Did you pay for vendor meals?

baileyleev

Our reception hall doesn't offer discounted vendor meals, so I'm trying to figure out if we serve dinner to the vendors. 

Mainly the DJ, Photographer, and DOC...

What do you think?

Meegles4

I think you have to. In most cases they're with you all day and need to eat.

kd1986

I'm pretty sure you're supposed to.  In our case, we'll have 3 plated entrees, and we'll choose the cheapest one to serve them.  It obviously won't include the bar charge either.

Thumper1148

It's in the contract for some of my vendors that they must be fed a regular meal.  So double check your contracts.  But I am planning on feeding all of my vendors, sicne they will be with us all day.

baileyleev

Ok, sounds good! I was totally unsure of protocol here. 

Thanks ladies!

entropicbeauty

You absolutely should feed your vendors, even if it is NOT in their contract!

They are going to be doing a lot that day and need to eat!

I've shot a couple of weddings as a photographer and at each one I was given an assigned seat and a full meal. I'm not saying you have to go crazy like that, but talk it over with your vendors in advance!

Example: "Photographer, we will be sitting down to dinner at 5:00pm, toasts will happen within the first 15 minutes, if you could make sure to shoot that then you can have the rest of the meal time to enjoy dinner yourself."

OR ask them what they expect/would like to do.

crhein26

I did.  I paid for the DJ plus his plus 1, our 2 photographers, our videographer, plus 2 photobooth attendents because I didn't shut the photobooth down during dinner.  I think that if they are working for you for x amount of hours, it's nice to pay for their meal.  Just think how you would feel if you were working for someone for 10-12 hours and they didn't let you break for food.

db1985

Definately pay for your Photographer, DJ, and DOC even if they don't specifically put it in their contracts!  They will be working your wedding for 6+ hours, you don't want them to be starving.  

We are having a buffet, so I plan to just let them go through at the very start of the dinner.  I am not inviting our officiant to the reception (I know it is proper etiquette to invite her).  We hired an officiant from the internet and will not meet her until day of.  I don't think she needs to eat since she will be showing up for an hour or so to do the ceremony then leaving.  If it was your family pastor that you've known for a long time then I definately would feed them too.

MMRoberts11

I'm feeding them.  I figured they'd be there all day and everyone else is eating so they should too.  Plus by not starving they'll be happier and do a better job.

emarston1

A fed vendor = a happy vendor.  And I wanted happy vendors at my wedding

baileyleev

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_did-pay-vendor-meals?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:6f52b8e5-3107-4626-9551-e7a0dc4d4bb9Post:f28bf888-c1dc-4b84-9289-78d02c95ac03">Re: Did you pay for vendor meals?</a>:
[QUOTE]I did.  I paid for the DJ plus his plus 1, our 2 photographers, our videographer, plus 2 photobooth attendents because I didn't shut the photobooth down during dinner.  I think that if they are working for you for x amount of hours, it's nice to pay for their meal.  <strong>Just think how you would feel if you were working for someone for 10-12 hours and they didn't let you break for food.</strong>
Posted by crhein26[/QUOTE]
I totally understand this, I just wasn't sure as our DOC and DJ are only contracted for 6 hours, it isn't quite that 10-12 hour day. 

crhein26

I would check your contracts first.  I emailed my vendors to find out exactly how many were going to be there (if they were bringing help) and I asked if they would like to have dinner.  If your DOC is just setting up your hall and leaving, then maybe not.  But if he/she is sticking around, then I would count on feeding them or at least ask them if they want to stay for dinner.  I agree with Liz about a fed vendor = a happy vendor.  My vendors were very appreciative that they got the full meals that everyone else did.  I also tipped the ones that owned their own businesses too, which is probably why I got 30 edited pictures at 1am after my wedding and a trailer for my video within a week of our wedding.  Sometimes going a little above and beyond makes them treat you a little better than those who don't.

