Feeding the vendors

It's courteous to feed the photographer and dj since it's during a meal time. You may be able to serve them vendor meal pricing..check with your caterer.

Definitely feed the dj.

Something light for sure.

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What is considered "a meal time"? (so I know for now own) Technically anytime can be a meal time but the photographer isn't even going to be there for the reception. She's done at 2, we're not eating until 2:30. Should I just purchase her a meal to go or bring her breakfast when she arrives?

And for the DJ, am I supposed to have someone fix him a plate and bring it to him or does he go get his own plate? (it's a buffet)

View Quoted Comment Meal times are considered when the masses eat (think of when groups take a lunch break at work). 11-1 for lunch or 5-7 for dinner.


Providing something for the photographer would be courteous. The dj can fix his own plate at a buffet if you open it to all vendors. A vendor meal is a preset selection at a discount brought to them (ask your caterer how they do this).

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And why is that? Is this only wedding etiquette or event etiquette period? Just asking so I know going fwd. Not too many professions call for you to eat during a 4-hour shift that's why I wondered about it. Heck in NYS you don't get a lunch break unless you're working at least a 6-hour shift

So more questions, am I supposed to also tip the DJ? Cuz now this sounds extra to me. One or the other sounds fair, but not both. And does he just eat while he's DJing or is he actually supposed to get a break? And how does he get fed? It's a buffet. Does he go get his own plate? Does someone on my team fix him a plate?

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For hosting I consider (and I've most often seen in etiquette sources) 11-2 for and 5-8.

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It's event etiquette. Ask your DJ what he wants to do RE food from the buffet, but first ask your caterer if they have a vendor meal; they may charge you a cheaper price and/or make a plate for him. And yes, this is separate from a tip. Think of it this way - the happier and more comfortable your vendors are, the more they put into making your wedding a magical experience. If you do the bare minimum required, so will they. Happy vendors = happy wedding.

Vendor meals are generally written into contracts, and they are absolutely tied into amounts of time. Ask your vendors if they require meals and how many. Your venue or caterer (whoever is in charge of the food) should be familiar with vendor meals. You tell them how many you needs and they provide them for a cost. It’s often a lower cost than guest meals.
Usually vendors eat while guests are eating. The DJ will put on softer music in the background and, yes, take a break to eat. Feeding people who are providing a service for a specific amount of time is not a substitute for a tip.

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Yikes! Is that how this is supposed to work? I was thinking of it more as "happy wedding=happy vendor reviews" LOL Oh gosh, I hope no one rubs me the wrong way making me feel like I have to cater to them when I'm paying them to provide a service. This was insightful, thanks.

Yes someone else mentioned the vendor meal. I didn't know that was a thing but I will definitely ask my venue.

Is it at all included in their contracts? My photographer specifically included in her contract that we were responsible for providing a meal or they would leave for an hour to get their own during the reception. That was for 6+ hours though. None of my other vendor included it in their contracts, but I will still be offering to feed them. If I were just doing something for 4 or less hours, I would just provide them with light snacks/ finger foods.

Definitely feed the DJ. It was in our contract that the DJ requires a meal for any event longer than two hours. You should tip any vendor that's providing a service unless there's a line on your bill that says gratuity. Gratuity=tip. If you're having any snacks while you get ready (which you should) you should at least offer some to the photographer in addition to bottled water.

I would definitely feed the vendors

Go over your contacts, most of the time they will state whether or not you are to provide an email.

I would definitely provide a meal for your DJ since he is going to be there for the reception. All of our vendors except for hair and makeup were at our reception so all of them received a meal. They were supposed to have a plated meal that was different food than what the guests received on the buffet. Our venue coordinator messed up and told them to go to the buffet which was honestly fine with us because the buffet had plenty of food. I'm sure they were happier about it too since it was better food than they would've gotten with the plated option. Vendor meals were also at a discounted rate (same as what we paid for children) since they wouldn't be consuming alcohol.

Most vendors, atleast where I live, only expect a meal if they are working for longer than 4 hours and they state it in their contracts. For example my photographer will be with me for 8 hours so I will include her in dinner, just like when you work an 8 hour day you get one lunch break. My DJ is there for 4 hours so he does not get a meal (he will be there after we eat anyways). He states in his contract that he only requires beverages and no meal since his contract is for 4 hours.

Since the photographer will not be there for the reception, I would say you don't need to feed them unless you would like to and they would like to stay. As a vendor, though, we typically don't stay after our contracted time. As for the DJ and photo booth operator, since they are working your reception, yes I would definitely feed them. The DJ typically will grab a plate from the buffet and eat at his or her DJ booth unless you had a table for the vendors. I would also check with their contracts to see if they require a meal or not.

Check your contracts. Most vendors require a meal.

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I don't have any contracts yet but this is the thought pattern I was on. Like nobody working a 4-hour workday gets a lunch break lol I don't mind feeding the DJ but if the venue tells me his meal is going to cost some crazy price, I'm deducting whatever the price is from his tip cuz that doesn't make sense to me, to expensively feed someone who I'm already paying and tipping. I emailed my venue about the vendor meal inquiry. They're currently closed on Mondays and Tuesdays so I won't get an answer until tomorrow. I will also ask the DJ what he expects.

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Thanks, I'm going to see what the venue says. I don't have contracts from the vendors yet but if I can just provide food that would probably be better than the ridiculous price I feel like the venue is going to give me. But we'll see.