Planning Your Gluten Free Wedding

Whether your wedding day is coming in weeks, months or a year from now, there’s lots to be done, and there’s no time to waste in putting a plan together to make it gluten free. We’ve all been guests at events where it has been difficult to find something safe and gluten free to eat. But now you are in charge of choosing the edible options. So how do you satisfy a crowd and yourself safely, affordably and tastily? Let’s get to work planning a delicious gluten free wedding!

Having planned and executed my own gluten-free wedding (it was also a dairy-free wedding — why make it easy?!), I assure you that adding the extra layer of complexity that dietary restrictions so often bring doesn’t have to be painful or expensive. It also shouldn’t define the occasion.

I also knew who we were inviting to join in our celebration and was aware of most, if not all, other dietary restrictions I should be considering in my planning. I wanted those guests to be able to enjoy a worry-free party alongside everyone else.

Our goal was to share an evening where no one would have to think about ingredients or cross-contact, and no one would go hungry. I also didn’t want those who could blissfully eat their way through any festivities to realize that they were enjoying foods that were absent gluten, dairy and peanuts.

Grab your notebook and follow along as I share how I planned a reception our guests raved about. And I did it all without undue stress, expense and, most importantly, gluten … in only about four months.

 

Location, location, location

Depending on the season and time of day for your big event, some locations will work better than others. Perhaps you have the luxury of having a friend or family member with a large home or garden that you can make use of. Lucky you! 

In that case, you can control all aspects of the food and drink and keep expenses in check.

If instead you are looking for a location to rent for your reception, you may be limited to certain catering companies. If so, choosing the right place dictates whether you can use a caterer who is right for you, as well.

#1 TIP: I’ve found that most locations, when pressed, really don’t understand gluten-free and cross-contact prevention. When you ask enough questions — and they begin to realize they don’t understand it either — you can start asking for special exceptions, which can actually save you money.

The venue we used allowed me to break all the rules once they realized they couldn’t prepare all the gluten free and dairy-free food as safely as I needed. I brought in my own gluten-free pretzels, chips, hummus, trail mix, cookies and wedding cake, saving us a bundle on items facilities usually mark up several hundred percent for profit. We set these munchies around at stations, at the bar and on high-top tables so guests always had something to eat within arm’s reach. If you are not serving a lot of food, especially if you are not having a sit-down dinner, you don’t want your guests to feel hungry, and little nibbles can keep them satisfied.

Choosing the Gluten Free Wedding Food

Decide whether you really need to offer a full-course meal. If so, a buffet is an easy route to take, allowing guests to pick and choose what they’d like, and largely saving food from going to waste. Buffets also allow you to have themed stations that can be festive and food allergy friendly. And unlike normal buffets where cross contact with food allergens can be a nightmare, you can limit the allergens that are even present on the table — how refreshing!

There is simply no need for gluten-containing foods to be alongside gluten-free foods. If all of your choices are gluten-free, you don’t have to worry about cross-contact. Fortunately, there are enough delicious gluten-free options to choose from now, guests won’t even know what they’re missing!

Popular wedding food themes can include anything from build-your-own tacos, carving stations and grilled vegetables to steamed shrimp, sushi or raw oysters—all are naturally or easily made gluten-free and free of other food allergens, if needed.

Even pasta bars can be made 100 percent gluten-free if your caterer uses your choice of gluten-free pasta and is trained in the protocols about fresh pasta water and clean pots and utensils. (TIP: don’t use long noodles when your guests are dressed in their finest; make it easy on them to keep clean, by opting for penne or other short noodles or lasagne.)

Bonus: pasta bars are one of the most filling and least expensive buffet menus!

Another wonderful option is to choose an ethnic food theme, such as Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican or Italian. Many Asian dishes are rice based and are naturally gluten-free or are easily made so by using gluten-free tamari in place of soy sauce. Fresh spring rolls are gluten free when wrapped in gluten-free rice paper; be sure to select a gluten-free dipping sauce.

Corn tortillas, salsas and beans are almost always already gluten free, and many Italian dishes are easily converted by using gluten-free pasta or gluten-free pizza crusts or opting for risotto-based dishes instead. 

Don’t overlook the value of crudités, rice, potatoes, salads and other naturally gluten free foods that are already staples on many menus.

At our gluten free wedding reception, we opted for a vegan and gluten-free mashed potato and mashed sweet potato bar that everyone loved. The novelty and simplicity of it, and the fact that every person at the reception could enjoy it were only matched by the fact that it was totally delicious and filling.

Offering a yummy starch like a potato is also a great option when alcohol is served so no one is drinking on an empty stomach—a bonus not to be overlooked when choosing your wedding reception menu.

And speaking of alcohol, ask the caterer or at the venue if you can bring your own liquor to save money. Even if you can bring your own, they may still require you to use their bartender, which is best anyway, due to licensing and liability. You’ll also want to use their glassware unless you’re using disposable.

Ask the venue or the caterer about how much liquor or wine they recommend you buy, and if possible, find a distributor which will allow you to return unopened bottles so you can buy extra without running low and without worrying about getting stuck with too much after the party. Check my comprehensive Gluten Free Alcohol Post for which alcohols are safe for those on a gluten free diet.

