How To Accommodate Your Wedding Guests’ Food Allergies And Dietary Restrictions
While planning the wedding of your dreams, one of your main goals should be to ensure the safety and comfort of your guests.
To help your loved ones enjoy your wedding day, you may provide free transportation to the venue from distant parking lots or provide access to cooling areas if your ceremony is outside on a hot day.
Although, the accommodation of food allergies and dietary restrictions is one crucial factor of the utmost importance. Not only will your considerate efforts be appreciated by your loved ones, but they may also be life-saving.
So, here are some key tips on how to handle food allergies and dietary restrictions throughout every step of your wedding planning.
Choose A Caterer Wisely
Nowadays, many caterers are well-versed in dealing with food allergies and dietary restrictions, given the rise of awareness on social media. Still, it is much better to be safe than sorry.
Prior to booking a caterer, be sure to check what accommodations they can provide. These may range from alternative food options to preventative measures during preparation– such as ensuring there is no cross-contamination in the kitchen.
Let Your Guests Be Your Guide
If you wait to address food allergies and dietary restrictions among your guests, you may miss something and force a loved one into a very uncomfortable situation.
primipil – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
So, to save time, stress, and upset, simply include a space on your wedding invitation response cards. There, guests can write in any allergy or dietary restrictions they may have.
You can then choose to contact specific guests for further clarification if needed. And either way, their responses can help inform your menu.
Menu Transparency
Speaking of menus, many people with food allergies or dietary restrictions prefer to see menu options in advance. This allows them to review your offerings and have an opportunity to “flag” any ingredients that may be an issue for them.
Not only will step this give your guests peace of mind entering your wedding, but you can also rest assured that you have not misunderstood anyone’s allergies or preferences.
You can opt to include your intended menu on your invitation or email it to guests afterward who indicated restrictions on their response cards. You could even just upload your menu to your wedding website as well.
Label All Food
When planning the aesthetics of your wedding, you should keep labeling tags in mind. All food should be labeled– whether at buffets or food stations– with notes such as nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan when applicable.
This will take the guesswork out of the day and leave your guests feeling confident in their food selections.
Be Accommodating
How you accommodate your guests’ entrees will likely depend on the allergy or food restriction at hand. If someone has a shellfish allergy, for instance, you will likely be able to tailor your entire menu to ensure no shellfish is used throughout the entire dining experience.
For gluten-free or vegan individuals, though, complete menu alterations may not be possible. So, in these cases, it may be best to swap out one meal for that individual and specify it to their needs.
When navigating these options, the best thing you can do is have open conversations and listen to guests’ concerns. And together, you can find a solution that works for everyone.
Don’t Miss Desserts
When talking about food allergies and dietary restrictions, you might find yourself focusing on appetizers and entrees while completely forgetting about desserts.
But, the sweets that wrap up your evening are a critical part of your wedding experience– and you don’t want any guests to miss out.
Oftentimes, desserts can be difficult for those with nut allergies or gluten intolerances. In these cases, you may opt to forego nuts in all dessert offerings or offer a gluten-free alternative.
Again, though, the best way to determine an appropriate course of action is by speaking with your guests. They know what will make them feel most comfortable; you just have to hear them out.
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