Do you count your wedding planner and DJ for your final count in meals?

Yes. count all your vendors as you should feed them at your wedding.

youd hate for your photographer to leave to go get food just as your cutting the cake or something... lol

Thanks. I did not even conside my Video and Photographer.

And be sure to tell them in your final meetings to make sure they eat. that way its not awkward for them thinking..."do i get to eat at this one or not...??"

Let your caterer know a separate count for vendors though because sometimes they charge 1/2 price or at least a discounted rate.

Yes and no. Ask your venue if they offer vendor meals. They are normally not the same meal you eat, it's normally a sandwich and chips. The only vendors you may have to get a full meal for is the Photographer, because they have been with you all day, but not the DJ and if you get them the same meal you should never have to pay full price for a vendor (they are not using the bar). good luck

I have a questions. When we work at a job we are getting paid to do a job, but not to look for anyone to feed us. Some venders like the DJ is only working for four hours. That is not even a full day of eight hours. And I do not want the vendors to miss something at my wedding.

You always should consider your vendor as another guest in the final count. Would you invite them to a party at your house and not offer them a meal if everyone else was eating...that would be very awkward don't you think? From the caterers viewpoint, yes, I need you to include the vendors that will be apart of the evenings festivities. Otherwise if you haven't, and they go ahead and eat...they may be taking the food away from another guest, you wouldn't want to run out of food because you didn't include them. Vendors (photographers) typically are fed right after the bridal table and special reserved tables are served...the same time you are eating-that way they don't miss any spectacular photo's once you have finished your meal. As a vendor, I don't feel that I should have to shoulder the cost of feeding your vendors, however, I will not deny them a meal. Think of it this way...would you rather have a happily fed photographer, or one that is thinking about how hungry they are?

I am with jpeterson...our vendors are half price and they get the same meal as everyone else.

Great point. I want to make sure everyone is happy so my wedding will be nice. I need to check about that having the vendors to be 1/2 price. And it is awkward to eat in front of everyone and not offer. My wedding is in the middle of the day from 1:30 -6 p.m. I know I am going to have a very nice breakfast in the morning so I won't turn into Brideszilla. Thanks for your help. I am glad I had asked because I wouldn't had think anything of it.

I wouldnt know how to deal with that. all of my vendors were friends or family except my videographer who went above and beyond and i was more then happy to feed him what we ate.

my brother was the dj = full meal

my photographer was my husbands old roommate/ good friend= full meal

our pastor married us and is a good friend him his family= full meal

everyone else worked there, or was the manager of the resturant that we had the reception at so they were not fed. (ypu dont feed your waiter at a regular resturant right?) haha

Am I suppose to feed the Pastor if he is only their for 30-45 mins? I don't think he will be sticking around for the receptiton.

Wonderful moment, what did you decide to do about your DJ? I am wondering the same thing, our DJ will be there from 5:30 - 10:30, so I don't know if I need to feed him? Also I think we get 2 djs, so do we have to feed them both? Our location doesn't do vendor meals and doesn't allow outside food to come in.

I agree. I don't feel like paying $60 plus dollars to feed them and everyone else. I thought people would eat and plan their day before the wedding. I can understand if they are there all day but four hours come on. I work four hours than eat and go back to work. Hay if I can get free good meals by being a vendor than maybe I need to switch jobs and get free food (lol)

AmyLeigh, you have to take into consideration that if the DJ is WORKING for you from 5:30pm to 10:30pm, it's really not just those hours. Most DJs arrive at least an hour to an hour and a half before to set up, and stay at least an hour later to clean up. SO the REAL hours would be 4pm to 11:30pm, and YES that is a LONG time without food, ESPECIALLY if the venue doesn't allow outside food to be brought in!

As far as DJ's go, squawkboxsound was right...they are always there an hour ahead and an hour after...as well as the time they put in during the planning process. Our DJ meets at least once with our couples and typically spends an hour or more selecting special song choices with them. They also put in time getting unique song requests together, etc. So please don't short change their commitment of time. I guess I would base my decision on if I do or don't include them in the meal on when they are scheduled to arrive and if it revolves closely around when the meal is served. I also would ask them if they typically are included, or expect to have dinner. As far as the pastor, if you really don't have a relationship with them...they typically don't stay for dinner. Again, please use good manners and discretion when dealing with people. You will win friends with food, and lose those little extras people throw in because you were good to them!

I certainly wouldn't want to starve anybody; everyone should have a good time, even the people working. But if you're paying $500 for a DJ, doesn't an extra $150 for food (after service charge and tax) seem a little steep?

We are doing our menu in a buffet style and ALL in attamdance will eat the same thing that I eat. my photographers, my DJ, everyone. they are there to do you a service and honestly they shoudl get to eat! i agree with Squawkbox! its a long time to go without food especially as a dj and photographer when you have to be up and moving around for quite some time!! our Dj arrives at 530 and does leave til 2 am!! if i didnt feed him i'd feel REALLY bad!!! all at my wedding will eat from the buffet!

Our caterers told us to count any vendors we would be feeding into the final headcount. I'm feeding our DJ, only because he is bascially doing it for free since he is a DJ with Grant Hemmond and is the best friend of my FH best man. I'm probably going to feed the photographer and our officiant as well. Our (hopeful) officiant is going to be doubling as our day of coordinator, so I think she deserves to be fed.

I'm a DJ and musician. Our contract states that we are to be fed the same food as the guests and usually we are. I'm open to negotiating that, we can bring our own food. But as has been mentioned above, a five hour reception is a seven hour day for us, which is a long time to go without food. At very upscale weddings, especially when there are a lot of vendors (think 17 piece big band), there will sometimes be a lower-priced buffet for the vendors, held somewhere out of sight of the guests. That's fine with me, as long as it's decent food and it's available for a long enough period of time that I can actually get to it. It's a fine line to walk: We work for the bride and groom, but would rather feel like partners in bringing out the best than like servants who are second rate.

By the way, I never ever drink alcohol at weddings. As far as I know, that's common practice. You don't mention providing drinks to the vendors, but I'd definitely come down on the side of not doing it.

I'm going to add one more thought from a vendor's perspective. My wedding shoot this coming weekend will start before 8 am and finish after 5 pm, and I will be busy the whole time. I was pleased to hear the MOB tell the coordinator that all vendors should have meals, and I took that opportunity to strongly suggest that we be fed AT THE SAME TIME as the bride and groom. That is the only time they will be sitting and nothing will happen (especially if the DJ and photographer are also out of the room). I had one venue tell me we would be served AFTER all guests had been served. If that had happened, the bride would have been paying for a meal that wasn't eaten. As soon as the bride and groom are finished eating, the party starts again!