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Dinner includes?

cavahecavahe member
First Anniversary First Comment
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
It just my fiance and I footing the bill for our entire wedding and our budget is stretched to it's limit. My photographer just announced he is bringing extra assistants that we weren't expecting. So how does that normally work for the head count? Do we add them in the head count so they have a meal or what should we do? Also should we set up a place setting for them at a table is that normal? I'm not exactly sure what to do... S.O.S.!!
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Re: Dinner includes?

  • loves2shop4shoesloves2shop4shoes member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    Yes, you have to feed your vendors.

    I didn't have a table for my vendors to eat at...and I've never seen it done before.

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  • KatWAGKatWAG member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    Having your photographer bring an assistant is a bonus for you. More/ better pictures! You do need to feed your vendors. Check with your venue, most places offer vendor meals, which cost less than the normal meal. And yes they need a place to sit and eat.
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  • cavahecavahe member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    What about a place setting at one of the tables? Would that work?
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  • photokittyphotokitty mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its
    The first thing to do is check your contract. Some photogs have meals spelled out in the contract. If they don't, you could 1) not feed them, but they will get hungry especially if they are with you all day, 2) get them cheaper boxed meals (think deli sandwich and chips) 3) feed them what you are feeding the guests.

    Some venues feed the vendors for free. Check with your venue on this. You should not have to pay for their beverages if you have a per person bar fee. They are not to drink alcohol as they are working. 

    I fed my photog and assistants as they were there 8+ hours and couldn't leave to get food. I had them at a table and feed them right away so they were ready to start shooting photos when we finished eating.
    :kiss: ~xoxo~ :kiss:

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  • cavahecavahe member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    photokitty said:
    The first thing to do is check your contract. Some photogs have meals spelled out in the contract. If they don't, you could 1) not feed them, but they will get hungry especially if they are with you all day, 2) get them cheaper boxed meals (think deli sandwich and chips) 3) feed them what you are feeding the guests.

    Some venues feed the vendors for free. Check with your venue on this. You should not have to pay for their beverages if you have a per person bar fee. They are not to drink alcohol as they are working. 

    I fed my photog and assistants as they were there 8+ hours and couldn't leave to get food. I had them at a table and feed them right away so they were ready to start shooting photos when we finished eating.

    This helps alot... Thank you :)
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  • LDubHawksFanLDubHawksFan member
    1000 Comments 100 Love Its Second Anniversary First Answer
    edited September 2013
    Check with your venue. Ours had vendor meals for a little less. They also had us seat then in an adjacent room. However in hindsight it would have been good to seat them at a table. Our photographer said he and the assistant wouldn't eat at the same time but they did, and while they for served our dj did some silly game to get the guests out on the dance floor. To have a picture of my aunt dancing like crazy for their table would have been awesome. But they were in a different room and didn't realize they were missing something until too late.
    The root of your question though is your should absolutely feed your vendors.

    Edit: also whether you or your parents are footing the bill, the vendors should get fed. That first part was irrelevant. You wouldn't go to work for 8 hrs and expect to not get either a lunch/dinner break to go get food or be provided food. Same goes for your photographers, outside coordinators, djs, etc.

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  • CrazyCatLady3CrazyCatLady3 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary First Answer
    Most venues offer discounted vendor meals.  Ours are half price from the normal pp cost.  Our venue also provides a separate area for vendors to eat.  They don't have to sit with your guests, unless you want them to.
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  • ViczaesarViczaesar member
    Ninth Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    Yes, you need to feed them, and yes, you need to seat them somewhere.



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  • LizM61409LizM61409 member
    250 Love Its 100 Comments Name Dropper First Anniversary
    My venue does vendor meals for $12 (club sandwich and chips I think) which is really a nominal cost for additional assistants. And as others have stated, if you choose to give them a normal meal make sure you're charged for the food only and not the bar.
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  • WonderRedWonderRed member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Our venue includes free vendor meals in the bar of the main restaurant for any vendor there for the majority of the event.  For us, that's only our photographer.  But yes, you need to feed them something.  Not necessarily the same thing as our guests, but something.
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  • cavahecavahe member
    First Anniversary First Comment

    Thanks Everyone!

    I'm still waiting for the wedding cordinator from our venue to get back to me. All of your advice really helped me :) Thanks!!

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  • tammym1001tammym1001 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Answers
    Check with your photographer also. I asked my photographer about a meal and he said that he brings something in the car with him and eats it on the way to the reception from the ceremony. I went ahead and told him we would have a meal for him anyways because we were doing it for other vendors. 
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