Food Count / Costs

Our venue is all-inclusive so their staff will already be taken care of and aren't included in our counts. We're paying $100 a plate- which relatively inexpensive for a catered meal in MD. Our officiant, DJ, and photographer are all friendors who are already included in the guest list.

You don’t need to feed the bartender, caterer and servers. I think a good rule of thumb is anyone who will be there for 5+ hours. Photographer(s), videographer(s), DOC/planner, DJ.

Usually the venue will have a separate vendor meal price that you would count separately from your guest list. Usually the caterer and servers are not included in the vendor count but that is something you would need to check with your caterer and your contract. Each vendor working your reception should be included as a courtesy, but most will require it per their contract.

As for price, the average in Northern California is anywhere from $100-200 per person. My catering price ended up being about $315 per person (black tie event so definitely not the norm).

We are feeding our Dj and photographer

We fed our wedding planner and assistants, photographer and assistants, and DJ. Our food was $134 per person but vendor meals were only $35 per person.

Our food is estimated at $75/per person and vendors get their own meals that are about $30/person.

We had 2 DJs, 2 photographers, and a decor helper (primary decor was my SIL) who got vendor meals. We paid $120 per plate for guests, and vendor meals were $35.

With tax and gratuity fee that's built in mine comes out to Around $52. Of course this is just the meal and doesn't include the other stuff like cake and added alcohol we bought. I included vendors like dj and photobooth person in my counts for the meals. We actually gave them the same meal as our guests because we had extra seating and needed to meet a minimum anyway so didn't seem right for us to waste money getting em the specific separate vendor meals

We are feeding our 2 photographers, DJ/MC, and photo booth attendant. It's $110 a head for guests and $45 for vendors at our venue. We do not need to feed the servers or bartenders.

Definitely check your contracts to see what they say about meals. We’re only hiring a caterer and photographers, and the caterers don’t need to be fed.
We’re paying about $25pp for fajitas!

Thanks for everyone’s help ... It is greatly appreciated!

Ours is at least $70 per plate. And since we booked the jacked up their prices another $5 for each buffet style. We get to stick with the $70 since that was the price when we booked although it'll be more because we want the beef option added to the package. Usually the vendors meals are a different cost. Ours is $35 for the vendors.

Most vendors will state in their contracts that you agree to feed them. At least in NJ they do.