Vegan Wedding Catering: Menu Ideas, Costs and Keeping Every Guest Happy
Editorial team sustainable-catering.eu · Updated 19 October 2026
Vegan wedding catering in Germany costs roughly the same as a classic menu with meat. In the cost model behind our calculator, a vegan menu ranges from 10 % cheaper to 5 % more expensive, a vegetarian one from 10 % cheaper to the same price. The occasion itself matters more: caterers typically add 10 to 20 % for weddings because guests expect a higher service level. A vegan wedding buffet therefore costs about 28 to 63 € per person for the food, before drinks, staff and cake.
What vegan wedding catering costs per person
Typical food ranges per person for 50 to 149 guests, including VAT, excluding drinks. The vegan factor (minus 10 % to plus 5 %) and the wedding surcharge (plus 10 to 20 %) are applied to the conventional range.
| Format | Conventional, no wedding surcharge | Vegan, wedding | Vegan, wedding, 100 % organic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finger food (reception) | 18-32 € | 18-40 € | 21-54 € |
| Buffet | 28-50 € | 28-63 € | 33-85 € |
| Flying buffet | 38-65 € | 38-82 € | 45-111 € |
| Plated three-course dinner | 45-85 € | 45-107 € | 53-145 € |
All figures are rounded guide values. To decide on the format, see buffet or plated dinner.
Worked example: vegan buffet for 70 wedding guests
Mid-range assumptions: buffet base price 40 € per person, no adjustment for vegan, about 30 % organic (plus 12 %) and a wedding surcharge of 15 %, giving about 51.50 € per person.
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 70 × 51.50 € | 3,605 € |
| Drinks package | 70 × 25 € | 1,750 € |
| Service staff | 4 staff × 8 h × 42 € | 1,344 € |
| Rental tableware | 70 × 6 € | 420 € |
| Delivery | flat | 120 € |
| Total | 7,239 € |
That is about 103 € per guest, excluding cake, late-night snack and decoration. Long staff hours are a major cost driver at weddings, so ask when overtime starts. Run your own scenario in the catering cost calculator.
Menu ideas
A good vegan wedding menu does not feel like something is missing. It relies on dishes that are naturally plant-based or work just as well without animal products.
Reception and finger food
- Crostini with roasted pepper and walnut spread (muhammara) or herbed bean purée
- Stuffed vine leaves, falafel with tahini
- Mini tarts with roasted vegetables
- Seasonal crudités with hummus and beetroot dip
- Summer rolls with peanut or sesame sauce
Main course, buffet or plated
- Mushroom or pumpkin risotto finished with olive oil instead of butter and parmesan
- Chickpea and vegetable curry with basmati rice and flatbread
- Peppers or courgettes stuffed with lentils and herbs
- Seasonal roasted vegetables with herb pesto and polenta
- Grain salads with bulgur, spelt or lentils so they actually fill people up
Dessert and late-night snack
- Chocolate mousse made with aquafaba or silken tofu
- Seasonal fruit, sorbets
- Later on: potato soup, chili sin carne or Flammkuchen with cashew cream
Plan by season. Asparagus, strawberries and fresh herbs in early summer, pumpkin, mushrooms and root vegetables in autumn: seasonal produce tastes better and is usually cheaper, especially in organic quality.
Keeping every guest on board
- Choose familiar dishes. Curry, pasta, risotto and roasted vegetables are universally known. Keep meat substitutes as a side, not the centrepiece.
- Make it filling. Pulses, grains, nuts and potatoes make sure nobody leaves hungry.
- Announce it plainly. A short line on the invitation or menu card is enough and matters for guests with allergies.
- Use the tasting. Bring a sceptical relative to the tasting session if that helps.
- Think of children. Simple dishes such as pasta with tomato sauce or oven potatoes work well.
- Consider vegetarian as a middle ground. A vegetarian buffet with mostly vegan dishes, clearly labelled, is a good compromise.
The vegan wedding cake
Many German bakeries offer vegan cakes made with plant-based margarine, plant-based whipped cream, aquafaba or apple purée. Book early, as good bakeries fill up in wedding season. Ask how long the cake can stand without refrigeration, since plant-based creams behave differently in heat, and taste samples before you decide. Clarify whether the cake comes from the caterer or separately, and who delivers, chills and cuts it.
Allergens and drinks
Vegan dishes often contain soy, nuts, sesame, mustard, celery or gluten, for example in seitan. Under Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, caterers must provide information on the 14 major allergens, also for unpackaged food. Collect your guests’ intolerances and pass them on in good time.
Wine and juice can be clarified with animal-derived agents such as gelatine, isinglass or egg white. If a fully vegan celebration matters to you, ask specifically for vegan-produced wines, and have plant-based milk ready for coffee and tea.
Questions to ask the caterer
- Has the caterer delivered fully vegan wedding menus before, and can you see sample menus?
- Does the kitchen cook plant-based from scratch, or rely mainly on ready-made substitutes?
- How are hidden animal ingredients avoided in sauces, stocks, bread and desserts?
- Is a tasting possible, and what does it cost?
- What is the certified organic share?
- Does the caterer supply the cake and late-night snack, or work with a bakery?
Finding the right caterer
Not every caterer offering vegan dishes has experience with a fully vegan wedding menu. Ask for sample menus, a tasting and how allergens are labelled. Our caterer checklist covers quotes, contracts and cancellation terms. Caterers with a vegan or vegetarian focus are listed in our caterer directory, or use our enquiry form and we will get back to you with suitable caterers.
Frequently asked questions
Is vegan wedding catering more expensive?
Usually not. As a guide, a vegan menu is between 10 % cheaper and 5 % more expensive than a comparable menu with meat. The wedding surcharge, organic ingredients and service level have a bigger effect on price.
Should we tell guests the food is vegan?
Yes, briefly, for example on the invitation or menu card. It helps guests with allergies and avoids surprises without making diet the main topic.
Can we have a vegan wedding cake in Germany?
Yes. Many German bakeries (Konditoreien) make vegan cakes with plant-based margarine, plant-based cream and egg replacers. Ask for a tasting and how long the cake can stand unrefrigerated.