Paying for vendors' meals

You should talk to your caterer as most discount vendor meals pretty heavily. Ours were about half price. I’m of the belief that you’re paying for a lot more than the hours they’re at the wedding, and should happily provide them with the meal that’s being served. I don’t see an etiquette issue with only serving the main course, but we provided our vendors with all the courses that were served to our guests.

Talk to your caterer. Our vendor meals were 1/2 the cost and they ate after everyone else.

Echoing PPs, talk to your catering manager or venue contact and see what their vendor meal includes. Ours vendor meals are half the cost of regular guest meals. They will have full access to anything on the buffet table, but the meal does not include passed cocktail hour apps, a champagne toast, cake cutting, etc. They still get a lot considering that not much has actually been cut from the food part of the package, and beer/wine/liquor was a separate charge to begin with and they won't be having that either.

Yes, that's a very long day for you to expect them to feed themselves.

Are all of these vendors from the same company? It seems strange that they would have in their contract that they can leave the venue for a meal. But, I agree with PP, check with your venue or caterer. For us, vendor meals are $35/person (less than half-price), are a meal of the chef's choosing (I'm assuming keeping dietary restrictions/preferences in mind), and don't include alcohol.

When did I ever say I expect them to feed themselves? I have 5 friends getting married in the same area as me, and have 3 older sisters who have all been married, and not a single one of them have come into contact with a vendor that requires the same meal, so I had never heard of it. I spoke to a friend that is a wedding photographer and she said she always packs her lunch.

I said I'm happy to pay for them, I just didn't know if I was supposed to give them the full 3 course meal. We're serving much bigger portions a lot more food than typically had at weddings, so thats why I asked.

And thanks to those that said to talk to the caterer! I didn't know that was an option. I will definitely do that!

Vendor meals are almost always discounted at the venue- and it's typically the entree only- they don't (typically) get appetizers, salad, dessert, etc.

Honestly, you should be happy to feed them- fed vendors = happy, hardworking vendors

Honestly, our vendors will be receiving the exact same meal as all of our guests. I spoke with our all-inclusive venue and they treat vendors as regular guests. We will be paying $100 per vendor and they will have appetizers, salad course, pasta course, duo plate entree, dessert and access to our full open bar (should they choose). We are more than happy to pay for this since they will be working hard for us that day.

I can't imagine asking any of them to bring a sack lunch with them. Not only does that seem disrespectful but, many venues do not allow outside food. Our photographer and assistant had a similar clause, that if they were not given an appropriate meal break (with food) they would be leaving the event to get their own dinner.

My photographer, videographer and dj all got the full 4 course meal that we had. My photographer was upfront saying that he doesn't take photos while people are eating, since no one wants and awkward picture of them with their mouth half full. It totally made sense to me, so I wasn't going to not serve them one of the courses and have them sitting there doing nothing but watch everyone else eat.

Our photographers/videographers had this in their contract as well. I didnt have any issue with it since they were working for ME for 8-9 hours straight. Also since we did Buffet style I didnt even include them in the head count since our venue advised they would cook 15% over the guest count to be safe. ( we did reserve seating for them to eat and offered them ALL food available to ALL guests)

When you ask your caterer about vendor meals ask what the vendor meal will be too. I'm pretty certain most of the time it's the entree and just no salad etc, but I have heard of the occasional instance where the vendor meal was like a turkey sandwich. While I doubt it's the case if the caterer planned on not serving the main entree for the vendor e-mail I would contact the other vendors letting them know what the vendor meal is...

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In the contract it says the meal has to be the same thing that the guests will be served, so we definitely wouldn't ask for an entirely different meal! They will definitely get the main entree, just didn't know if they are also typically served everything served at the plated dinner!

EML mentioned the vendor meal of a sandwich. That's why vendors are now requiring in the contract that they receive the same meal as the guests. Working hours and hours a day and getting fed a sandwich is treating the vendors poorly. Not saying EML would ever do that, just that the vendor industry got tired of being fed poorly by brides/grooms.

Treat your vendors well, period. All my vendors had in their contracts about types of meals, and times they take their meals.
Not only did I give all my vendors a choice of what meals they would like, they ate at the same as my guests, my husband and I.

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Oh I have no intention of not giving my vendors the same meal, our vendor meal is just the main entree (no salad I believe). It's just something important for OP to ask about.

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I never thought of that. That's a really good point!

My vendors got the same meal as everyone minus the starter. My photographer actually asked to be served first/at the same time as the head table so that she could eat quickly and be ready to take pictures when people were done eating. These people are on their feet 8+ hours of the day making sure you have the greatest wedding ever, it's a small thing to make sure to feed them and do so well. I'd feel bad handing them a sandwich after all they did for me.

My location offers free meals to preferred vendors and half price meals to any other vendors.