Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

What To Do About Weddings?

DianeMu

By DianeMu
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

DianeMu Rookie
DianeMu
Posted

I have just been invited to 2 weddings. This is the first since being diagnosed. What do you guys do about it? Do I eat before and not worry about it? Should I call the place where the reception will be and ask what they normally do? Do I talk to the people who invited us. I don't know what is the proper thing to do. Any advice would be wonderful!! Thanks! Diane

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


chili Apprentice
chili
Posted

I would love to know too!! I have been invited to 1 baptism, 2 communions and 1 wedding all in the next month, and I am sooooo stressed!!! I was thinking of calling the places where the functions are being held...It is a little socially uncomfortable to sit there when everyone else is eating!! I think that i what I would do..any advice from some pros out there would be appreciated!!

11475 Apprentice
11475
Posted

Adding myself to the list - I've also found myself in this position. Normally, I'd just eat beforehand, but at a wedding, especially where the bride & groom have paid for your meal, I'd feel horrible for their sake not eating anything if there was a way to make the meal safe.

I suppose it differs in terms of how well you know the person who invited you, if they know of your restrictions, if you know others with similar restrictions will also be attending etc. Keen to hear some advice from those who have dealt with this.

Strawberry-Jam Enthusiast
Strawberry-Jam
Posted

I've only been to one wedding since my diagnosis--my cousin's--and I just brought my own food to the reception. I did have two glasses of wine there though, and a little punch. No cake of course. :(

I'm not the only one in my family with food problems--my aunt has severe migraines when she has MSG or certain other foods, so she didn't eat anything at the reception either. I did offer her some of my food (I brought cashews and gluten-free animal crackers), and though it was all food she could eat, I'm thinking she'd eaten already because she didn't have anything there except coffee.

It helps that the reception was served buffet-style so I just never got up to get in line.

GlutenFreeManna Rising Star
GlutenFreeManna
Posted

I have been to a few weddings since gluten free. Fortuantely they were all cake and punch or appetizer type weddings and not sit down catered dinners. I just ate before I went, took my own snacks in my purse and planned a special treat for afterward if neccessary. Beyond that, I tried to always have a drink in my hand or be dancing/moving around the room greeting people so no one would notice I wasn't eating.

If it were a sit down plated dinner I think the best way to handle it is to find out from realtives or close friends of the bride who the caterer is and call to talk to them to see if they can accomodate you with a gluten free meal. Then also take food for back up in case they mess up/forget. I would not bother the bride about it unless they are a close relative or you are in the wedidng party or something. She has enough to worry about without calling the caterer for one guest's special dietary requirements.

bigbird16 Apprentice
bigbird16
Posted

I've only been to one wedding, as a bridesmaid for my best friend, since going gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free. I just brought my own little tucker bag filled a Larabar for a snack before the wedding, an extra for the bride if she needed food, Hormel chili for dinner, and a homemade me-friendly muffin with a travel packet of honey for dessert. I just opened up my food and enjoyed along with everyone else. (That was a pretty picture--all decked out like a movie star in a red gown in a fancy room, crackin' open a can of chili. lol) The smell of the muffin made some others jealous, though I heard the cake was divine. It was a destination wedding, so my suitcase was stuffed with good food. That worked out great--since I ate the food, I had rom to take clothes and shoes home for the bride and groom.

My 20th high school reunion is this summer, and if I go, I plan to do the same--simply bring my own and enjoy the night. For lunches during work meetings when we're out of town, I bring my own and set up my little meal like it's nothing. For recption/party sorts of things, I usually either eat before and keep my glass of water or juice full or bring a few me-friendly snacks. I'm going to eat if I'm hungry, by gum. Oh, we're going to Bismarck, ND in a few weeks for work, and I hear that the food at the Civic Center is atrocious. I just laughed during our staff meeting when this was mentioned, because I knew I would be getting fabulous food from home. I may even bring my electric skillet for this trip to make hot breakfasts and dinners.

cahill Collaborator
cahill
Posted

I have a wedding coming up in July . My daughter ( whom is gluten free) is getting married . It is catered and we have worked out a pretty good menu , but I am still worried about CC. She and I will eat before , take snacks from home for her and my self. The wedding cake will be gluten free.I am a little concerned about CC But my daughter knows the cake maker personally and has really stressed the CC Issue with her :D

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Tigercat17 Enthusiast
Tigercat17
Posted

I've been to a few wedding since going gluten free. I don't take any chances when it comes to eating at weddings. There's just too busy and the risk for CC is way too high. It's just not worth it to me.

I usually treat myself to one of my favorite meals like a good steak for lunch. That way I don't have "food envy" during the wedding. B) Then I'll bring a sandwich, a salad or a couple a Lara Bars for a snack during the wedding dinner. Both times I just brought a little cooler. Most of my friends know why I can't eat the wedding dinner, so it's not a problem at all. Sometimes I do have to explain things, but I try not to feel sorry for myself. And it's a good opportunity to bring awareness to celiac disease. You never know who has this disease and they aren't diagnosed.

Just enjoy the company, Dance a lot, have fun and make sure you have a glass of wine! ;)

jebby Enthusiast
jebby
Posted

I have been to two weddings since being diagnosed last year. When I sent in the RSVP card I requested a gluten free dinner (both weddings were for close friends of mine who already knew that I'm a Celiac). At the first wedding there were actually 5 or 6 guests who were gluten free and at the second there were 2 or 3 of us. My plates had slightly different food and both times I had a different dessert, but at both weddings the caterers were great about making sure that I could eat safely. My mom is also a Celiac and has been gluten free at tons of weddings. If you know the bride or groom well enough, then I'd recommend having them see if their caterers can accomodate you.

