Vendor Meals/Seating

acaponi87

A few questions for you ladies and all of your wisdom..

What's proper as far as providing meals for vendors working the wedding? I know we must have a meal for our photographer...and I believe we need to invite the officiant. Our DJs are doing our ceremony music (6 pm ceremony..reception right after) as well as reception so I think we should have food for them.  Am I forgetting anyone?

My other question involves dinner seating. Do you typically have a separate table for vendors or try to stick them in with other guests? Any insight you have would be very much appreciated

jemmini6

Is your officiant a clergy member to whom you are only making a donation?  Or are they essentially just a paid vendor?  If the latter is true, they do not need to even attend the reception, and especially wouldn't require a meal.

As for the DJ & photographer, yes, they should have a meal.  Ask your venue about vendor meal options.  Ours had the option of either doing the same meal as our guests at half price, or a boxed sandwich meal.  We asked both our vendors which they preferred and they both selected a sandwhich since it's easier to eat quickly.

As for seating, I honestly have no idea where our vendors ate as our coordinator took care of that.  I do know that I did not provide them with a seat at a guest table because...they weren't guests.  It's not like I wanted to segregate them or anything, but mostly I didn't want my guests to feel awkward carrying on a conversation with vendors at their table (or have our vendors get held up if our guests won't stop talking to them).

ShakeUpTampa

Mine will be eating where they work except the photographer which is his mother (she begged) she will have a seat near the front area. But two others will help her with the two cameras so she can eat as well. DJ wants to eat at booth I'm OK with that and the photo booth people will have a small table near them they can eat. Some people do choose to sit them with guests for a brief time. NOW I am trying to figure out where to sit my officiant because he is like an Uncle to me (MY Pastor) and is coming to the reception lol

mica178

We formally invited the priests, and the one who attended was seated at a family table.  The vendors (band, photographer, videographer) did not get formal invitations.  They worked during the reception.  There was a vendor table and they could order anything they wanted from the grill or have the same meal as the guests. 

lbarr088

Also, see if your vendors have any food allergies.  My photog is gluten free, and a typical vendor meal would not work for her.  Luckily I am having gluten free options for the reception so we can get her a plate easily.  

BMcLeodTeam

Our WC has already said she will be setting up a vendor table for the DJ, photogs, photobooth attendant, etc.

Our officiant is very close part of my and FI's life. He is our pastor from home, travelling to our DW to marry us with his wife. He will receive a formal invitation just like the rest of our guests and will be sat up front with family.