Did you include your Vendors on your guest list

Yes, especially when some of them are working the equivalent of a full day for you. Think about this: normal employment laws requires the employers to give those working for them regular breaks. You should be entitled to take a break (for lunch, etc.) at your job. Your vendors should be, too.

My videog, photog, and DJ & assistants all request meals. They even put it in their contracts so I would double check with them.

Yes we are...we had a choice not to include them and only pay $25 for a sandwich and a drink that was not going to happen as my DJ and photographer are friends of my family and they are going to eat what we are...so we are paying full price

For sure yes.

Yes.

I have to add them to my list...which i will have 4 vendors there. i'm too happy about that, but i understand.

I know you're asking a legitimate question but asking are they supposed to eat on "your clock" is a bit rude IMO. Yes, they have to eat. Yes, they will take a deserving break to do so. And yes, you have to feed them. You hire them, you become their employer and are responsible for providing them with a required break and food if they cannot purchase it themselves. And at a wedding, they cannot purchase their own lunch/dinner unless you want them to leave and come back.

Ok great guess i should consider myself lucky with half price....thanks ladies

You are lucky to strike a deal at half price

Some of our vendors require the exact same meal as the guests (in their contract).

Photographer/Videographer, MC, DOC, DJ

For our vendors, several are bringing their assistants, so music can be covered while the DJ can take a break... same with our DOC, she has 2 assistants.. each working 8 hours during the wedding.

We know our vendors on a personal level, but we're paying them full price and we're inviting them to eat. I think it's only fair.

For our DJ he stated that it's not required for him to take a break but we will probably be nice and offer him dinner - it's only like $24.95 and our photographer is FH friend so we will definitely offer him food as well since he will be with us the majority of the day

MY photographer did request to eat. I am not sure about the DJ. He has not said anything.

Unfortunately her time includes her break. I am only getting 4 hours.

We included the band & photographers. Everyone else was just a rental type of service or staff of the venue & I didn't see a reason to "invite" them. But we will make sure that everyone who works that night has a plate of food.

My photographer said usually the staff will just give her food because there is always extra, but I did make sure to let the restaurant know to include her.

I did-- i didnt want to be rude and not have something for them to eat--

Yeah, if you think about a typical workday, most employees are entitled to at least a paid 15 minute break every four hours. Most of your vendors will be working MUCH longer than four hours.

Our caterer offers cheaper meals for vendors - we just asked our DJ, photog/assistant, videographer and DOC if they have any special meal requests (vegetarian, allergies, etc) and we'll order them meals. If we have an extra table, they can sit in the main reception area with everyone, otherwise there's an office and lounge area where they can sit and eat.

We did send a formal invitation to our pastor/officiant, we're actually inviting him to the reception as a guest.

I'm assuming the catering company feeds their own staff but I want to double check that so we can make sure.

Most of the time photographers and videographers take the break during the meal with the rest of you, because who wants pictures or videos of people with their mouth full of food.

Other people like your DJ, DOC and anyone else might tell you or ask when it's a good time to take the break.

We have to check with our DJ and Photographer about meals, because I didn't see anything in their contracts.

My caterer said he would not charge us extra for the vendors. It is going to be a buffet style dinner. He said there would be PLENTY for them and he wouldn't charge for the extra plates. We are having Roasted Chicken (which will melt in your mouth) pulled pork and a vegetarian meal. with sides. He also said he would bring his wife, so she could cut and serve the cake (for no extra charge). He is only charging us $10.00 per person.

Check with your venue to see if they provide the vendor's meals - we went to three different venues, hotels and catering halls, and all of them said they provide the same meal and a separate table for all our vendors at no cost to us.

"Your clock"? Only sorta. The people who will be there all day (dj'/music, photographer, video) need to either be fed or 'set free' to go forage for food. But I don't understand setting up an adversarial relationship where you feel put upon for having to feed the people who really just want to please you (trust me, we all eat enough wedding food not to think this is a treat, but a rather a convenience, no matter how wonderful it is....). You want them to be happy; they want you to be happy.

Ministers/officiants/rabbis...well, unless they are friends of the family or life long parts of your family, I'd say you don't have to invite them. I never want my couples to pay for me to stay for diner; I don't know anyone and in my area, it's a lot of money.