More Than an Option: How My Food Allergies Changed the Way We Plan Weddings (And Why It Matters for Your Guests)

Editor’s Note: This post is the first in a three-part series by Associate Coordinator Natalie Raz. Natalie brings both personal experience and thoughtful insight to the topic of food allergies—particularly gluten and dairy—and why awareness matters so much when gathering around the table. It’s an important perspective we believe every client, guest, and caterer can benefit from. We hope you enjoy the series.

Hey everyone, it’s Natalie, your favorite wedding assistant, taking over the MG Event Design blog to talk to you about how my food allergies have shaped how we view food at weddings. 

This year marks 11 years since I went gluten and dairy-free, and to commemorate the milestone I wanted to share my experience and how it has shaped how we view food and eating out, especially weddings. 

I didn’t grow up with food allergies. I didn’t have to pack special lunches as a kid or explain my diet at birthday parties. It wasn’t until my second year of college that I cut out gluten. I had been off dairy completely for a little while because I had known for years that it bothered my stomach but I was still having pain after eating. At my mom’s suggestion I went off gluten and felt so much better. A couple years later I was allergy tested and gluten and dairy were off the charts bad… along with 23 other items. While I was relieved, I realized food was going to look different for me for the rest of my life. It changed the way I grocery shopped. It changed the way I ordered at restaurants. It changed the way I traveled. It changed parties, and social gatherings, and family dinners. It was life-altering, and honestly, it was hard. Yes, I eat very healthy but honestly, I’m just trying to not get sick.

Natalie enjoying an entire plate of gluten-free treats from Grain Artisan Bakery in Snohomish, WA

There’s something deeply humbling about realizing that something as simple as bread, something most people never think twice about, is suddenly complicated. You read every label. Even products you’ve eaten for years have to be checked again because recipes change. You learn to ask questions you never thought you’d need to ask and have to remember to specify that you have an allergy in the hopes that they take extra care. You learn very quickly that not everyone understands the difference between a preference and something that will actually make you sick.

One of the questions I dislike the most is, “Is it an allergy or a preference?” It makes me cringe. Why does it matter? Sometimes there are differences in food preparation but even if it’s a preference it’s probably for health reasons so shouldn’t the prep be the same? No gluten means, no gluten.

I know people don’t always mean harm when they ask it, but it reduces something very real into something optional. I don’t choose this because I want to be difficult or because I’m trying to eat “healthy.” I do it because I know what happens when I eat gluten; six weeks of a mild stomach ache. Uncomfy tummy before every meal for six weeks. Weird, but that’s my symptom. Dairy is more intense but has shorter consequences. My motto with dairy is, “I cheat for chocolate” (but only in small amounts, which don’t seem to affect me).

Ice cream cart by Aha Sugar Co, who always serves a gluten-and-dairy-free option

Over time, that experience has shaped not just how I eat but how we plan weddings. My mom is great at understanding my food, my allergies, and what that entails, but for me, it’s personal. I am here to ask these questions of the catering staff on your behalf and be your and your guests advocate while I also advocate for myself. MG Event Design believes cultivating relationships with our vendors is very valuable and our most loved caterers, bakers, and ice cream carts know us by name. We trust them to deliver the best food and

best service and you can too.

Understanding gluten and dairy allergies is the first step toward creating more thoughtful and inclusive gatherings. In our next post, Natalie shares what these allergies actually look like in everyday life—and why awareness matters more than many people realize.