Lyla Dejesus
Feeding your wedding vendors is an absolute must. Wedding vendor meals are an important part of any wedding's catering order and should be included in your wedding budget breakdown. It is seen as good etiquette to provide your vendors with meals. Vendors who are only at the wedding for a couple of hours, like a ceremony musician, officiant, or getaway car driver, won't need meals. However, vendors who are with you for six or more hours, such as your wedding planner, photographers, videographers, DJ, band members, and venue manager, should be fed. It is always worth double-checking with each vendor who will be present at your reception. Some vendors require a meal as per their contract, so read the fine print!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who to feed | Vendors who are by your side all day long or for six or more hours |
| Any vendor onsite for the duration of the event | |
| Wedding planner, photographers, videographers, DJ, band members, venue manager, photo booth attendant, bartenders, bakers, etc. | |
| Florists, hair stylists, makeup artists, and the like can be provided with a box of snacks or fresh fruit | |
| Vendors who are only at the wedding for a couple of hours, like a ceremony musician, officiant, or getaway car driver, don't need meals | |
| You don't need to pay for meals for the catering staff/wait staff/bartenders | |
| When to feed | Vendors should be fed when the couple is eating so that they can get back to work as soon as they are done eating |
| Wedding bands generally eat before their set during cocktail hour | |
| Photographers and planners rotate between before and after dinner | |
| Vendors should be fed before "main events" like toasts, cake cutting, and the father/daughter dance | |
| Where to feed | Vendors can eat in a separate space to truly unwind and regroup |
| If there is no separate space, vendors can be seated in a separate area inside the reception | |
| Vendors can also eat in the area where cocktail hour was held | |
| What to feed | Vendors should be fed good, palatable food |
| Vendors can be served the same meal as guests | |
| Vendors can also be served a hot buffet or sandwiches |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Who to feed: photographers, videographers, planners, DJs, bands, etc?
- When to feed: before or during guest dinner, or separately?
- Where to feed: in a separate room, or at cocktail hour tables?
- What to feed: same meal as guests, or cheaper alternatives?
- Why feed: it's courteous, and ensures they deliver their best services?
Who to feed: photographers, videographers, planners, DJs, bands, etc
Feeding your wedding vendors is an absolute must. It is courteous and shows gratitude and respect for the professionals working hard to make your wedding day special. It is also a practical move, as it ensures they can deliver their best services and capture all the important moments of your day.
Photographers, videographers, and planners are often by your side all day, so it is only right that they are well-fed. It is good etiquette to provide a meal for these vendors, and many contracts will include a clause stipulating this. It is also a good idea to feed your DJ or band, as they will likely be present for the duration of the event.
Photographers and videographers, in particular, should eat when you do. This way, they can be finished eating when you are and can capture important moments such as mingling with guests, cake-cutting, and parent dances. Wedding bands often have clear stipulations about when their meal should be, and it is often before their set during cocktail hour.
It is worth noting that some vendors may feel awkward eating in front of guests, so providing a separate space for them to relax and eat is a thoughtful gesture. This space can also be used to store their supplies and personal items.
Wedding Planner Career: Where to Live and Thrive
You may want to see also
Explore related products
When to feed: before or during guest dinner, or separately
Feeding your wedding vendors is an absolute must. Wedding vendors are there to ensure that your special day runs smoothly, and they will need to refuel at some point.
The timing of when to feed your wedding vendors is important. The couple, their bridal party, and their parents are considered guests of honour and should be served first. Your vendors can then receive their meals, likely finishing at the same time as the couple. This means that your vendors will be ready to capture all the important post-dinner moments, such as mingling with guests, toasts, cake cutting, and the first dance.
It is best to feed your vendors before or during the guest dinner. Vendors who are with you throughout the whole day, such as your wedding planner, photographer, videographer, DJ, band members, and venue manager, should be fed. It is also a good idea to feed vendors' assistants. Wedding bands often have clear stipulations about when their meal needs to be ready, and it is often before their set, during cocktail hour. Photographers and planners tend to eat either before or after dinner. It is best to feed the band separately from other vendors, as they have a different schedule and need to play while guests are eating.
It is also possible to feed your vendors separately from the guests. Vendors may feel awkward eating where guests can see them, and having a separate space allows them to truly unwind and regroup. However, some may feel disconnected from the party with too much distance. If you are marrying in a hotel or ballroom, there will likely be extra rooms available for your vendors to eat. If your venue is more open-plan, consider screening off a separate space for the vendor meal.
