feeding the vendors

smarbach · November 2012

Hello

Are we expected to provide the same dinner to our photographers and DJ as to our guests? Since they both will be there during the dinner, we aren't sure if we should. At $40 per plate it seems an extra expense on top of the fee for service.

Thanks
Sandi

vanityink · November 2012

Check your contracts.

Most venues allow you to purchase a "vendor meal" that's cheaper than your plated meal, but many contract insist on a meal in general. I know my photographer has a clause that she and her assistant must get a meal (even be it a sandwich) but I get a credit towards photos if they get the same hot meal as the guests.

Simply Fated · November 2012

Venues usually have separate vendor pricing or meals. I'd ask them for suggestions. Either way, you definitely should make sure they have food. Theyll be working for you for several hours, so it's the right thing to do. Some vendors do bring their own food, though. Check your contracts.

NeedFavors · November 2012

You definately want to find out what your vendors expect. My photographer was incredibly reasonably priced, didn't charge by the hour, only a package deal. But he made it very clear from the beginning that he and his wife love attending weddings. So I treated them like guests and he followed me around everywhere, came to my parent's home to take pics of me getting ready, traveled to the ceremony location, and the reception location, took his time with pics and didn't charge extra for mileage etc.

You want happy vendors who will go above and beyond for you, so find out what they expect.

Lisa50 · November 2012

Talk to your venue manager (or caterer) about the usual process there. We gave our event manager a count of vendor meals required; she took care of the rest. I think the vendor meals were half price. There was a side room for them to eat (DJ ate before the wedding; photographers ate during dinner).

Jen4948 · November 2012

Well, find out what your contracts provide for and what your vendors expect. You might not have to pay for full meals with them, you might be able to provide meals at discounted cost, and/or you might not have to seat them with the rest of your guests (I think DJs and musicians often want to stay with their equipment).

LuckyGirl1713 · November 2012

Our reception venue offers meals at half price for our vendors which does save alot of money. Also I have heard breads doing a tray of sandwiches or a tray of hot food for the vendors to save moeny as well.

KellyBrian2013 · November 2012

Absolutely feed your vendors, whether their contract requires it or not. Neither our DJ nor our photographer required meals per their contract, however we fed them both. And our venue did not have a vendor meal option, so they were given the exact same multiple course meal as our guests, and at the same price. Remember that content, satisfied vendors do much better work than hungry, crabby ones.

GardenMaven · November 2012

We were fully expecting to have to feed our vendors. Our DJ told us outright that eating during our event is not his job. Our photographer has listed in her contract that she requires a meal. I asked her about sitting with the guests, and she said that she normally eats in the kitchen or in a corner somewhere. She also said not to seat her with the rest of the guests.

Check your contract and check with you venue. If you still have questions, ask your vendors! They do this for a living and I can't imagine you would be the first to ask. :-)

harper0813 · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feeding-the-vendors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:78e6921d-9a04-462c-8243-d44c788c6b56Post:46d8b5ee-3b32-4f9f-8e64-6e4b4a2a73fa">Re: feeding the vendors</a>:
[QUOTE]Our reception venue offers meals at half price for our vendors which does save alot of money. Also I have heard breads doing a tray of sandwiches or a tray of hot food for the vendors to save moeny as well.
Posted by LuckyGirl1713[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>My venue say that this is what they do for vendors (they make their own chips in house and serve them with whatever type of sandwich the vendors would like, made fresh, plus fruit - so basic, but good!). I guess, to add onto the OP's question, is it bad form to give them different food than my guests? And would this include the day of coordinator too?

</div>

Kristin789 · November 2012

>>is it bad form to give them different food than my guests?

No. In fact, you really can't give them the SAME food, because the food you're giving your guests takes too much time. Your guests will either have to stand in line at a buffet (vendors working your wedding reception do not have time to stand in line) or wait for wait service (again, no time for that). Your guests can take their time waiting for the salad dressing to be passed around the table, then the rolls to be passed around the table, then cut up the fancy entree and eat it slowly, etc. Your vendors have to be able to stop in to the kitchen or a back table or a table in an adjacent room, jam in a sandwich and a soda, and get back out there. Your guest can enjoy the open bar, and your vendors cannot.

/>>And would this include the day of coordinator too?

Yes. She does not have time to take 40 minutes for a multicourse meal either. She needs to eat a sandwich or small entree meal, then get back out there.

feeding the vendors

Re: feeding the vendors

Choose Another Board

Search Boards