Feeding the vendors

To me, I would go by:

a) Do I expect this person to work through a commonly accepted meal time ("lunch" or "dinner" hours)?

b) Is this a person I expect to be "on" through their entire contracted period? (Photographers and DJs are generally working almost every minute they're there - florists may be there to set up and then are gone).

c) Is it worth the possibility of ticking this person off?

Some have mentioned that their vendor contracts have specified that if a meal isn't provided, they'll go offsite to get one - can you imagine having your DJ leave for an hour of your reception to go get a meal? These are not typical jobs - these people work very hard for short periods most weekends, but when they're working they need to be more or less totally focused on the task at hand. If providing them a meal helps them to do so, I don't have a problem providing one. And tips are absolutely separate - a tip is supposed to reflect how you feel about the service rendered, whereas a vendor meal I associate more with giving the vendor everything they need to render that service successfully.

I fed my vendors.. The DJ got his boxed up so he can do both DJ and eat. My Photobooth got theirs to go and my Photographer said no thank you. I counted them as part of my guest list though to make sure it was enough food.

View Quoted Comment My DJ didn't leave for an hour. My hostess boxed his up so I don't know where you got that information from. If your DJ leave to go eat he or she needs to not get paid lol

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I was referencing an earlier post in this thread where the poster said her photographer's contract stipulated that if the photographer wasn't fed, they would go offsite for up to an hour to get a meal. If it's in the contract you (not you specifically, but anyone) signed, you're obligated to either provide the meal or allow them to go offsite. That's why so many posters are advising OP to ask her vendors what their expectations are, or consult any contracts she may have already signed.

Anyway, I think you and I agree that it works out best if the vendors are fed!

View Quoted Comment Right Katie

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Well first and foremost, if it's in the contract then it is what it is and I'll just do whatever I agree to. I just wasn't sure if them eating was necessary because of the short time frame.

And to answer your questions, to be honest

a) Yes. There are SEVERAL professions that call for you to work through commonly accepted meal times and if you are only working for 4 hours you most certainly do not get a lunch break, so you should plan your breakfast or lunch accordingly. DJ start time is 1:30, so yes I would expect that he feeds himself before arrival. I seen a blog mention feeding the vendors, if I didn't read that, and thus post here, I wouldn't have even thought about it. My thought process was definitely "grown people know when they have to eat and when they have to work and can't eat on the job, grown people know how to plan accordingly."

b) Yes, for 3 and 4 hours, Absolutely yes. If it was longer, they could take a meal break while we are eating. But my photographer will be gone by time we start to eat. My DJ will have been there an hour. So again, if I'm contracted to feed him, fine. But do I think he should eat before he starts work, YES. And of course I expect them to "be on" for the entire time I hired them for. Doesn't all of our jobs expect that? Wouldn't you expect that of your employees? My work days are 8 hours, I get paid for 7.5 hours; my employer isn't paying for my lunch break.

c) This is just a weird concept to me. That I would PAY somebody to do their job but would tick them off by not feeding them. Again, if it's in the contract, I'm responsible. But if it's not in the contract, I'm not thinking about it, I'm assuming their adult self has their own self taken care of. In service jobs, I assume the price I am quoted is what the provider feels is fair for the service they will provide. I feel it's a ridiculous concept that I would be expected to do anything extra other than tip.

I haven't officially chosen a DJ yet so I will ask about their eating expectations and also see what my venue responds in regard to vendor meal but upon reading all the comments I've decided that whatever the meal price is I will include that as a part of the DJ price (ex. DJ quotes $500, meal is $50- price of DJ is $550). I can rationalize it in my head better that way and decide if I want to pay that.