Reception seating questions

stosha1

I am working on finalizing my seating chart and I came across a question that I can't find the answer to.What do you do about your vendors?Since we're doing our reception in the backyard instead of at a venue, we have LOTS of vendors (DJ, Valet, the entire serving staff plus bartender), day-of coordinator, two photogs, string quartet, etc.Did you provide a whole table for them to sit and eat dinner at with the rest of your guests? If not, where else do I put them? I didn't order a centerpiece, etc for that table (if i need one). I plan on ordering extra 'food' for them all so they have something to eat. They'll have to go thru the buffet line for supper if they want something because i'm not ordering them something special.Any suggestions?

jeremy.teresa

We are having a buffet and I was just planning on having an extra table set up somewhere for them.  Maybe off to the side or something.  I hadn't thought too far about it yet.  I wasn't too worried about the details on it like centerpieces, etc. but I think we should have enough extra.  I think most of our vendors will be gone by dinner, but we are planning on having the photographers, DJ's, videographer, possibly the trio...  Hopefully that helps a little. 

kelklump

I wouldnt worry about a centerpiece for the table, but setting one up would be nice. I have my photog's at an actual table (we have a great relationship with them and they are going to go through the line early to make sure they eat and get back to snapping photos.) The DJ will be eating while we are at cocktail hour which we worked out with the venue and the day of coordinator will be eating as well. Good luck on teh planning... that is a large group to coordinate.

hrparker

First, kudos to you for making sure they'll have food.  A lot of brides don't even bother to do that much.  But PLEASE provide your vendors with a table.We ended up setting up an entire table just for them, and were told that it was much appreciated.  It was off to the side, they didn't feel like they needed to be "working" while they finished their meal, but it gave them  a chance to sit down and refuel for a minute while there wasn't much to do our document.  Your waitstaff really won't have a chance to sit down and eat, but that's never expected.  We provided meals for our photogs (2), or videogs (3), our DoCs (2), and our DJ (1).I had a centerpiece, the chargers, and favors for the table, but then I had a drastic reduction in my guest list about two weeks out.  I don't know if I would have done that originally, but I know they appreciated it, and it did make the room feel cohesive....Also, you might think of letting them know that they can "cut" into the buffet line after the wedding party and immediate family, just so they can get their food and eat it while the eating is still happening.  If they're stuck waiting till the end, the toasts and all the other fun stuff might start happening right as they sit back down, and they'll need to be documenting that, so they won't really get a chance to eat.

KJ42008

Hey Date Twin! Well, your ahead of me. I have not started yet on my seating chart. I am also a little confused in that area. I good friend is the photographer so I am just placing her and her hubby at a "regular" table. The only other vendor I have really is the DJ and I guess I will have to work something out where he can eat during our cocktail hour. I am having a group of students (string quartet) perform for the ceremony. Now, after the ceremony there will be appetizers. Do I still invite the quartet to the reception? I have a feeling they will leave shortly after the ceremony but I was not sure if I still invite them to the reception? I would make an extra table but not worrying about a centerpiece. You could always use a frame and print off "vendors" and have that at the table? (I don't know if that's tacky or not??) I worked on a couple weddings with a wedding planner and she never sat at a vendor table, she was always doing something or just standing back and watching. ( I remember thinking to myself "ugh, are we ever going to sit down and eat" ha ha.

tb583

Our only vendors that will be around during dinner time will be the photographer and his assistant (his wife) and the dj (we will have a pianist for dinner and he will leave right after).  The photog and dj are both friends of ours, so we will seat them with the other guests they know.I think since you have so many vendors it is fine to set-up an additional table for them.  I wouldn't be too concerned about a centerpiece or decorations for that table.  I am sure that they will appreciate the fact that you thought enough to provide them with a table and food.  As one of the previous posters said, not many brides even think about offering vendor meals.

onlymels

I'm planning on setting up a table for them. We're doing all our pictures beore the ceremony due to locations and times that they're open. I might let the vendors get their food first so they can sit and eat and get back to whatever. I probably will have their table set up like the guests just cause my center pieces are pretty cheap.

J&J071908

I would just ask them what they prefer. Out of all my vendors, only the photographer and her assistant wanted a meal and they did not want to sit at a table among the guests.