Vendor meals on wedding day?

travelerkris

Did anyone buy meals for their vendors on the wedding day?  If so, did the venue give you a discount for these meals?  Our venue has a per-guest cost, but I assume the vendors would be different, as they won't be consuming alcohol, and our price per person includes alcohol.  Did you include your vendor meals in your final guest count, or count them separately?

Our photographers will be with us for ten hours, so I assume we need to feed them.  Our videographer and DJ will be with us for six hours each.  Should I include them for meals as well?  What are you or did you do about vendor meals?  Thanks so much. 

Avion22

We fed our photographer and DJ off the buffet, and they were the same price as everyone else (we didn't have a per-head-cost for booze, so this didn't factor in)

If you are doing a sit-down meal, then your caterer might actually provide a different meal for your vendors.  When my dad was in a wedding band years ago, the band often got fed box lunches with sandwiches, chips, and bottled water (which they preferred to the guest meal because they could eat it whenever they wanted during short breaks and didn't have to worry about it being kept at the right temperature, of having to eat it at a certain time before the food was cleared).

shaina925

We gave them vendor meals, they ate what everyone else had a choice of, and I think it was around the same price but a few dollars cheaper. 

Maggie0829

We paid the same price for our vendors as we did for our guests.  They also ate what everyone else was given.  Our venue had separate price breakdowns for food and booze.

Most venues will provide you vendor meal pricing.  Basically they will just charge you for the food and not the drinks.  Talk with your venue and ask them what the options are.

Also, feed all of your vendors that are planning to spend quite a bit of time at your reception.  They will all be there during dinner time so they all should be fed dinner.  Would you like to work 6-10 hours without food?

Tabbie11

As pp said we fed our photographers and dj. We had a plated dinner but the vendor meals were a lot less and chef's choice. Often vendor meals will be similar price to kids meals.

HobokensFury

At my venue vendor meals cost 1/2 the price of the regular meals.  We provided meals for our 2 photographers, DJ, and Videographer. There were a separate head count.  I also told them to help themselves to anything they would like from our cocktail hour and dessert table.

ljsquintz

Our vendor meals were a little less than half the price of guest meals.  We provided for the DJ and emcee, photo booth attendent, and 3 photographers.  They expect it

MrsGandthebeag

Our vendors got the same meal as the guests for 1/2 price.  

MyNameIsNot

Our vendors had the same buffet stations as the rest of our guests.  It was cheaper because no alcohol, but the same food price.  We fed the coordinator, the DJ and the photographers.  

Check your contracts and talk to your vendors.  Typically vendors who will be with you through the duration of the day include that you provide a meal in their contract.  

OwningAHome1981

My hall says vendors eat half-price if they are not house vendors. If they are the house vendors, they eat free.

Vendors must ALWAYS be fed. Treat others how you'd want to be treated. Would you want to be working and not be fed?

KDM323

Always provide vendors with a meal.  Every vendor you have there for your wedding should be included in the vendor head count and provided to your caterer/reception location