Gluten Free Questions for the Caterer or Bakery

Don’t settle when it comes to the foods you choose; the right caterer will be able to help you design an interesting menu that fits your budget and will safely serve all your guests. Ask the following questions to narrow down your choices in caterers and bakers.

The answers should help you quickly determine whether you trust that a baker or caterer understands gluten-free options and how to prevent cross-contact.

If, after the interview, you don’t have a good feeling about using one for your reception, keep looking. Ask for referrals from friends and dig deeper in your Internet searching. You will find a caterer or bakery if you give yourself enough time to look and you don’t lower your standards.

• Have you ever catered an event that was entirely gluten free?

• What menu options do you currently have that are gluten free?

• Are there dedicated areas in your catering kitchen that are gluten and allergen free?

• How do you handle producing foods for special diets?

• Are there airborne flours in your kitchen, and do you make your own breads or pastries?

• Do you have separate pans and utensils for preparing gluten-free foods?

• Is your staff trained in the safe production and handling of gluten-free foods? Are they certified?

• Will you use the pasta or other ingredients that I choose or bring to you to prepare?

The Gluten Free Wedding Cake

The wedding cake continues to be the centerpiece of most wedding receptions, and couples want one that reflects their taste and tastes good, too. You don’t have to give up those special qualities just because your cake is gluten free. I will be equally as delicious, if not more so, if you use my gfJules Flour and recipes or my easy gluten free cake mix.

Of course it’s always an option to make your own gluten-free wedding cake, but adding the stress of that task to your excitement and pre-wedding busyness is not ideal. Even with my baking experience, I did not make my own cake.

Perhaps you have a friend or family member who would like to take on the task. Or you could even opt for ever-popular cupcakes. Check out my post with links to popular recipes for Gluten Free Wedding Cakes. Make yourself or share with a baker friend or bakery!

They can be presented beautifully, are easy to hold and to serve and are much easier to make and to decorate than a traditional wedding cake. And they are super trendy right now.

Or you could offer both!

Don’t rule out commercial bakeries as another place to turn for your gluten-free wedding cake. There are more and more bakeries around the country that now offer such options. Simply Google “gluten-free” + “bakery” and the closest large town, and bakery choices are bound to appear. (Many are using my gfJules Flour to make their cakes!)

Some are dedicated gluten-free shops, and others make regular wheat flour cakes as well, so visit the shops before selecting one because they won’t all do it safely or deliciously. Ask to do a tasting only after you speak to them about how they will keep your cake free of cross-contact with wheat flour.

Sometimes bakeries will even agree to decorate a gluten-free cake you bring to them, already baked. You may be able to work this out with the bakers on staff, but it’s still crucial to ensure that the cake decorating environment and the tools they will use will be free of gluten. There is no substitute for visiting the bakery yourself, asking questions and viewing the space to decide if you believe the facility can prepare your cake in a truly gluten-free manner.

Don’t think for one minute that a gluten free wedding cake has to be boring, either — I’ve seen some dedicated gluten free bakeries whip up some amazing gluten free cakes!

This quote from a reader sums up my thoughts on the best approach to a gluten-free wedding: why not make the whole cake gluten-free? And why stop there? The whole wedding should be gluten-free. No one will suffer for it. The food will be delicious and you will be worry free. 

I got married last Saturday and had a friend who makes wedding cakes make the cake for me. She did the top of the cake gluten-free using your flour. I wish I had done the whole cake this way because it was SO delicious!! ~MaryEllen

Party Favors

Think local: crafts, edibles, mementos. Local honey, fresh-made jams, pressed flowers, hand-dipped candles or a carved wooden trinket all make favors that give guests a way to remember the occasion.

If you’re feeling particularly industrious, gather some friends a few weeks before the wedding and have a gluten-free cookie baking party. Package the cookies and freeze them to distribute at the wedding as favors.

Either allow guests to pack their own cookies in boxes or bags at the wedding (simplest option) or, if you have enough help, wrap and box them up the day before. Just make sure this is not something you are doing on your wedding day. (See my recipe for gluten free Mexican wedding cookies, which we served with cake.)

The classic wedding favor is an organza bag filled with Jordan Almonds tied with a ribbon of the same color as the bridesmaids’ dresses. Alas, typical Jordan Almonds are not gluten free, as they contain wheat dextrin. Some even contain flour as an ingredient.

Luckily, we have a perfect gluten-free substitute in M&M Almonds (although they do contain dairy). I have also recently found this brand that makes gluten-free Jordan Almonds, if you have your heart set on these for favors. So nice to have options!

It’s also easy to find inexpensive, non-edible items to give your guests. If you’re planning a wedding you already know how many things you can find online. Myweddingfavors.com and beau-coup.com are among many that have options in every price range. And you’ll find lots homemade ideas on Pinterest, too.

And believe it or not, you can skip the favors. Your guests aren’t in elementary school. No guest will wonder why they didn’t leave with a keepsake, so don’t let this detail add to your planning stress or break your budget.

 

A wonderful wedding

When the bride or groom is gluten-free, you can happily share food that fits your diet without having to compromise by allowing gluten or limiting your options. It’s not necessary to do either, so don’t think for a moment that you must consider it.

The most memorable weddings focus on the joy a bride and groom share with friends and family. The food you serve should be the safe, stress-free icing on the cake!