Vegan Wedding Guide

Weddings are one of those rare moments where you get to plan something completely your own—full of intention, meaning, and joy. And if you’re vegan, it’s only natural to want your wedding to reflect your values from start to finish. Whether you’re dreaming up a full vegan wedding menu, sourcing ethical attire, or looking for inspiration that aligns with a compassionate lifestyle, you’re in the right place.

When I planned my wedding, I knew it had to be cruelty-free—no silk, no leather, no animal products on the plate. I spent months researching, vetting vendors, and making decisions that felt right for me. Now, I’m sharing everything I learned so you can plan a vegan wedding that feels just as thoughtful, joyful, and aligned with your values.

The Food

Let’s start with the part everyone looks forward to: the food. Choosing a fully vegan wedding menu is one of the most impactful—and fun—ways to align your celebration with your values. It’s your chance to show guests just how flavorful and satisfying plant-based food can be. You’ve got a few great options:

• Hire a caterer who already offers vegan wedding menus.
• Work with a caterer who’s open to customizing vegan dishes, even if they haven’t done it before. (That’s what I did—my caterer had never done a vegan wedding, and it turned out amazing.)
• Keep it casual with your favorite vegan-friendly food truck, pizza spot, or local restaurant. Even if they don’t typically cater, many places are happy to collaborate—so don’t be afraid to ask.

Yes, it might take a little extra effort to find the right fit. But once you do, you’ll have the kind of wedding food people rave about—and remember.

If you hit resistance (especially from family helping foot the bill), stay grounded in your “why.” Planning a vegan wedding isn’t just about one meal. It’s about creating a celebration that reflects who you are. You’re not just feeding people—you’re planting seeds.

I should warn you—you may get pushback from parents or relatives, especially if they’re helping pay. You might overhear a sassy comment from your New York cousin about needing to “eat before the wedding.” Don’t let it throw you off. This is your day, and anyone who can’t handle one delicious plant-based meal in celebration of your love probably doesn’t need a front-row seat. Stay grounded, stay kind—and hold your boundaries with grace. You’ve got this.

The Cake

There’s absolutely no sacrifice in this department. Vegan wedding cakes are easier to find (and make!) than you might think—just use an egg replacer and swap in your favorite plant milk. Chances are there’s a bakery near you that already makes amazing vegan cake, but if not, don’t be afraid to ask! Most bakers are more than happy to customize something special for your big day.

Another fun option is to skip the traditional tiered cake and go for a dessert bar—this is what I did, and I loved it. We served a bunch of our favorite vegan treats so guests could sample a little bit of everything. We still had a tiny cake to cut (and yes, smash into each other’s faces), but offering a variety made dessert feel way more fun and interactive.

Whatever vibe you’re going for, you can absolutely have a wedding cake—or dessert table—that’s fully vegan, beautiful, and totally delicious.

Drinks & Toasts

If you’re new to veganism, you might be surprised to learn that some alcohol isn’t actually vegan. Certain wines, beers, and spirits are filtered using animal-derived ingredients like isinglass (aka fish bladder). I know—yikes! But don’t worry, finding vegan alcohol for your wedding is easy once you know where to look.

The best resource out there is Barnivore—a massive, searchable database of vegan-friendly wine, beer, and liquor. Just type in the brands you’re considering and see what comes up. If you want to go all in, you can also order from companies like The Vegan Vine that focus exclusively on ethical, cruelty-free wines. That’s what I did, and it felt so good knowing that even our toast was aligned with our values.

Whether you’re stocking the bar yourself or working with a caterer, be sure to ask about vegan options in advance. There’s no reason you can’t have amazing vegan wine, festive cocktails, and bubbly that’s totally plant-based and fun. L’chaim!

Cruelty-Free Wedding Attire

Veganism isn’t just about what’s on the plate—it’s about choosing compassion in every part of life. So when it comes to your wedding attire, you’ll want to look for cruelty-free options that are just as stylish, special, and aligned with your values.

That includes your dress, suit, shoes, jewelry, ties, and anything your wedding party wears. I know—it sounds like a lot! But with a little planning, you can absolutely pull together a full vegan wedding look that feels amazing.

Finding Your Dress

The biggest thing to watch out for is silk. If you’re shopping on a budget, good news—most affordable dresses are already silk-free. If you’re going high-end, you may run into more silk-lined options, but you can often request a custom dress with synthetic materials or non-silk linings. Just be sure to ask!

Pro Tip: Order your vegan wedding dress—and your bridesmaid dresses—at least 5 months ahead of time. I learned this the hard way when I went shopping 3 months out and discovered most styles had a 4–5 month turnaround. That was at David’s Bridal! It sounds wild, but trust me: earlier is better.