baileyleev

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_did-pay-vendor-meals?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:6f52b8e5-3107-4626-9551-e7a0dc4d4bb9Post:79080a52-67a3-4fe4-b1f3-59eb1622439a">Re: Did you pay for vendor meals?</a>:
[QUOTE]I would check your contracts first.  I emailed my vendors to find out exactly how many were going to be there (if they were bringing help) and I asked if they would like to have dinner.  If your DOC is just setting up your hall and leaving, then maybe not.  But if he/she is sticking around, then I would count on feeding them or at least ask them if they want to stay for dinner.  I agree with Liz about a fed vendor = a happy vendor.  My vendors were very appreciative that they got the full meals that everyone else did.  I also tipped the ones that owned their own businesses too, which is probably why I got 30 edited pictures at 1am after my wedding and a trailer for my video within a week of our wedding.<strong>  Sometimes going a little above and beyond makes them treat you a little better than those who don't. </strong>Posted by crhein26[/QUOTE]
No Doubt! <div> </div><div>Dinner for vendors it is!</div>

emarston1

One thing you could do to skirt around the "do you want a meal" question is ask:

1)  Do you have any dietary restrictions you need to inform the venue of? 
2)  Ask how many employees will be at the reception (like a DOC with an assistant, etc.) so you can ensure adequate meals are provided.

By asking questions, it may also give them an out to say "oh I won't need one" or something along those lines.  That way you aren't paying for something they might not eat but still making sure they were taken care of.

Just a thought!

baileyleev

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_did-pay-vendor-meals?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:6f52b8e5-3107-4626-9551-e7a0dc4d4bb9Post:b1f806a4-181b-49fd-ba91-6c2056e9cdb8">Re: Did you pay for vendor meals?</a>:
[QUOTE]One thing you could do to skirt around the "do you want a meal" question is ask: 1)  Do you have any dietary restrictions you need to inform the venue of?  2)  Ask how many employees will be at the reception (like a DOC with an assistant, etc.) so you can ensure adequate meals are provided. By asking questions, it may also give them an out to say "oh I won't need one" or something along those lines.  That way you aren't paying for something they might not eat but still making sure they were taken care of. Just a thought!
Posted by emarston1[/QUOTE]
Love this! I didn't even think that they may have an assistant with them that we would also need to feed, that would have been disastrous!  Thanks Liz!

MichiganderBride

I will be giving my vendors the same meals as the guests. In most of my contracts, meals were included. One asked if they got a meal, others said they must get the same meal as the guests. Where I am having my reception, they don't have specific vendor meals, just the normal price minus the bar.

zulamay

Oops!

I just realized that I fed all but one of my vendors!  I planned for one photographer mea, but then I realized the photographer had an assistant and I think I forgot to write her down.  The kitchen must have provided her something.  

Ask your vendors about dietary restrictions for sure!!!!! We had one vendor who was allergic to gluten.

Milsey32

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_did-pay-vendor-meals?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:6f52b8e5-3107-4626-9551-e7a0dc4d4bb9Post:92c28f07-897a-47ab-9c71-1468703220a0">Re: Did you pay for vendor meals?</a>:
[QUOTE]A fed vendor = a happy vendor.  And I wanted happy vendors at my wedding :)
Posted by emarston1[/QUOTE]

<div>Agreeeeed.</div>

lesley909

crhein26  - you gave your dj a plus one? i was thinking of doing that but too but didnt know if people did that or not.

crhein26

@lesley - I emailed all my vendors 2 weeks prior to the wedding and asked how many people would be coming.  My DJ said he was bringing an assistant unless I didn't want him to.  I just wanted to make sure I had everyone covered.  All my vendors had 2 people except my videographer, so I ended up having a total of 9 vendors at my wedding that I paid for. 

Allycat11

We absolutely fed our vendors, some people just offer them something simple like a sandwich but our vendors were given their choice of filet, our chicken dish or our vegetarian option.  They ate in the same room as the rest of us, at a table with a centerpiece and everything...I see it as you take care of them, they take care of you.  We fed the following: 6 band members, 2 photographers and 2 photobooth attendants. 

spartybride3

I agree that you need to feed them. Our reception site makes 5% over the provided count and typically those meals are given to the vendors (or so I'm told).