Jungle Rookie
Jungle
Posted

When you RSVP you could write a quick note asking if it is not too much bother could they provide a gluten free meal but to also say if it is a problem you'd be happy to bring your own and just to let you know so you could be prepared.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

You can ask the couple getting married for the caterer's name and talk to them.

I always just brought my own food.

Marilyn R Community Regular
Marilyn R
Posted

When you RSVP you could write a quick note asking if it is not too much bother could they provide a gluten free meal but to also say if it is a problem you'd be happy to bring your own and just to let you know so you could be prepared.

I was a catering manager at an upscale hotel chain for years. Vegatarians and Kosher Jews request special meals routinely, and without a second thought. Please feel free to write "Gluten Free" on your RSVP without guilt.

If you can talk to the caterer ahead of time, I'd encourage you to do so. If you aren't comfortable with their expertise (many caterers are getting pretty savvy out of necessity), you could always ask for a plain uncut sweet potato or baked potato and a piece of plain broiled fish on a bed of greens with lemon.

The bride and her parents want the wedding to be perfect for everyone. It's fine if you prefer to take your own food, too!

I've only been to one wedding since going gluten-free and it was wonderful. Mine happened to be a buffet. I joked with the carver at the carving station and asked if he knew where his knife's been today. When I was satisfied with his answer, I had a nice helping of beef (he knew how it had been prepared), and found one or two other things that ended up being perfectly safe. (Other than a little hangover, I felt great the next day!)

I hope you have a wonderful time at the wedding! :)

DianeMu Rookie
DianeMu
Posted
  • Author

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice. You guys are great!!!! I think I will call the cater, and maybe throw some snacks in my bag just in case!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      128,394
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Shannon S.
    Newest Member
    Shannon S.
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.1k
    • Total Posts
      70.9k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Oats gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your point about the limitations of current testing is valid, but the idea of "molecular mimicry" with rice and corn glutens is less clear. While corn contains zein, which can trigger reactions in some celiac patients, rice is generally considered safe and lacks proteins structurally similar to gluten. The term "molecular mimicry" is often overused and not well-supported in the context of all grains. While your experience with corn is noteworthy, extending this to all grains, including rice, may not be scientifically justified. Testing and research should indeed improve, but claims about all grains causing similar reactions need more evidence.
    • trents
      My Adult daughter is blaming me for her "possible" Celiac disease.

      By trents · Posted

      I think Scott speaks truth. And I think there is more to this than the prospect of her having celiac disease. If it wasn't this issue, I'm betting it would be another. 
    • Scott Adams
      My Adult daughter is blaming me for her "possible" Celiac disease.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      So one does need a specific inherited gene in order to develop celiac disease, so in some way I suppose anyone with celiac disease could take the negative approach of blaming their parents for getting it, however, it also takes some other environmental trigger, such as a specific virus or other factor, and this part is not necessarily caused by the parents. Around 40% of people have the genes to get celiac disease, but only around 1% actually get it.  In any case, we could all go through life complaining about all sorts of different wrongs supposedly caused by our parents, however, it's probably a lot more healthy for everyone to try to deal with life in a more positive way and instead move forward. For most people it's probably far more important to maintain positive family relationships in life than it is to try to attach blame to family members for getting any disease. 
    • James47
      Alcohol

      By James47 · Posted

      So as some of you already know I was 47 turning 48 before my diagnosis so a lot and a lot of internal damage. I no longer obviously drink beer unless gluten-free variants of it but does anyone else really struggle when just drink any sorts of alcohol now. I'm really thinking going tea total and avoiding it completely 
    • NavyMom
      I’m terrified it’s too late for me😭

      By NavyMom · Posted

      Hi CathiJean, Wipe those tears my friend.  Finding out that you have celiac just gave you the cheat code on how to start feeling better!  It may feel like a loss right now, but honestly within 6 months you will start feeling better.  Within a year you will look back and wonder how in the world did I survive feeling like that for what feels like a lifetime?  You mentioned 15 years, that's about how long I have been really ill as well.  I had told every doctor I saw that I kept getting sick, infections, hair loss, joint pain, etc. and nobody would listen to me until I turned 45.  I went in for a colonoscopy and the doc says how often do you have bowel movements and I said usually between 10-15 times a day.  Suddenly I had someone actually listen to me and the testing began.  What I can tell you is use this forum, talk to peers, read everything you can about how to gluten-free your kitchen, encourage your family to participate in your journey (trust me they love you enough to make the effort), how to order food in restaurants, and how to avoid cross contamination.  Accept that you will make mistakes and allow yourself grace as you implement your new normal and have a clear understanding that going gluten free will begin healing your body in ways that you will not even begin to understand until you actually do it.  So, have faith that the nutrient deficiencies that you are probably experiencing right now can be corrected and you are on a bright path to feeling SO much better.  Think about how incredible your mom journey is about to become as you begin to feel better!!  Your kids are going to be amazed at your energy levels, ability to play and go do stuff...you are leveling up knowing that you have Celiac.  Knowing gives you power my friend, harness it and have gratitude that it was discovered...even if the docs missed it - you know now and keep moving forward.  You got this!! 
×
×
  • Create New...