Suits

Finding a vegan suit was surprisingly tricky. Most suits are made with wool, but you’ve still got options. If your budget allows, you can order a custom vegan suit from places like Brave GentleMan. Or you can go the route I did—mix and match from stores like Men’s Wearhouse or JCPenney. The groomsmen wore khaki pants, cotton vests, and white button-ups, and it all came together beautifully.

Ties

Most ties are made with silk, so I looked for vegan alternatives. Matching ties were harder than I expected! I ended up finding the perfect color online from bows-n-ties.com, which has tons of affordable, non-silk options. Bonus: they looked great in photos and didn’t break the bank.

Shoes

You can find wedding shoes from vegan brands like MooShoes or Wills Vegan Shoes—they have beautiful options that are 100% cruelty-free. But it’s also super easy to find non-leather wedding shoes at most major stores now—Payless, Target, Zappos, even Marshalls. Just check the labels or filter by “artificial” or “synthethic” online.

Vegan Jewelry

When it comes to jewelry, steer clear of real pearls and do your research on diamonds. I love Brilliant Earth because they offer engagement rings and wedding bands with ethically sourced stones. There are lots of ways to make sure your sparkle is aligned with your values.

Makeup & Hair That Reflects Your Values

Whether you’re going full glam or keeping it soft and natural, you’ll look and feel your best knowing your beauty routine reflects the compassion behind your day. Vegan wedding makeup and cruelty-free beauty products are easier to find than ever—and yes, they totally hold up for a full day of photos, hugs, and happy tears.

Start by searching for vegan or cruelty-free hair and makeup artists in your area. If you find someone who already works with conscious brands—amazing! Book them early. If not, that’s okay too. You can always bring your own products, or let your stylist know which brands and ingredients to avoid. Most are happy to accommodate as long as you give them a heads-up.

And if things don’t go exactly according to plan? Don’t stress. If your blush ends up being made with carmine or your stylist forgets to switch mascaras, it’s not the end of the world. Do your best, communicate clearly, and remember: total perfection doesn’t help animals—but your effort, intention, and kindness absolutely do.

Wedding Flowers

You’d think flowers would be automatically vegan, right? For the most part, they are—but there are a few sneaky things to watch out for when it comes to vegan wedding flowers.

First, ask your florist to avoid silk wraps (yep, even those little ribbon ties around the stems can contain animal products). Instead, go for satin, twine, yarn, or natural fabrics. If you’re eco-conscious, you can also request local or organic blooms that were grown sustainably. Any good florist will be happy to work with these requests—it just helps to bring them up early in the planning process.

Compassionate Touches

Once the big things are set—your vegan wedding menu, dress, flowers, and so on—you can start layering in little touches that make the day feel even more meaningful. You’ve already ensured no animals will be harmed in the making of your wedding. But what if you want to do more to make your wedding actually help animals? That’s wonderful! There are so many ways to make that happen. Here are just a few to get your creative juices flowing:

• Mention your shared love for animals in your vows.
• Add small signs near your food that say things like, “Saved by this vegan meal”—I used little chalkboard animals for ours.
• Skip the usual favors and donate to a farm animal sanctuary in your guests’ honor.
• Make mini vegan recipe books as keepsakes (this was one of my favorite DIYs!).
• Plan a pre-wedding trip to an animal sanctuary instead of a bachelorette party.
• Add animal or veggie motifs to your invitations, place cards, or signage.
• Ask your photographer for a few fun, plant-themed portraits (Pinterest has so many ideas!).
• Consider donating part of your gift funds to a charity you love.
• Plan a honeymoon to a vegan-friendly destination.

There are so many sweet ways to reflect your values throughout the day—without needing to say a thing. Pinterest is your best friend here if you’re looking for even more ideas.

Michelle’s Wedding Details

• Vegan dessert bar from Timeless Coffee Roaster and Bakery
• Plant-based wedding menu from Serves You Right Catering (their first all-vegan wedding!)
• Wine from The Vegan Vine
• Silk-free wedding dress by Watters (Wtoo)
• Wool-free suits and cotton vests from Mens Warehouse
• Non-silk ties from bows-n-ties.com (thanks for the tip Drew!)
• Ethically sourced engagement and wedding rings from Brilliant Earth
• Ceremony at the Redwood Grove in the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens
• Organic floral arrangements from Natalie at Belle-Flower
• Vegan wedding hair and makeup by my amazing vegan friend Lia Negrette (Hair & Makeup By Lia)

Vegan Wedding FAQs

You’re Married! What Now?

If you’ve just tied the knot—congratulations! And if you’re still in planning mode, I hope this guide helps you feel inspired, informed, and supported as you put together a day that truly reflects your values.

One of the most powerful things you can do after your wedding? Share your story. There are so many people out there looking for vegan wedding inspiration, and your experience could be the exact boost someone else needs. You can submit your photos to VegNews or pitch a guest article to World of Vegan by contacting us here!

Vegan weddings aren’t just about the food or the fashion. They’re about leading with compassion and proving that joy and ethics can absolutely go hand in hand.