Do I count photographer/DJ/etc in first count

Yes, you should count them to ensure that you do not go over the max count your venue can hold. You should also feed them, but venues usually charge less for vendor meals.

Yes you will buy them a meal. Ask your venue/caterer if they get a special price or if they need to be added to the head count.

I didn't count them in the guest headcount, but I let the wedding coordinator know that I was getting them the same meal as our guests. They did provide us with a discount on the meal. The vendors were incredibly appreciate for the hot meal. In many instances a 'vendor meal' consists of a cold sandwich or a burger. Clarify what the vendor meal is at your venue.

Headcount yes to ensure you don't go over the max capacity. I've asked my vendors their meal preferences so make sure there's enough of what they want for them. A lot of vendors will have in their contract they require a meal.

For us, since our venue has a guest minimum we could not include them in the guest count.

But yes you must provide them with food. Ask your venue/caterer what's the cost. For us, it's 50% off.

My venue is giving us half price for our vendors meals

It's not a stupid question best to ask than to end up doing the wrong thing.

I only learned about this thanks to WW. My venue doesn't charge me any less for my vendors though. They get the same thing the guests get.

I'm going to have to talk to my venue now. They can only accommodate 150 for a sit down meal and that is what we have for our normal guest list. Sigh. I thought I had it figured it out.

Ask your venue. My vendors didn't count towards my final count. Also ask your caterer about vendor meals. Mine were only $30 and they received the same as my guests (minus the alcohol of course)

I had to count mine for the caterer & am including them in numbers because they will still take up space.

Yes to both!

Yikes I hadn't even thought about this at all! Time to make some calls!

Rashane, your vendor meals, even if the same food as your guests, should cost less because they should not include alcohol.

Thanks everyone. We're way under as far as room capacity (only at 75ish out of 200) but I wanted to make sure I was following proper etiquette in feeding them.

Yes. You definitely should feed your vendors!

It's in our contract that we have meals included for the vendors - but we don't factor them into the head count, it's built into the cost. Check with your venue/caterer.