Feeding the Wedding Vendors

AshJohnson30

Did anyone do this? Do you have any suggestions?

We've thought about a few ways to do this but aren't sure what would work best.

banana468

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-the-wedding-vendors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:7fbfe23e-812a-46a0-af8c-fb01e07f657aPost:44636af5-b0e8-4302-8f4d-9fc78f674cf9">Feeding the Wedding Vendors</a>:
[QUOTE]Did anyone do this? Do you have any suggestions? We've thought about a few ways to do this but aren't sure what would work best.
Posted by AshJohnson30[/QUOTE]

Of COURSE we did! 

Check your contract, you may have to.

The best way to do this is to feed them when you eat.  Unless they request otherwise, it should be what you eat.  I think it's so rude to spring for steak and then to give your vendor a cold sandwich unless that's what he wants.

The people we fed were the DJ and photographer.  Reception venue staff were fed by the venue. 

lyndausvi

we fed our vendors (2 photographers and the dj) the same meal as the guests.

sarabellam

OF COURSE we fed our wedding vendors. We told them to go through the buffet line with the rest of the guests. Although, we had a bunch of extra food that we'd already paid for (thanks to a handful of people who RSVP'd yes, then didn't show up), so your situation may be different. Ask your venueabout vendor meals.

kmmssg

When any of our girls have gotten married we  have fed the vendors (photographer, dj, and DOC) the same meal everyone else had.  Some had that in their contract, some didn't.  It is best if you can feed them the same meal, but also be aware that many caterers offer half price vendor meals.

AshJohnson30

None of my vendors require it but we definitely think its a considerate gesture. Did you have a place setting for them or did they eat somewhere else?

crash2729

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-the-wedding-vendors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:7fbfe23e-812a-46a0-af8c-fb01e07f657aPost:fe95cba1-50bf-4d36-9dd3-eacdcdd4a32e">Re: Feeding the Wedding Vendors</a>:
[QUOTE]None of my vendors require it but we definitely think its a considerate gesture. Did you have a place setting for them or did they eat somewhere else?
Posted by AshJohnson30[/QUOTE]
I gave all of my vendors a place setting. <div>I think my DJ ate at her station anyway, but I'm not sure. </div><div>
</div><div>Also, you might want to double/triple check your contracts, I think it's weird that at least your photog wouldn't have that in her contract.</div><div>
</div><div>ETA: I asked my photogs where she wanted to sit (place setting or in the back). By the time I booked my videographer (less than 2 weeks out) it was all I could do just to get his meal choice and get it in to the venue....so he got to sit with the photogs.</div>

lyndausvi

Ours requested to eat in the 'back'.  Basically a little area away from guests, but close to things.    It gave them a little break from the guests to check messages and just relax.

ILoveToRobot

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-the-wedding-vendors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:7fbfe23e-812a-46a0-af8c-fb01e07f657aPost:fe95cba1-50bf-4d36-9dd3-eacdcdd4a32e">Re: Feeding the Wedding Vendors</a>:
[QUOTE]None of my vendors require it but we definitely think its a considerate gesture. Did you have a place setting for them or did they eat somewhere else?
Posted by AshJohnson30[/QUOTE]

We're going to have a folding table set up for the vendors away from the guests. I could see having a table with the guests in a more informal setting.

willywally5

We are absolutely feeding our vendors. Actually, if memory serves me correctly, the photographer had it in her contract for her as well as her assistant. But we would offer to feed them anyway. 

DramaGeek

We offered to everyone.  Our DJ said thanks but no thanks, but he was also there the shortest amount of time.  Everyone else ate from the buffet.

LeiselEB

We fed them the same meal as our guests. They ate in the bar, which was somewhat separate from our main reception room, but still right there so the photographers could jump up and get a shot if they wanted to. 

They had the same place settings as guests, though once they were done eating the staff cleared that table completely, since it was just for guests to sit and drink at in the bar. 

AshJohnson30

Great advice! I will shoot the vendors an email asking where they'd like to sit for dinner if they don't have a preference then I guess they can mingle with the guests. Crash - yea i'm going to double check. even though I'm feeding them anyway I'm nervous that I missed this in the contract!

ootmother2

Only the band & the photographer.

They had played at our venue before and knew just what they wanted!

But it was really just some fancy sandwiches and Stella

ElisabethJoanne

Our vendors have said it's our choice. We'll probably feed them, because it's just simpler. FWIW, I have a book from 1994 that's written by wedding photographers for wedding photographers. It says a professional photographer should never accept food from the people who hired him. "Bring your own sandwich" was the standard for professionalism at that time.

lyndausvi

A lot of venues do not allow 'outside food'.  That could include vendor's food.   It's hard to keep food stored safely when you are running from location to location.

zizibet

We are. Since we're doing action stations with heavy apps,the photographers(the only vendors who will be at the reception) will just eat ehn the guests eat. The venue feeds the staff.

ElisabethJoanne

The book actually has chapters on "getting ready" shoots and on whether to do photos before or after the ceremony. Also, I think it also has receptions lasting 5 hours.

Procedurally, the big differences are (1) very few people now do bride-only studio shoots weeks before the wedding; (2) it discusses "engagement photos" but has another name; (3) these photographers expected to be among the last vendors hired, after caterers, bakers and band/DJs.

Bonzo2011

We had our vendors (DJ, photog and photog's assistant) go through the buffet line. The DJ ate at his station, which was his preference. Our photographer is married to one of my BMs, so he and his assistant actually sat tat the BM table. ( we did a sweetheart table flanked by two rounds, one each for GM and dates and BM and dates) It was great to have him sit down and eat, but also be close by so he could see any unplanned photo ops. Oh, and even though our vendors ate the exact same food as guests, their meals were half price. The catering staff ate something I'm sure, but their meals were built into the other charges I believe.

Lolagirl2012

Our photographer had it in her contract that a small meal was to be provided or she was to take an hour break to go off site to get something to eat. We plan on feeding the crap out of her to keep the day and pictures moving.

Our DJ didn't expect a meal, but was very grateful when I discussed with him that we were having a buffet style meal and asked if we wanted the caterer to put together a plate or if they could work something out to grab food or sit down to eat (they are a father-son duo). He even gave us a discount he had previously not mentioned, was it because of the offer of food, maybe or maybe not. I like to think it was

Also, this may just be my caterer, but they offered half-price meals for my vendors. This made it a very cheap and easy way for us to invest in our vendors happiness and hopefully their performance as well!

bonge

I never understand why this is actually a question. It is something i never thought twice about & mentioned to them right off the bat before even signing a contract.