Vendor Meals

Your DJ 100% needs a meal. IMO any vendor that will be there for the majority of the wedding needs one.

Check your contracts, a lot of them specify that they require a meal (and sometimes it specifies a hot meal)

We are feeding our photog and our DJs. We have been given the option to either serve them one of our plated meals or let them choose from the menu for the attached restaurant. If they eat one of the plated meals it will cost us the non-open bar price.

Our vendors will eat the same thing as the guests. The DJ, photographer and videographer will all be given meals. We also extended an invitation to our officiant to stay for the reception but he declined.

Did it really not occur to you that they need to eat?

Check all your contracts, if they're staying the whole reception they need to eat or you need to excuse them for up to an hour (which you're still paying for their services in that time) so they can go eat

If your vendor is at the reception they need to eat. My venue puts them up in the meeting room and they are served what everyone else eats. I will have my photographer and videographer and the vendors. The DJ is an employee of the venue so he will eat while dinner music is playing in the employee breakroom. My MUA will probably leave as soon as everyone is finished makeup wise. My hair stylist is being invited with his partner.

Definitely feed them!

Future LC Wow! I completely forgot about Officiant, thank you!!

I'm having my DJ, 2 photographers, and my photo booth attendant eat the meal my guests are having which is a BBQ buffet. It's only $37 per person. They offered cheaper vendor meals but they were like a turkey sandwich and I did not feel comfortable with that.

@Lauren, I wish my venue offered cheaper vendor meals, they will be served the same as the guests at the same rate. Im glad my DOC brought this to my attention bc we were completely ignorant to this.

How am I handling this? By feeding my vendors! Sure, it'll be extra, but they gotta eat too. Plus, they'll be working hard to ensure my wedding day is perfect. The least I can do is pass them a plate.

Anyone who stays all night gets fed. They shouldn't be charged at a rate that includes an open bar, if that is fed into the overall price.

Thankfully, our venue includes vendor meals for free - we were grateful, we would have been at almost $1000 from them alone... We have five from the band, two videographers/two photographers, yikes! I'd talk to your caterer - most places will offer their meals at half cost because they get dinner, no alcoholic drinks or wedding cake. They definitely should be offered dinner though...

Our venue charges us 50% for a vendor meal but they do net get a choice as to what meal they receive. We have 2 photographers, 2 videographers and a DJ to feed. They also get their own - smaller table off to the side.

We are absolutely feeding our photographer and DJ, they're going to be there the whole night. I also think venues should give you a break on the price, but some don't. Try to negotiate.

@Magical Mermaid Ty I totally appreciate the sarcasm

@NikNak - Thanks for the advice, I will check with them again about the rate because @Celia brought up a good point - alcohol and food is included in the price.

My photographer had a meal requirement in his contract which is fine with me. Our DJ comes with the venue but only comes after dinner so no need to feed him. Sometimes venues will provide a vendor meal for half price or a discounted price since they won't be using the bar (if bar is included in your overall price for meals). My officiant is my future BIL so yes, he'll be getting a meal LOL! Best way to remove the mystery is to check your contracts and if not stated, ask your vendors and then talk to your venue to see if they can give a discounted meal.

This is why it's critical to review all your contracts before signing with any vendors! Hard to negotiate with the venue once you've already signed on the dotted line.

I would just bite the bullet and buy them all a meal. Only one of our vendors requires a meal in their contract, but we are buying one for all of them (DJ, Videographer, & Photographer). Our venue offers 2 meal options for vendors. Either a sandwich and chips for around $15, or the same meal as our guests will be eating for around $30 (our guests are $115/head so this is quite a discount).

Your vendors will be on their feet and working hard for so many hours, I think it will really help their stamina and overall mood if they have a nice meal at some point during the reception. You don't want them to be hungry/thirsty/grumpy while they are working at your reception!

If we use the venue's list of recommended vendors, they eat for free. If not then the vendors eat 1/2 price.

@Firstone DJ, Officiant, Photobooth, & Photog's contract say nothing about vendor meals. Thats why my DOC brought it to my attention. It does stipulate it in her contract. Im glad she brought this up because I was clueless

@Diana, thats what we are going to end up doing, but for all and not just the DOC. & WHOA! Thats a big discount and wouldnt pass it up either!