How to Deal with Guests’ Dietary Concerns for an Event

You are sitting down with your venue event coordinator to determine the menu for your wedding, but you are not sure what options would be best. Today, there are so many people who are allergic to foods, and others who have made conscious decisions not to eat certain types of food, and still others who are unable to eat certain types of food for religious reasons. So how do you deal with these concerns and ensure that your guests will enjoy their meal?

The first thing to do is go through your guest list, starting with your close friends and family, whom you know best, and determine whether there are any dietary restrictions.

Second, for guests who are family friends, ask your parents if they know of any dietary restrictions those guests may have.

Finally, when you send out your invitations, include a card requesting guests to note any dietary restrictions that need to be addressed for the wedding. Not only will this help you plan the menu, but it may also influence the seating arrangements, so it’s worth the time and effort to collect this information.

In the case of food allergies, especially if they are severe, it is extremely important that you, your event coordinator, and the venue are fully briefed on what these allergies are and whom they affect. The last thing you want to think about at your wedding reception is whether someone is going have an allergic reaction to something they eat.

When choosing your menu, try to offer a vegetarian, meat, and poultry option. That way, you cover what most people can eat. For people who have a restricted diet, special options can be prepared, but note that there may be an additional cost for those meals because not a lot of the dish will be prepared for your wedding.

During a wedding, there are three parts that are often remembered: the ceremony, the food, and the drink. You want to ensure that you take the time to determine what your needs are for each of your guests so you can include something for everyone and not be pushed into anything that does not fit your needs.

Until next time, happy planning!

Amalia Ward
Talen Events