Did you add vendors to guest count?

I'm feeding any vendor that's staying for the reception.

Yes. They are included in the food count. Not alcohol.

I'm feeding my two photographers and videographer because who works for eight hours without a break!? I'd probably add a photo booth attendant if I had one. No one wants a hangry photo book attendant!

Talk to your venue/caterer. Mine told me not to include them as there's always enough food (we had a station style dinner). Your caterer may have a discounted meal for them if you're doing plated.

My venue said the meals are the same price unless we have them salads. I don't feel that's right, so they will get the same sit down dinner as everyone else. My vendors said thank you but they will probably only get a chance to eat the entree. Just wasn't sure if I should include them in my total that I have give or not.

Definitely ask your venue/caterer before you decide. Mine charges kid's rate ($12.95) for vendors.

Yes, include them in the count but list them separately if you have a special price for vendor meals. My vendor price is only like $10 less than the regular adult meal but its something at least. .

For the photo booth attendant I would check your contract. If they are there for 1-3 hrs, I probably wouldn't, but if more I would feed them. If it would only be after dinner, then likely not.

You need to feed any vendor who is at your reception - DJ/band members, photographer(s), videographer(s), photo booth attendants, etc. Our venue provided a vendor meal price -- it was the same meal that we ate, but without alcohol included in the price. They ate at a cocktail table while we ate in the ballroom.

Yes. If you are feeding them you need to include them.

My are the same prices unless I feed them a different meal like salad. Thanks for the advice. Not sure if we are getting the photo booth but if we do I will probably feed them too.

We added them to the meal guest count (i.e. we fed all of them) but not the seating.

The DJ ate at his table, the DOC ate at his office, and the photographers refused the meal because they weren't staying for the reception. The officiant and her husband were guests because they were friends of the family so they're the only ones who also sat as guests.

I am giving my venue the total amount of entrees needed, but I am not adding them to the guest count as I get charged per seat for the chair cover, chair, setting, etc. when all of that is unnecessary. So, my vendors will have the same meals as everyone else, just not a chair at a table.

Id talk to your vendor. id include them in head count for meals, but make sure if they offered a discount that its applied to final bill. For example, my venue is $60pp for everything including open bar. But they are only charging $25 for vendors.

I am including them in the meal count, but not for the bar, of course.

Ask your vendor if they should be included or not. Some provide extra food knowing that there are other vendors that need to be fed.

Why does the DJ or photo booth guy get a meal? They just got there. I eat before guests show up because, you know, I'm working during your reception dance.

I would feed any vendor who started the day earlier, like the photographer or videographer. They've been there for hours and that seems appropriate.

For vendors showing up at the reception, that just seems... off. (back when I worked for a DJ company with 14 guys, we called that 'eating your tip.' No reason someone charging a decent price needs to add $30-$50 to your food total).

My caterer has a "vendor meal" at a discount. I told them separately how many of these we need

Yes, include vendors in the number of meals you give your vendor. If they are getting the same dinner as everyone else at your wedding then it doesn't matter to your food vendor who they are.

I included my vendors in the overall number.

If the photo booth attendant is coming after dinner then no you don't need to feed them in my optinion. Only vendors that will be there when dinner is being served need to be feed. If you are having snacks or desserts after dinner though do include the photo booth attendant in those numbers as they may want to grab a snack.

I will be feeding photo, video, dj and dj assistant. My family has always feed the dj.

I agree with RobertBenda...partially. Yeah we just got there buuuttt we are also there the latest. Photobooth guy are gone, photographer leaves after all the special moments. I just did a wedding in which I was there at 11:30am to setup and didn't leave until 9:30pm. So while I agree with your premise and I tell all my clients I don't eat while working. I always appreciate when they insist. A few brides have even insisted I do a shot with them.

I think you need to talk to your caterer. My reception venue offered a vendor meal that was the same as the kid's meal and therefore was much less than the main meal being provided (so if I had decided to give my vendors a meal the meals would have been included in the "kid" count). I asked all my vendors if they wanted a meal (I had a make up artist and hair stylist that were at the venue for a number of hours so I offered them a meal, they said no). The only vendor that was provided a meal was the DJ and his assistance (we only had the photographer for 3 hours so she didn't want a meal either). As it was only 2 meals, I decided to offer the DJ and his assistance the dinner we had; they were very grateful (as the meal was prime rib). Our DJ did our ceremony music and reception (but not cocktail hour as cocktail hour was in a different area of the hotel). I had the DJ and assistance meals served during cocktail hour so they could relax and enjoy their meal (I knew that they also have a long drive home, well over an hour and I wanted to be considerate of their time and distance they traveled).