Providing meal for photographer

Most caterers provide vendor meals at a discount. Vendors need to eat too, it is a courtesy you are expected to provide.

To the people who are trying to say not feeding them is not treating them like people: don't you bring your own lunch to work? I work in an extended day charter school. My day is at least 8 hours and I show up early and leave late. My students don't buy me filet mignon. So yes. It is a natural question to ask. That said, yes, they should eat what your guests are eating. You want them kept happy, and it is part of their contract. Many venues do offer lower priced meals for vendors though, and you don't have to pay for their open bar if it's included in your pp price. If it makes you feel better, just be glad you aren't hiring a 17-piece band to play at your wedding, lol. We never thought to ask if vendors got a lower rate. As it stands, it will cost about $650 just to feed my vendors... oops.

Our vendors are included in our final count but our caterers are feeding our vendors for free. So yes they should be included in your final count and fed.

Julia, you get a lunch break. Right? Vendors do not. They do the entire time of your wedding day without having a break to leave.

I should hope you are making sure they get a break. I'm pretty sure it's against most labour laws to work more than 4-6 hours without a break...

Julia, your analogy doesn't make sense. You go to work every day and bring your lunch every day. For a wedding, it's a one day deal. No full breaks for up to 10 hours. It is rude to not even want to feed them a full meal which is what @Yellowbird5 is considering.

I would also be sure to double check with your venue. Lots of venues have already accounted for the (completely commonplace) practice of feeding *all* your on site vendors. For example ours had a separate room for them to eat in so they weren't mixed in with the guests, we got four vendor meals included with our package and then any additional ones were at a reduced price. My venue also had a beverage table and snacks for them. They ate what we ate but without a choice (I think they all got the beef entree).

As others have mentioned, this is standard.

Yes most contracts over 4 hours you must provide a meal for the vendor.

@Nicola, did you even read?

You're supposed to include your vendors in your guest count, and yes, they should get the same food as your guests.

what KitandKaboodle said ^^^

Yes, I know vendors are people, and definitely know that they're working like crazy at weddings and in no way think it's okay to treat them like second class citizens. I'm a musician and occasionally perform at wedding ceremonies. If I were booked for an entire reception, I'd require a meal, and I'd much rather a bride ask about what meal to provide rather than just assume it's okay to buy me a sandwich or salad from the store.

FFS, this is asinine. Feed your vendors an actual meal, period.

Talk to your caterer. They may provide a vendor meal that is the same or different from your guests, for the same or reduced cost (since your vendors won't be drinking alcohol). You just need to ask your caterer how they handle it.

@Emma, yes, I get a lunch break. And so does the vendor. My point is not that they don't get a break. My point is why am I buying them a $40 meal for their dinner when generally speaking bosses don't buy lunches for their employees.

@Kit, their job is set up in a way where they make the bulk of their money in one day. Yes, it's a long day for them, but I am still not sympathetic. I can't leave my job for lunch either. It's not that I'm not allowed, as much as my "30 minute lunch" is only 25 after I sit the kids down and arrive early to get them out in time for the next set of students. I've made the mad dash to Wendy's before, but it by the time I get back there's only 5-8 minutes left to eat.

I am not saying vendors don't work hard. They do. What I am saying is that the rest of us work hard at our jobs too, and we still have to brown bag it. I find it odd that the expectation is not the same for vendors. That said, that is the expectation, and I am not going to skimp on them.

What I don't understand is why people are jumping on @Yellowbird for her question though. Especially if she has had to make tough cuts with her guest list already.

Talk with your caterer first. Mine said there's always plenty of food so we don't have to include them in the count.

@Julia, the issue is they don't have a set break. Unlike you and I, we are employees. Our employers set aside time for us to eat and regroup. We are provided our work space and items needed to do our job. Vendors are self-employed and provide their own equipment so that they can provide service for an event. Asking people to provide a service and then sitting down and eating in front of them is beyond rude.

No one jumped all over @Yellowbird5. She asked a question we answered. No one was rude or condescending. And for the record, we have all had to make tough cuts to our budget, guest list and ceremony/reception as a whole.

No you have to serve them the same meal as your guests! They are not included in our guest count but our venue is feeding them for $25 a plate/vendor. I am sure your venue has something similar since it's very normal to feed your vendors.

Our venue offers a vendor meal at a cheaper rate. I am giving my vendors the option, if it would be easier for them to eat the quick vendor meal or if they want what we are eating. That decision is totally theirs and I'm fine with either.

Feed the vendors! Same meal as the guests. i am also providing snacks since my photographer will be with me from the time im getting ready to the end!