informational tips on how to throw a personal yet practical vegan wedding that everyone, both vegans and omnivores, could enjoy. Your wedding looked dreamy, romantic, and magical! From the food, to the dress, to the DIY touch, the details seemed thoughtful. Yet, just like what you’ve mentioned in the end, the most important part is that you’re marrying the one you love.
To read the rest of the series:
PART 1:
TOP 5 TIPS: HOW TO PLAN FOR A VEGAN WEDDING, BY ANGEL THOI
PART 2: