Feed my photographer?

chiungypoo

I have a teeny wedding of 24 people including myself and my fiance. We have 3 round tables to seat 8. What do I do with our photographer while we're eating? Do we seat and feed him along with our guests? Does he continue to take pictures? Does he eat in another room? I'm not unwilling to feed him, I just don't know what is customary.

Leah&Christian09

Typically you feed the photographer, the DJ and any other vendors that have to stay through the meal. You can put them in another room, but if it is just the photographer, I'd just make a spot for him in the room. Check with your venue to see if there is a special meal available for your vendors.

chiungypoo

hahahahaha!! I can see the coordinator saying to the photographer, "The guests are going to eat now. It's time for you to go to the other room". I guess that won't be the best idea because we're not having a DJ or anything so he'll be the only non-guest sent to another room. I do believe our venue has alternative meals, thanks for the suggestion! And you're right, there's no reason why we can't seat him at one of the tables to eat with us..

jinxed8605

both our DJ and photographer will be fed the same meal as everyone else. I think it's rude to say "well everyone else is eating steak, here's some chicken"

chiungypoo

Fair enough, but where will you seat them? That was my main concern. Will they be sitting with your guests? They're not guests, though, wouldnt' at be kind of weird? On top of that our photographer is the only one who will be working through our wedding so that's where I'm stuck.

jinxed8605

the DJ I am sure will stand and eat since he will be playing music at the same time, but the photog will have the option to sit with the guests.

chiungypoo

Gotcha! Will take that into consideration! Thanks!

bcnoelle

I am having a really small wedding too (18 people total). I am going to save a seat at the table for my photographer just because it's so small. I will let him know that he is welcome to eat with us. I feel like I learned enough about his photography and saw reviews to feel comfortable knowing he will do a good job whether or not he is seated at the table. He will probably be up and moving around. I just don't want him to go through an 8 hour day without a decent meal or place to sit.

dsouldiva

Most photographers or wedding vendors would agree that they would like to have their breaks in a seperate room, it's no different than being at work and being asked to eat your lunch in front of your customers/clients.It gives them a chance to have a rest, make any necessary calls on their phone and generally chill out.Don't feel that you have to serve them up a 3 course meal but it should be substantial.  If you are doing a buffet ask them if they would like to help themselves or have one of the servers plate them up a selection of the food.Generally photographers don't take photos while you are eating, so they don't need to be in the room. 

melishka716

Ask them. I know I was required, through our contract, to feed the photographer. I know that our other vendors, minus the DOC, said not to. Some vendors feel that they don't want to be distracted during your reception, so many eat before hand.

chiungypoo

Thanks for all your suggestions, girls! We'll definitely have a meal for him and I will make sure to let him have a choice of where to sit so he gets fed and is comfortable. ) Thanks again!!

jeannigirl

Yes they do offer meals for the Vendors like your photographer and DJ, but usually they take those breaks away from the guests for a quick meal. Its not customary to seat them with your guests because they are not they have been hired by you.

peachkins

Dsouldiva makes a good point.  If I was somewhere working I wouldn't want to sit and eat with the people I'm working for.  That would be a bit awkward to me, and not the short, relaxing break I was looking for.  I wouldn't worry too much about including them at your table.

Megan031710

Ask your photographer where he prefers to sit, and what he would prefer to eat. Sometimes, vendors actually prefer a something quick, like a sandwich, because they don't want to eat a full meal. This is a great idea, I know I had planned on feeding the vendors, but I didn't know exactly how they would get a full meal in (sit down, relax, eat ect) when they are the PHOTOGRAPHERS lol, so thanks for that tip. I'm going to ask them what they prefer, maybe we can have the meal premade for them and waiting for when they want it, or when they have the time to take a break and eat it. Great tip!