Apologies if this comes off as hair-splitting:
I'm getting married at a hotel with a wedding package where everything is pretty well laid-out for you. When accounting for my vendors, my venue has a price for vendor meals (50% of whatever food selection we choose), but I'm not sure what to do for their drinks.
For my guests, I'm having an open bar (as nature intended), but not sure what to do for vendors. Do I budget for non-alcoholic drinks as I'm imagining would be the professional choice, or do I include them in my open bar tally like a cool lady? I'm fine with either, I'm just not sure what's normally done.
Thanks ladies!
Re: Vendors - what are they drinking?
At my venue, the bar was included as part of the package price, along with the dinner and everything else. When the venue gave us a vendor price, it was the regular price minus the cost of the bar.
If it's consumption I would just figure they will be drinking non-alcoholic drinks. As a bartender working wedding vendors often ask for water or soda (but not at the same rate as a guest). Sometimes right before last call a few will ask for an alcoholic drink. It was like a "shift drink" to them.
If you are paying a fix rate per person I would negotiate vendors drinks are free or at least the underage price (if they have one), since they should not be drinking alcohol anyway.
@SP29, I'm with you in that I feel pretty okay with the vendors drinking if they want to (trusting that they will be professionals/not rip it up). Especially the DJs. The DJs should feel comfortable getting a little cray. ;-)