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| My ring, distracting me from driving |
As I posted in this post back in October, my lovely Panera Bread manager proposed to me on October 13th. Since then it’s been a whirl wind of attempting to plan a gluten free wedding.
We’ve decided to go for the entirely gluten free route, for safety reasons and because as a good friend put it “if you don’t have an entirely gluten free wedding I will kick you in the face.” The planning hasn’t been easy. In reaching out early on to Local brides and past brides I popped the entirely gluten free question on this forum and got some mixed comments, most of which suggested I only do gluten free for my fiance and I so as to basically not burden my guests with gluten free food… Really? Do Celiac’s really feel that way about the food they eat? I hardly do and can’t believe it! The food I put in my mouth, and the mouth of my guests is far from gross!
I was disheartened at first, but after some thinking these comments got me even more interested in planning an entirely gluten free wedding to prove that it can in fact be done. If you are like me you probably love your gluten free diet, and don’t see it as a burden. If this is the case, consider an entirely gluten free wedding if one is in your future. Love your gluten free life, and don’t put yourself at risk!
I have seen little on planning a gluten free wedding so I am putting in my two-cents. I am going to try to lay out my mindset and planning procedures to help you out! So, let’s get started with planning shall we?
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PART ONE
Guaranteed Gluten Free Food is Important, but What Else is important to you on Your Wedding Day?
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| Retrieved from Zazzle.com |
Now that you are engaged and after you’ve decided to take on the task of an entirely (or mostly) gluten free wedding the most important first step is to decide what else is most important to you. I am not speaking budget wise, I am speaking in relation to living a gluten free life. Of course having gluten free options and trust worthy cooks are important but let’s dig dipper into your brain.
Ask yourself:
Is it important for you to have control, to know every little detail about everything that is going on food wise even if you have good reliable (and gluten free knowledgeable) cooks?
Is it important for you to release that control and have a stress free wedding knowing your tummy is in good hands?
Are you open about your diet and willing to talk up a storm about it to anyone to get what you want, or are you quiet and composed about your diet?
How will the above, and your relationship with food, have an influence on your wedding date?
These questions will help you, in my opinion, decided the location of your wedding and are a great place to start to get you on the right track.
Mike and I decided we have two options in respect wedding locations for gluten free weddings:
1. Have the wedding at a Reception Hall: This option gives us less flexibility and ‘security’ over food, but overall offers us less stress if we pick a venue that is well versed in gluten free needs.
Who: If someone is more stressed about being stressed preparing and taking control on their wedding day it may work out. If you are going this route, be comfortable talking about your disease. If someone is more stressed about not having control, a reception hall may not be the best location for them.
How: Look up a list of local reception halls and venues and just start calling. When you call be sure to ask about: your dates, their price range, if they can do an entirely gluten free wedding, cross-contamination, how they will handle the cake, if you can bring in some select foods, if they have gluten free experience, and how many weddings can take place at the same time. Long Island Weddings.Com has LI wedding site lists.
My suggestion thus far: If you have to, say your guests are also gluten free. You’ll be taken more seriously. In addition, look for places which offer kosher meals as this means they have ingredients which may be good for you. Finally, for my further piece of mind I recommend venues which do one wedding at a time as this limits the risk of cross contamination.
2. Have the wedding at a park, or alternative setting: This option offers more control over food, but leaves most of the planning and preparing up to you.
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| Retrieved from ManoloBrides.com |
Who: If someone is more stressed about control, this offers a large amount of control over everything and is ideal for such a person. In addition, if someone doesn’t like talking about their disease this also allows you to talk to people who may already know what you need. This is not for someone who will stress out and not have a fun wedding because they need to plan.
How: Think of parks you like, or quirky locations near you. Also consider a backyard! For caterers, be sure to make sure they have separate gluten free equipment or wash it extensively. Make sure to ask them what their prices include and what you would need to provide for them.
My suggestions thus far: Remember that this will add up and is not necessarily cheaper than a venue reception! When you are doing it on your own you need to think everything from chairs, tables, and tents to silverware, plates, kitchen availability, bathroom availability, and much much more. In regards to caterers, try going with someplace you know you like unless you can sample food prior to the event. you don’t want to be disappointed on your wedding day!
I am sure there are other options out there, but these are the two that seemed most fitting in our situation. For example, Gluten Free Girl had a pot-luck wedding which is a beautiful and fantastic idea, but I don’t think I trust my friends that much! What ever way you go, your decision is up to you. Be sure to see where your stress rests with the questions above and make a decision from there. Also consider looking at this article on gluten free wedding tips by I Live In My Lab (AKA Sara). She has a great way of making what you need to ask simplistic! Whatever you decided though, don’t hesitate to throw an entirely gluten free wedding if that is what you want.
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Mike and I decided, at this point, that the most important thing to us, after gluten free reliability, is having a stress free wedding day. We had looked at catering and having it out east but the stress was overwhelming and planning this seemed to make us less budget restricted. We couldn’t imagine having fun if we knew we need to get everything from separate vendors, be responsible for setting up and shutting down, etc.
So, that being said, we are moving forward with looking at venues on Long Island. We’ve narrowed it down through phone calls to 7 gluten free friendly venues and will start actually looking at them soon. Now, maybe I am a bit more vocal, up front, and blunt (yet kind) when it comes to communication but I have no difficulty telling people what I would want, doing what I want, and asking the right questions. Of course, I have to be in the mood to get that detailed but for this it is worth it and I won’t be holding back to have my entirely gluten free wedding.
I’ll be sure to keep these posts going as wedding planning progresses, please do not hesitate to email me at CelticCeliac@gmail.com if you have any thing you would like seen addressed in this series!
Celtic Celiac @ http://celtic-celiac.blogspot.com/
I’m enjoying following your GFREE wedding planning journey! Hmmm, maybe you could pen a book to share more of your experiences!
Thanks Paula, it is fun but exhausting! Lots to consider, I feel like I am breaking new ground although I KNOW other brides have been in the same situation. A book may be a good idea, I’ve considered it 😉