Save the Dates: Just for Weddings or a Broader Social Trend?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Where to feed: in a separate room, or at cocktail hour tables
Feeding your wedding vendors is an absolute must. Wedding vendor meals are an important part of any wedding's catering order and should be included in your wedding budget breakdown.
Where to feed your wedding vendors?
Wedding vendors can be fed in a separate room or at cocktail hour tables. Some vendors may feel awkward eating in the same room as the guests. They may feel like they are taking a break when they are technically there to "work". A separate space allows them to relax and regroup. However, some may feel disconnected from the couple and the party if they are too far away.
If you have the room, a separate table just for vendors inside the reception room is a great option. However, this can add extra costs for things like extra linen, place settings, and centerpieces, and it can take up valuable space.
If you choose to feed your vendors in a separate room, it is a good idea to have a wedding planner or coordinator keep an eye on the reception and notify the vendors if something important is about to happen, such as cake cutting, so that they don't miss any important moments.
Determining the best time to feed your vendors can be tricky. It is important to consider the flow of your event and ensure that their break does not overlap with something major like toasts, cake cutting, or the father-daughter dance.
Most vendors prefer to be served dinner just after the couple, head table, and parents' tables are served, but before the remaining guests receive their meals. This allows the vendors to finish eating around the same time as the couple, so they are ready to capture the action as soon as guests are done with their meal.
Planning a Small, Intimate Wedding: Breaking Free from Traditions
You may want to see also
Explore related products
What to feed: same meal as guests, or cheaper alternatives
Feeding your wedding vendors is an absolute must. Vendors who are by your side all day long shouldn't be expected to go without eating. Wedding vendor meals are an important part of any wedding's catering order and should be included in your wedding budget breakdown.
Most vendors will have a wedding contract clause saying "vendor meal required", which takes out the guesswork of who to feed. Some vendor contracts may even say they'll leave to get a meal elsewhere if they're not provided one by the couple. It is always worth double-checking with each vendor who will be present at your reception. Some of them require a meal as per their contract, so read that fine print!
Now, what to feed them? It is not critical that they are fed the same meal as your guests. What matters is that they are given something substantial that will keep them fuelled and focused. This usually means a hot meal, and some vendors go as far as indicating this in their contract. It is a good idea to check with your caterer about their plan of action so that you can relay this information to your vendors.
The timing of vendor meals is also important. Allowing your vendors to receive their meals after the couple, head table, and parents' tables are served, but before the remaining guests receive their meals, will likely mean they'll finish eating around the same time the couple does. As soon as guests are done with their meal, the party begins, and your vendors have to be ready for the action to start, not trying to scarf down the last bits of their dinner.
Plotting the Perfect Petals: Mapping Out a Flower Garden for Your Big Day
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Why feed: it's courteous, and ensures they deliver their best services
Feeding your wedding vendors is an absolute must. It is courteous to provide food for the people working for you, and it ensures they can deliver their best services. Wedding vendor meals are an important part of any wedding's catering order and should be included in your wedding budget breakdown.
Any vendor who is with you for all or most of the day should be fed. This includes your photographer, videographer, wedding planner, venue manager, photo booth attendant, DJ, band, and anyone else who will be working six or more hours. It is always worth double-checking with each vendor who will be present at your reception, as some may have assistants who should also be fed.
Vendors who are only at the wedding for a couple of hours, like a ceremony musician, officiant, or getaway car driver, won't need meals. Florists, hair stylists, and makeup artists also don't need vendor meals, as they will likely be gone by the time dinner is served.
It is much more convenient for vendors to take a break in a room next door or at a table in the reception space than to leave the wedding to get food. If you don't feed your vendors, they may miss key moments to film, photograph, or set up music for. It is also more difficult to coordinate speeches and first dances if your vendors are trying to eat at the same time. By feeding your vendors, you ensure they can perform at their best and are available when you need them.
Some vendors may have a clause in their contract requiring a vendor meal, and some may even specify that it needs to be a hot, nutritious meal. It is a well-established industry standard to feed your vendors, and it is a kind way to show gratitude and respect for their hard work.
Post-Wedding Thank You Cards: Are They Necessary?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
You should feed any vendors who will be onsite for the duration of the event. This includes your wedding planner, photographers, videographers, DJ, band members, and anyone else who will be working six or more hours during your wedding day.
Wedding vendors should be fed good food. It is not required that they eat the same meal as your guests, but it should be palatable and fairly similar to what your guests are eating. Some caterers will offer meals for free or at a discounted rate for your vendors.
Wedding vendors should eat when the couple eats so that they can get back to work as soon as they are done eating. Wedding bands generally eat before their set during cocktail hour. Photographers and planners tend to rotate between before and after dinner.
