Feeding vendors?

cdougherty02

Hey everyone,

I'm very early into my planning and we are working on the guest list. I was just wondering out of vendors who do we have to feed and if we do, do we give them a choice???

I'm just trying to figure out what is right??

Thank you.

Peledreamsofrain

You don't HAVE to feed your vendors, but it's the nice thing to do. Also, unhappy and hungry people don't tend to do as good of work as happy wellfed peopke.

kay136

I can't imagine not feeding the vendors. Most of them are there for a long day so I think they would get cranky without food. They could always brown bag it I guess. Our photographer actually put it in her contract that her and her assistant require meals. Must have been starved too many times Also- most caterers offer a cheaper vendor meals. Our vendor meals are half the price of our guests meals.

melb2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-vendors-6?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2b1678ac-f2db-44a8-85f1-c0eb494bb0a4Post:359f9330-c4ae-4b01-8c4a-6b1d469005b5">Re: Feeding vendors?</a>:
[QUOTE]I can't imagine not feeding the vendors. Most of them are there for a long day so I think they would get cranky without food. They could always brown bag it I guess. Our photographer actually put it in her contract that her and her assistant require meals. <strong>Must have been starved too many times :)</strong> Also- most caterers offer a cheaper vendor meals. Our vendor meals are half the price of our guests meals.
Posted by kay136[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>As a wedding musician I can attest to this.  It sucks not being fed.  Even if they don't require you feed them, feed them!  Talk to your venue, most provide meals at discounted prices for vendors.

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cwaggoner07

We had an open buffet and no assigned seating, and told the vendors they could eat at their leisure. I think it worked pretty well.

lyndausvi

we fed the DJ and photographers.   We had a duo of filet and crabcake with a veggie option.  Not knowing if they had dietary restrictions we offered them choices.

joleri23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-vendors-6?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:2b1678ac-f2db-44a8-85f1-c0eb494bb0a4Post:1d12e76f-4b5f-4bd4-8ef5-6cf26e7b97e7">Re: Feeding vendors?</a>:
[QUOTE]We had an open buffet and no assigned seating, and told the vendors they could eat at their leisure. I think it worked pretty well.
Posted by cwaggoner07[/QUOTE]

<div>We're doing something similar, but with assigned seating. I know the DJ and photographer personally though, so it's not as odd to me to give them a seat when they want to take a break.</div>

KellyBrian2013

We fed our photographer and DJ (the only vendors we had at the reception). They received the exact same meal as our guests, and we gave them the same choices (chicken marsala or vegetarian pasta), complete with all of the same courses (salad, fruit salad, etc.) and sides (mixed veggies and potato gratin).

I believe the photographer ate at the bar (we had a LARGE horseshoe bar in the reception area with stools and several tables with booths in addition to the tables our guests ate at. Our DJ was kind enough to provide all of the dinner music (including live piano), so he ate at his DJ booth at his leisure.

twotimemob

We fed the DJ, photographers and bartenders.  However, don't make the same mistake we did.  Have a specified place for your vendors to eat.  Read on:

The DJ and bartenders ate where they worked, so no problem.  However, I didn't set up a table or area where the photographers would eat.  Didn't even think of it. 

We had a couple of guests who we knew were going to be late, due to them having to attend a funeral earlier.  Our guests' seats were still empty when the photographers sat down at their seats to eat!  (we had a buffet)  Then when our guests arrived I told the caterer of the situation and she booted the photographers out of there, but also had to replace the used settings.  It all worked out ok but was a bit awkward and tense for a few minutes!