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To send or not to send: Invitations to vendors

hrymarzhrymarz member
Second Anniversary First Comment
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
Just curious, I have read and researched and I don't know what is proper etiquette. Do you send invitations to vendors? The lady that is designing my invitations said she sent invitations to her florist, photographer, DJ, venue, caterer, videographer, hairstylist, makeup artist and cake lady. 

I am curious if anyone who is a vendor has an opinion on this or of course anybody who has sent out invitations.
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Re: To send or not to send: Invitations to vendors

  • tammym1001tammym1001 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Answers

    I used to run a bakery and I never would have gone to a wedding of a paying customer who wasn't already a friend. Usually I had a couple of wedding in the same day anyways.

    With that being said, we are sending an invitation to our priest because he is the priest at our church and we would genuinely like him to join us for the reception.

    Your photographer, DJ, videographer, and caterer will already be there so I don't see the point in sending them one.

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  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    I'd send one only to your officiant and SO.  All the other persons on your list?  No.  They're not guests.
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  • STARMOON44STARMOON44 member
    Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    No you don't. They aren't invited guests, they are paid staff. The only exceptions I'd make are the officiant, Friends also working, and the photog, since apparently it's now impossible to consider yourself married without a charming still life of your invitation, shoes, and rings.
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  • itzMSitzMS member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary
    We didn't send invitations to any vendors. We normally would have sent one to our priest, but he told us ahead of time to not bother and "save our money".  We knew from his secretarial staff that he always declines wedding invitations, though. Funny guy.
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  • Kate61487Kate61487 member
    2500 Comments Fourth Anniversary 250 Love Its Name Dropper

    Not unless you want them there as guests.  Our DJ was a family friend so I sent him (and his wife) an invitation.  Our ceremony organist (the only one for our church) is also a dear friend of my grandmothers, so we sent him an invitation.  and our priest also received an invitation.  Everyone else (photog, baker, ice cream vendor) did not.

     

    I did send our photographer a STD because I thought he'd appreciate seeing the final product and which engagement photos we used.

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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    The only "vendor" I sent an invitation to was our pastor. My photographer and DJ were there as paid contractors working. With the exception of my hair stylist, I didn't know any of my other vendors well enough to invite them when I had friends I couldn't invite due to budget. The exception with my hair stylist is that she is a second cousin, but we didn't invite her because then we would have to invite her other siblings and then all the other second cousins and that just wasn't in our budget.
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  • harper0813harper0813 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments First Anniversary First Answer
    We are not sending our vendors invites, including our officiant. We are being married by a judge who we are paying and with whom we only have a vendor-client relationship. I'll probably ask him in August by phone or email if he'd like to join us for the rehearsal dinner or reception along with his SO.

    There's no need to invite vendors unless you have a personal relationship with them - a vendor who doesn't know you would probably find it odd and decline. Save yourself the invites. It sounds like your stationer is fishing for one.
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers

    I will add, this, I think since you were unsure on the right thing to do, you were smart to come here and post the question because if it was the norm to send invites to vendors, you didn't want to offend them, especially since they could have a major impact on your wedding. At least you're hearing what the norm is. Better safe then sorry.

     

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  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    Eighth Anniversary 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers

    Like Starmoon said, they aren't guests, they are paid staff.  I wouldn't even send an invite to the photographer.  If you really want a picture of your invite in a cutesy pose then just have one on hand when your photographer comes to start taking picture.

    And I would only send an invite to your officiant and his spouse if you are close friends or family.  Inviting an officiant you have only spoken to twice in your life is a bit ridiculous.


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  • tiny specktiny speck member
    1000 Comments 100 Love Its Name Dropper First Anniversary
    Yeah, as others have said, there's no reason to send invitations to vendors. They are vendors, not guests.
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  • MsYeckMsYeck member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its
    Well of course your stationary lady told you that. Se wants you to buy an additional 10-15 invites and land herself a free night of food and entertainment for her and her SO.
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  • southernbelle0915southernbelle0915 mod
    Moderator 10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary
    Nope - not needed. Nice to send one to the officiant, but keep in mind you're hiring these people to do a job. The only document they need to tell them when to show up is their contract. 
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