Feeding vendors

sammysalazar

While searching for photographers, I was reading one photographer's blog on tips and advice for the reception when I read the following: 

"vendors count too!  Side note-please feed your vendors:)"

Has anyone heard this before? Because this is the first I hear of it, although it has crossed my mind that the photo and video staff does go a long time without eating during an all day job. So do they need a seat at a table, or just a plate in the kitchen? At what point do they take their "dinner break"? This is obviously all very new information for me, any insight would be appreciated!

lauralaur

We fed all vendors who were sticking around for the evening. Sometimes your venue will offer a discount for their meals, ours got the same choices that our guests got. To be honest, I have no idea when or where they ate, so they couldn't have been in anyone's way or missing anything.

But yes you should feed your vendors. Our photographers were with us for eight hours on our wedding day, they needed a meal.

AddieCake

Yes, you need to feed your vendors if they are working your whole event.

banana468

Can you imagine working a full day without a meal break?

Thje other option is that they leave to get a bite to eat in the middle of your reception.

Yes, feed them.   In fact, check your contracts.   It may be stipulated in there that they're due a meal.

IMO, don't just feed them but feed them what YOU would eat.   Our vendors were served hot meals that were also offered to our guests.   They were discounted and the only other rule was that they weren't drinking any of the alcohol.       

Jessie42613

We are feeding all of the vendors who are with us throughout the reception.  So, our photographers, videographers, DOC and DJ are all being provided meals.

Edit: JOP too.

Loopyseven

Check your contracts, most contracts will stipulate meal requirements.  It's typical to feed photogs, DJ's, DOC's and officiants (though, they are typically invited to the reception and treated as a guest there).  Check with your venue to see how they usually accommodate these.  Our vendors were fed the same meals as the guests, but at a discounted rate (obviously, they were not drinking).  I have heard of some venues providing box lunches of sandwiches/etc for the vendor meals, so make sure you know what a vendor meal entails.  Our vendors were set up with a table just inside the doors in the area where they staged stuff and the wait staff hung out (it was an inside dining room of the venue - our reception was outdoors).  The venue is used to these requests and will have a way they usually handle these things.

lyndausvi

Yes I've heard of it and yes we fed them.   Do you not get a lunch break?

jennyd412

Yes, this is very common. Our photographer said she eats during dinner when there is a natural lull in the need for photography. She doesn't take a break for the entire dinner, but will take her break during the course.

Angelface225

Our photographer offered that we could provide a meal, or she could leave for a one hour dinner break. I chose to provide a meal, I'm worried she'd miss something important and it just seemed the right thing to do!

Jager1219

Full agreement with PP.  The only vendors we are not feeding are the officiant (since she's leaving after the ceremony - it's a JP) and the florist.  We are actually timing out when the vendors eat with the venue & the band/photog.  I think they're going to be the first to get the entree (plated dinner) so that they are finished first.

Tami87

Yes feed your vendors! Most caters will have vendor meals. We got one of these for our DJ and he ate at the DJ booth. We gave the photographer the same choices as the rest of our guests and she requested that she be given a spot at a table. We ended up seating her close to our table with some of my bridesmaids and their families. She got some awesome candid shots of the people she sat with during dinner and was close by to catch all the action for toasts etc. I would suggest doing something like this instead of sticking your photographer off at a corner table somewhere where he or she might not have such a great view.

MrsMack10612

We fed our vendors, I don't think it would have occurred to me to not feed them.

Our band stipulated in their contract that we had to provide 6 hot meals.  Our photogs and cocktail hour musicians were friends (rather than just vendors we hired) so they all got the same food as everyone else.  We asked for their menu choices just like we did the rest of our guests.

Ours were all also permitted to drink, but again, some were friends.  I'm pretty sure the reception band was drinking too, but we didn't care, we had open bar and the booze was all on consignment.

I don't know if she ate or drank anything (she would have been welcome to), but the site manager was also enjoying the party; our photog actually got a pic of her dancing with our guests.

bridalmarch

Our vendors were offered that same meal choices as our guests. Our photographers are a husband and wife team so one will eat while the other shoots and then they'll switch. I asked if they wanted a seat or at least a cocktail table to be a "home base" for them and they declined. The DJ will eat at his table. 

Talk to them and ask what they'd prefer, but they really should eat.

sleepyb

I was discussing this with my mom recently just putting together a count and the bartenders and barbacks came up. Are we supposed to feed them too? The contract doesn't state it.

MrsMack10612

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-vendors-7?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:c52ea32a-b188-429c-b46f-31b5d374f235Post:2c05154f-571f-4554-ab66-eda62dd4c313">Re:Feeding vendors</a>:
[QUOTE]I was discussing this with my mom recently just putting together a count and the bartenders and barbacks came up. Are we supposed to feed them too? The contract doesn't state it.
Posted by sleepyb[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't think so.  If they are provided by the venue/caterer, they are their employees and are responsible for feeding them.

DJs, Photogs etc are your "employees" there for you are responsible.

sleepyb

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-vendors-7?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:c52ea32a-b188-429c-b46f-31b5d374f235Post:7f925154-96d3-4f84-b499-971c440c9f89">Re:Feeding vendors</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Feeding vendors : I wouldn't think so.  If they are provided by the venue/caterer, they are their employees and are responsible for feeding them. DJs, Photogs etc are your "employees" there for you are responsible.
Posted by kjhowd[/QUOTE]

<div>They are not associated with the caterer (he's coming from out of town) or the venue.  Does that change things?</div><div>
</div><div>My thought is that if they take time out to eat, who will be manning the bar?</div>

MrsMack10612

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-vendors-7?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:c52ea32a-b188-429c-b46f-31b5d374f235Post:fba97a96-f4ca-4f28-91ca-2051d2999671">Re:Feeding vendors</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Feeding vendors : They are not associated with the caterer (he's coming from out of town) or the venue.  Does that change things? My thought is that if they take time out to eat, who will be manning the bar?
Posted by sleepyb[/QUOTE]

Are you hiring an outside bartending staff?  If so, I would check with your contact at the company or read the contract.  It should say there.

Sorry, this is a new one on me - I've never had experience with bartending staff not affiliated with venue or caterer.

ang22ruth

What does DOC stand for?