Vendor Meals?

Bump

"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.

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I would feel like I was at work.

I am not saying that brides should not feed their vendors. But 4-12 is an 8 hour shift. I know some people with 8 hour shifts get fed by their employers (usually in a cafeteria), some get a break (bring your own or leave), and others are to eat before or after their shift.

For the hundreds to thousands of dollars you spend on a vendor, the additional meal fee isn't that much. It makes sense for them to eat on site, since they are going to work where they don't know if they have access to a fridge and microwave, and they have a different client/employer from week to week. I would want them to be comfortable and well fed. What I disagree with is that a 500+ cal meal isn't enough if its a sandwich

If you're having a buffet, feeding your four or five vendors (DJ, videographer, photog, photogs assistant - am I missing anyone?) shouldn't be too much of an issue. I suppose if you're spending $30 a plate for each person it might be an issue. If you can't afford to feed those five extra people, maybe you shouldn't be spending so much on food. You can serve people good food without it being top quality steaks. Also, it's a wedding, not k-mart. People should be fed if they are there especially the photogs and videographers since they most likely won't take a break to go out and get food since they want to (hopefully) do quality work for the bride and groom. I think it's common decency and polite. People want to do better work for you if they like you. I try to put myself in other people's shoes and if I were in that position, I would want to be treated like a human being and not like a machine. Who would want to eat a sandwich while everyone else is eating full meals? Just saying.

@ elle said.....I would feel like I was at work.

I am not saying that brides should not feed their vendors. But 4-12 is an 8 hour shift. I know some people with 8 hour shifts get fed by their employers (usually in a cafeteria), some get a break (bring your own or leave), and others are to eat before or after their shift.

You have got to be effing joking, right? Oy! This is the reason that there is an issue. People who do not understand how to treat their vendors with respect. Sheesh!

I honestly am having a buffet and plan on letting all my vendors get their fill... But I agree with Elle, FS worked a job for a few months where he worked 12 hour shifts, had 2 30 minute lunch breaks and was not allowed to leave the building at all the whole shift. He had to take his luch everyday and didnt expect the company to feed him, and let me tell you this he was only making a quarter of what most of these vendors make. Also I know I have worked an 8 hour shift on my feet all day on nothing more than a pb&j sandwich. Honestly I think its a bit ridiculous for me to pay $3000 on my photographer, $500 on a dj for 6 hours maybe and then have to spend another $60 on they're meal. Like I said I'm doing my own catering so its not as dramatic as that, but thats just how I feel.

What an interesting thread. Having a live band? Consider the amount of time/labor each vendor invests. Consider load in, setup, breakdown. It’s important to discuss w/your vendors, as well as the caterer. As providers of music for ceremony, cocktails, dinner AND dancing, we arrive w/ heavy gear approximately 4 hrs before guests arrive. We leave the site 1+ hr after guests leave. That means we’re on site for 6-9 hrs. Consider that we also spend 2-5 hrs loading gear & traveling before arriving at the event to unload & set up. It’s very physical work. We have been fed measly vendor boxed meals by 5-star venues. It is not enough sustenance. When we are treated well by the caterer and fed hearty, healthy meals, we are VERY happy, appreciative & ready to provide our best! Consider a balanced meal for adult sustenance- protein & carbs! Ask your vendors about allergies & restrictions. After all the $ spent on the wedding, is the extra cost for proper meals worth it for vendors? Of course!

My venue (who is supplying the food) generiously makes extra food for vendors.

I know they are going to be there all day, but I have NEVER worked a job (even though I am required to be there during the hours my employer DEMANDS) where my meals were paid for.... I was expected to provide my own, even if I had to pack a sack lunch because I couldn't leave, I have worked places where you weren't supposed to leave.

I get that it is APPRECIATED and gracious on our end , but EXPECTED, and even demanded by putting it in your contract?? Especially for people who bring several assistants not because they are needed for the whole day, but because they are interns, for example, my planner is expecting to have 4-5 assistants with her........ My guest list is under 65 ppl, which means if I pay for a meal for my hired vendors, and their assistants I'm looking at 12 (video. will have an assistant or two, the photographer's and DJ's assistants) increasing my head count by 18%. I plan on taking care of my vendors, but I think it rude to EXPECT/DEMAND personal needs to tended.

As a photographer, feed your vendors, especially the photographers. We are with you from the earliest activity such as getting ready, until almost the very end of his night. Typically, there isn't much down time for us (my husband and I both shoot) so if you think about what two people provide and there not being enough time, one person will not have any time either. It's exhausting and a physically demanding job to ensure Brides have plenty to look through. As a Bride, there are only 3 things you walk away with: spouse, rings and photos ??

My company has debated on whether or not to add this in our contract as it seems many brides have the same reaction. We eat before
we the event but usually arrive 2-3
hours before the ceremony. I am
actually reading this thread because my husband who was DJing and Photo booth attendant just left a wedding at 12:30am after having been there since 1:30pm and were not offered any sustenance. That is why companies ask, so they can take care of their people. I personally think it’s wrong to have someone work that many hours, standing on their feet and not offer food.