Who pays for vendor meetings?

I've only met with my DOC at panera and when I got there she had bought drink and cookie for us both....

We have to meet our pastor and his wife for dinner to get to know each other more, talk about our plans for the wedding, etc. Other vendors though seems a little odd to meet outside of the office to me. Just see if you can just grab a coffee.

A lot of vendors are individuals and don't have an office. None of our vendors have offices. We've been meeting up at Panera, and we all get our own food and drinks.

We met at panera bread, we were early and paid for ourselves but I was starving and didn't wanna wait

We met one potential doc at Panera. I got coffee before she arrived. When she got there she didn't get anything. We met another DOC at a local coffee shop and again i got coffee before she arrived because I'm always way too early for meetings. I'm paranoid about being late. All other vendors I met at their place of business or had all discussions over phone/email.

We met vendors through Skype, Starbucks, and in their offices.

I've met a vendor over lunch one day, and he paid for my meal. He does have an office space, but it is far from my job, so he met me there out of convenience.

We've either met our vendors at their office, or if it wasn't convenient they offered Starbucks.

We actually met our photographer for dinner.

She was supposed to meet at Starbucks, her car broke down and she offered to buy us dinner by way of apology.

We met our officiant at a Starbucks. He offered us a drink but we bought our own and called it a day.

ETA: I haven't read any previous comments, but SOME people have business credit cards/bank accounts. They're considered work-related so something something taxes.

We met a vendor at D & D and he paid for our coffees. Dinner is way to much for a meeting.

Awkward...

I'm not sure how to advise you because we would never go this route. We might meet at Applebees or Chilis, but we don't order food -- just coffee. The bride (and typically, her mom) will order wine or a cocktail, and when we've finished, they insist on picking up the tab. We're more than willing to pay our own bill, but we don't offer to pick up the table's tab unless we are signing contracts at the table.

For a vendor to suggest several restaurants and a bite to eat? I don't think you're responsible for paying for their dinner, but, to be honest, I've never run into that situation.

Just choose a cheaper option if that works for you, starbucks has late bites too, at least here in Chicago

We've met vendors at Panera and Barnes and Nobles. Niether time did the vendor get anything though...

We met a vendor for coffee and it ran into lunch. We both paid for our own.

I wouldn't pick up their tab. Lol do your business and leave. They don't have offices? You guys meeting at a coffee place sounds great but at the end of the day you're already paying them for services , why are you paying for food and drinks? I'm confused

??? Dinner??? No. ...

"We would love to meet with you but have time to go over details/questions. 30-45 minutes? Perhaps coffee if not at your studio/office. Our zip code is xxxxx. Where would you like to meet?"

By the way, I meet most of my clients at a local coffee shop in my neck of the woods and on my dime. But it's coffe/tea/soda not a meal.

We met with our photog and our pastor for lunches during planning and we paid for them but I def don't think that's required! Hubs and I love to eat and revolve everything around food so that's how that happened lol

I do most of the planning via email.

But when couples do want to meet in person, it's at a local coffee house. I find it's better if I buy my own drink and my potential clients buy their own drinks. That way there is no pressure either way. And, it's inexpensive for all.

My only etiquette suggestion: do buy something from the coffeehouse, as you are using their space to meet!

We met a few vendors at local coffee shops and we expected to pay for their orders. Definitely choose an affordable place for meetings.