Gluten Free Weddings Unlocked: My Own Wedding Proved It’s Possible

by Associate Coordinator Natalie Raz

Editor's Note: Thoughtful hospitality is about more than beautiful tables and delicious food—it’s about making sure every guest feels welcome and cared for. We’re grateful to Natalie for sharing both her personal experience and practical insight throughout this three-part series. This is the final installment.

It was very important to me to have my favorite foods, pizza, pasta and chocolate cake, at my own wedding. I wanted gluten and dairy-free food that was delicious enough that no one could tell the difference. I didn’t want options for allergies. I wanted everything to be friendly.

Gluten-free appetizer by Gallucci's Catering; Photo by Moch Snyder Photography

The key was finding a caterer who told me what they could do instead of what they couldn’t. I was exhausted by conversations centered on limitations and substitutions. What made the difference was Brad at Gallucci’s Catering asking, “What, in your wildest dreams, do you want for food at your wedding?” Thinking I had stumped him, I threw pizza and pasta at him and he said, “Yes, we can make that happen.” I was floored but they came through with the most delicious pasta and sophisticated flat bread pizza in addition to the best beef I have ever had.

But the cake journey is what really sealed this philosophy for me.

I scheduled a tasting with one of my favorite local bakeries, a place I used to frequent for a sweet snack when I worked within walking distance. I was hopeful and all but assured this was who was going to make my wedding cake. I assumed we would adjust a few things for gluten-free and dairy-free and move forward. Instead, the cake was dry, noticeably below their usual standard, and when we began discussing design, I could sense hesitation. She wasn’t confident she could execute the vision I had in mind. I walked away feeling like I would have to compromise either on flavor, texture, or design simply because I needed a gluten-free baker. I knew when it came to wedding cake my options for vendors would be even more limited than it was for catering.

And if I’m honest, that felt discouraging.

If I was going to invest in a cake, I didn’t want it to feel like the “good enough” version of what everyone else gets. I didn’t want safe-but-subpar. And when the cake itself wasn’t great on top of that, I knew I needed to keep looking.

That’s when I found Cake and Crumble.

Hand-painted gluten-free wedding cake by Cake & Crumble; photo by Moch Snyder Photography

From the very beginning, working with Jenae felt different. Gluten wasn’t an obstacle to work around: she is an exclusively gluten-free baker so that piece was never a concern. Instead of focusing on what she couldn’t do, she immediately started telling me what she could do. The flavors. The fillings. The frostings. The creative, elegant possibilities.

She didn’t just understand my vision, she elevated it.

She assured me the cake would not be dry (and it absolutely wasn’t, it was delicious). She was genuinely excited to design and create with me. That enthusiasm changed the entire experience. I went from feeling like I would have to shrink my expectations to feeling fully supported and creatively inspired.

And the sweetest detail? The “Crumble” in Cake and Crumble is a nod to her signature raspberry bars which fit perfectly with the Raz-berry, English country, tea theme of our wedding. It felt meant to be.

Gluten-free wedding treats; photo by Moch Snyder Photography

Her creativity made the process fun instead of stressful. I didn’t have to worry about whether the cake would be safe for me or my guests. I didn’t have to double-check or second-guess. I was able to look forward to it.

I was able to sit down at my wedding and eat everything. All of it, the pizza, the pasta, steak, salad and raspberry bars and chocolate cake (which may have come with us on our honeymoon…did I mention I like cake?). My gluten-free guests were amazed that they could eat everything, too, and came to thank me. No one else noticed anything different. It was just good food.

Gluten-free wedding cake by Cake & Crumble; photo by Moch Snyder Photography

I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I was extremely happy, and yes, there may have been a small happy dance involved.

That experience confirmed something I already believed: inclusive menus don’t have to feel restrictive, and they don’t have to be expensive. Gluten-free bread, pasta, and cake can cost more, but thoughtful hospitality is about intentionality, not extravagance.

What I Want Couples to Understand

Even if you don’t have food allergies, someone on your guest list might.

And it can be embarrassing to tell a couple you have allergies. You don’t want to feel like you’re adding stress to their big day. You don’t want to be the high-maintenance guest. So sometimes people stay quiet.

But when you plan ahead, when you offer a well-rounded allergy-friendly meal, when you put the cheese and croutons on the side, when you ensure there’s a carb option, when you clearly label dishes, when you provide a dessert that’s both gluten and dairy-free, you create a moment your guests will never forget.

Gluten-free appetizer by Gallucci's Catering; photo by Moch Snyder Photography

Hospitality, to me, means seeing the whole person. It means understanding that food might have been a long, hard journey for them. It means knowing that something as small as a safe roll or slice of cake can make them feel deeply cared for and seen. The “I’ve got you!” attitude that puts them at ease.

At MG Event Design, we view food differently because I have lived this. I know the anxiety. I know the embarrassment of the long order, of subtracting, substituting, and oftentimes sending food back and sitting while everyone eats and being the last to finish. I know the quiet disappointment.

And I also know the joy of being included.

No one should leave your wedding hungry. And no one should spend your reception wondering if the food in front of them is going to make them sick. No one should have to make the two snack bars they brought a meal.

Food is celebration. It’s connection. It’s memory.

And when it’s done thoughtfully, it becomes one of the most powerful ways you can love your guests well. 

Wow, that was vulnerable! If you have a similar relationship with food, especially if living with food allergies is new to you, know that you are not alone. Reach out to us and let’s chat about making a memorable food experience at your wedding.