Invited To A Wedding...

[adab8ca]

so I got invited to a wedding and was thinking I will have to eat before hand, there is no way I am going to trust anything.

So I read the invitation closely recently and there are choices of meals, and a question "Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements". Many of them look gluten-free (a quinoa and roasted vegetable something or other...anyone that I know that eats quinoa is gluten-free, it is not that mainstream YET)

Now, I don't want to be a jerk and expect special treatment at all but THEY ASKED. Then I am thinking maybe they are thinking about vegetarianism, or lactose, I really don't know.

So would you tell them? Would you trust the food? My instinct is no...

[mamaw]

I have been to several weddings& had a gluten-free meal. But never did I ever see it on an invitation, how sweet is that. I would guess someone close to either the bride or groom has a dietary issue...I would put celiac ( wheat & gluten Free).. Each time I receive an invite I look to where thereseption is at & call that place, I kindly ask about the wedding dinner & ask if there would be anything I could eat & be safe & not get ill.I also ask that they not burden the Bride or Groom about my question.. Many chefs are well aware of celiac so now days, I think some can do a nice gfdinner..

The last several I went to thye were all gluten-free except for the cookies & cake, & 1 appetizer & breads...

One had chicken & roast beef which had gravy over it but when I called ahead the chef said oh that is no problem I'll just save a portion & not put in the gravy for you.. She took my name & said it would be at my place setting when dinner was served...I was a bit scared so when I got to the place I asked to speak to her . I thanked her for doing that for me & how much I appreciated being able to sit down & eat with others...Shesaid oh yes, I didn't forget to do that for you... Then she told me everything else , veggies, potatoes, were already gluten-free...Turns out later on when talking with others another person was gluten-free&came late so they didn't feel awkward at dinner..Isaid I called ahead & had a nice dinner just didn't have the gravy.... Needless to say they wished they would have done that as well...

The bottom line is you must choose for yourself.... I would never go to eat with out making a phone call first.....

Times are changing with special diet &I love that people are being thoughtful about others....

The other wedding I went to recently was even better, I called the chef & said celaic -- he said oh my best friend has celiac all my foods are gluten-free except the crackers which I put on 1 tray & cheese is gluten-free & it goes on another tray...& the fruits are fine. Bread is passed around the tables at dinner & it is covered up & people reach in to have it...Then he said sorry no cake but they also are having sherbet & its okay...He also saidhe has found this is just easrie rto do mostly gluten-free....

good luck

[psawyer]

I would reply stating that you have celiac disease, and need a gluten-free meal. I would wait until I heard from them before passing judgement. Most caterers are aware of the issue and can deal with it if given adequate notice. If you still have doubts, contact the bride and ask who the caterer is so that you can contact them directly. Both she and her caterer want you to have an enjoyable event.

mamaw posted while I was composing my post.

[adab8ca]

Yes, you are both right. I think it is lovely that they asked, I just know how stressful weddings can be!

I have just never seen this before nor have I been to a wedding since I became gluten-free, so I really didn't know the protocol and wanted to avoid causing any inconvenience.

[mybellemichelle]

so I got invited to a wedding and was thinking I will have to eat before hand, there is no way I am going to trust anything.

So I read the invitation closely recently and there are choices of meals, and a question "Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements". Many of them look gluten-free (a quinoa and roasted vegetable something or other...anyone that I know that eats quinoa is gluten-free, it is not that mainstream YET)

Now, I don't want to be a jerk and expect special treatment at all but THEY ASKED. Then I am thinking maybe they are thinking about vegetarianism, or lactose, I really don't know.

So would you tell them? Would you trust the food? My instinct is no...

Since they asked, I would go ahead and tell them. I would be sure to explain the cross-contamination issue. If they can't or won't accommodate you (even after they asked their guests to tell them about food issues), then definitely eat before the event or take some gluten free snacks with you.

[tennisman]

I went to Sicily last year for a family wedding , we had contacted the venue before we went and they understood gluten free very well . They gave us different foods to everyone else it was mainly fish and meat . Than they gave us a pasta dish while everyone else had meat . I was skeptical about the pasta being gluten free because it tasted unbelievably good. I got my Dad to check with the waiter like 10 times if it was definitely gluten free lol . It was the nicest gluten free pasta I had ever tried , I didn't believe it was gluten free but it was I think wedding venues normally understand gluten free more than most restaurants

[love2travel]

Nearly all weddings out here in the rural areas are catered by the farm and/or church women of that community which usually means perogies, cabbage rolls, buns, chicken and gravy, etc. Sadly I have not heard of any that have any clue about celiac disease. City weddings here would likely be a different story as caterers have guidelines. Not to stereotype or generalize at all - it is just a fact that these country buffets are normally chock full of gluten (albeit tasty)! We were invited to such a wedding recently (only to the reception dinner) - the family had not heard of celiac disease and it is a typical perogy feast! Man, I miss those perogies. I have had gluten-free perogies but they are not the same - YET.

[lucia]

I've been to a number of catered events since going gluten-free, and my impression is that catering staffs are far more knowledgeable about gluten than most restaurant servers. It's really easy for the chef to put together a gluten-free meal - just leaving off a sauce or grilling something instead of baking it - as long as s/he has advance warning. I have been pleasantly surprised.

Besides, I'm learning from my husband, "Ask, and you might get." So, ask! They even gave you the opportunity.