Vendor Meals?

This is NWR... but when I waitressed and worked doubles....I got 50% off and still had to pay. I need to bust into this wedding industry

We're feeding our DJ, 2 Photographers, and 1 Videographer. Also check with them on their food restrictions/allergies. My photographers are vegetarian so they lucked out because I love veggies and am having a vegetarian option.

The people not being fed are in the Mariachi group. There are eight of them and they are only there for two hours so they can go feed themselves. Sorry!

I do have shrimp for the cocktail hour though so I'm providing Benadryl just in case someone has a food allergy to it.

Our venue offered vendor meals at 1/2 price (which is still very expensive). We are going to do a sandwhich platter for them instead. I'm sure they won't mind!

Many of my vendors don't require meals in their contracts, but I opted to give them meals anyway. They deserve to eat and you want to keep them happy during the day!

Any vendor working 4 or more hours should have some type of vendor meal. I agree with some of the others your photograper should eat when you are eating to ensure they will not miss anything.

We fed all the vendors and I would not have considered doing anything less. They were there over 6 hours and the food was made available when they were ready to eat it.

Thank you for the great advice! Matt P. I am going to take your suggestion on having my photographer fed when we are - I would have never thought of that!! Happy planning everyone!

What I would take more issue with is vendors that demand a meal similar to the guests meal. Seriously?

What if vendors brought a lunch, so they knew they'd get what they wanted without having to leave?

I am definitely feeding my vendors.

Actually, I suppose it makes sense... since you won't likely know when your break is or where a fridge is, etc...due to the nature.

I just think that what seems fair is that the vendor has a chance to sit down and refuel, and get a personal break, without adding on extra charge of meal onto the package. I think a vendor meal option or a substantial sandwich-type (large) would suffice....but I've never worked in a work environment with pee breaks or lunch hours or anything...so it's just a matter of perspective.

It's good to see other peoples', and it has changed mine slightly. I wouldn't let a well priced quality vendor slip through my fingers over it, but a rider of a gourmet/ethnic/special meal is off-putting.

I did take a little offense to it at first, as if what some of us eat have time to eat at work isn't worthy of other people...but that's how the world works

Feeding the vendors is only fair. We will be feeding ours

Brian, just now saw your post. I dislike that you make it sound like we're slapping two pieces of Wonder Bread together with a thin slab of bologna & processed cheese. It sounds like that has happened to you with previous brides, you have my sincerest sympathies, but please do not make assumptions.

Our venue has won awards nationwide for the quality of their food, so a sandwhich by them is hardly just any sandwhich... In addition, we will be feeding them a platter with an assortment of very high quality food (sides as well and more than 1 sandwhich/person).

@KatyM If your vendor will be there from 6-10, YES, feed them! They will actually arrive earlier than 6 and leave after 10.

Brides, please think about this. How would you feel, if you provided a service that took you away from your family on a Saturday (typical wedding day) from essentially 4-midnight (travel and set up time) and then being told that you do not get food.

Yes, provide a meal for them.

@Patricia P, you may not provide a Bologna and Cheese sandwich, but I am sure that too many do.

Vendors should NOT be treated like chattle. They are hired to do a professional service. They have requirements and food should be one of them.

I own a wine tour company and my tour guides eat the same meal as the guests, with the guests. And the customer pays for the guide and drivers meals. If they object, they can drive their own bus. ;-)

We definitely need to be fed, too!! Now I will say that oftentimes I decline the meal on the day-of, but there have been a few times when I definitely needed to eat. You don't want my blood sugar crashing, me passing out, and no photos of the rest of your wedding day!

I just added the vendor meals onto the final head count. The vendors are people too, and need to eat.

Not for nothing, I don't care if a bride is having her reception at the Ritz, a sandwich is a sandwich. A vendor deserves a meal.

We gave our vendors the same meal as our guests other than alcohol of course they had everything we had. They are the people who make your wedding possible and remember especially for your photographers and videographers they are working all day and they need to eat too.We only had 2 photographers 2 videographers and a DJ so we didn't have that many people to ask for a discount and the price per plate wasn't high to begin with. They sat down at a table with my friends and ate while everyone was eating as I didn't want any video or pictures while people eat.We let all our vendors know they would get the meal provided except the videographer we didn't have contact with her till the wedding day .When we told the videographer that she could sit down and eat she was shocked but very happy I guess she doesn't get a meal that often when she works which is pretty sad because she was there for around 6 hours and stayed about 8 hours.Please feed your vendors they work hard to make you happy.

Do you feed the caterers? our venue is also our caterers.