Which vendors are traditionally offered a meal? I plan on serving my day of coordinator and photographer and seating our officiant with our guests, but I'm unsure about the other staff... servers, bartenders, dj, string duet... which ones am I supposed to feed and does everyone offer their vendors the same meal they are serving to their guests at the wedding?
i'm feeding vendor meals to my coordinator, venue coordinator, photographers, DJ and assistant. the officiant (if she stays) will sit with my parents. waitstaff and bartenders are fed by my caterer (i think this is pretty typical). if the string duet is staying past dinnertime, they should be fed too. we're not offering the same meal, but something hot and a little less expensive.
We are feeding the photographer, dj, and any help that we hired. The bartender and wait staff are provided by the reception site so we are not feeding them. I am offering my vendors the same meal the guests are having. Ask your reception site if there is a different price for the vendors since they are not using the full package. My regular guests cost 36 to feed, but I am only get charged 19 to feed the vendors through the reception. They are working really hard, and you want to keep them happy!
Yup... feed your photographer, coordinator, officant, and videographer (if you have one) for sure.
It would be nice of you to offer something to your DJ and assistant, but they may decline anyway. Mine did. They are working only about 4-6 hours, so you aren't really obligated to feed them ... but again, it's a nice gesture.
As pp said, you venue may have different pricing for vendor meals, though mine did not. Of course, none of your vendors should be drinking, so you should at least be able to deduct the bar tab for them.
As for the servers and bartenders - no. I was a waitress for many years and that is not expected. Servers and bartenders usually eat in the "back of the house" and usually they don't pay for their food anyway. It's one of the perks of the restaurant biz.
Our waitstaff and bartenders are provided by the venue; they will eat the way they do when it's operating as a restaurant (e.g., before or after the guests, and in the staff lounge. My event coordinator also comes with the facility, and so eats with the staff. My photographers and my officiant are eating with the guests. I still have to talk to the band. They are actually playing through dinner, and so will need to be provided with sandwiches (my venue makes fabulous sandwiches, so don't think I'm being mean, I think it's way better than something that has been kept warm) or something like that in the staff lounge during their breaks. My band actually plays dinner parties at my venue all the time, so I'm sort of assuming they will just tell me exactly what they normally have.
Feeding: Officiant (and his wife), photographer, dj, and singers.
Not Feeding: Bartenders, wait staff, etc.. they come with the venue.
My venue offers "vendor" meals that cost quite a bit less than my regular guest meals. However, my officiant is eating as a guest (he is a good friend and co-worker).
Same here - feeding officiant, who is also a great friend, the photographer and the assistant. The site coordinator (not day of coordinator, but the person provided by the venue), bartender and catering staff all take care of themselves. Most caterers offer a vendor meal. Espeically if you are having a pricey meal, this may be a good option.
Which vendors are traditionally offered a meal? I plan on serving my day of coordinator and photographer and seating our officiant with our guests, but I'm unsure about the other staff... servers, bartenders, dj, string duet... which ones am I supposed to feed and does everyone offer their vendors the same meal they are serving to their guests at the wedding?
posted by missopie Worker bee: 60 posts 8 months agoi'm feeding vendor meals to my coordinator, venue coordinator, photographers, DJ and assistant. the officiant (if she stays) will sit with my parents. waitstaff and bartenders are fed by my caterer (i think this is pretty typical). if the string duet is staying past dinnertime, they should be fed too. we're not offering the same meal, but something hot and a little less expensive.
posted by rebecca Bumble bee: 1,247 posts 8 months agoWe are feeding the photographer, dj, and any help that we hired. The bartender and wait staff are provided by the reception site so we are not feeding them. I am offering my vendors the same meal the guests are having. Ask your reception site if there is a different price for the vendors since they are not using the full package. My regular guests cost 36 to feed, but I am only get charged 19 to feed the vendors through the reception. They are working really hard, and you want to keep them happy!
posted by KateC Newbee: 18 posts 8 months agoI am feeding the vendors that are working between 6-8 hours. My photographer has it in her contract that she gets fed!
posted by Niki Helper bee: 446 posts 8 months agoYup... feed your photographer, coordinator, officant, and videographer (if you have one) for sure.
It would be nice of you to offer something to your DJ and assistant, but they may decline anyway. Mine did. They are working only about 4-6 hours, so you aren't really obligated to feed them ... but again, it's a nice gesture.
As pp said, you venue may have different pricing for vendor meals, though mine did not. Of course, none of your vendors should be drinking, so you should at least be able to deduct the bar tab for them.
As for the servers and bartenders - no. I was a waitress for many years and that is not expected. Servers and bartenders usually eat in the "back of the house" and usually they don't pay for their food anyway. It's one of the perks of the restaurant biz.
~ Mrs. Radish
posted by radish Helper bee: 388 posts 8 months agoi'm feeding everyone
posted by Anti-Zilla Helper bee: 385 posts 8 months agoOur waitstaff and bartenders are provided by the venue; they will eat the way they do when it's operating as a restaurant (e.g., before or after the guests, and in the staff lounge. My event coordinator also comes with the facility, and so eats with the staff. My photographers and my officiant are eating with the guests. I still have to talk to the band. They are actually playing through dinner, and so will need to be provided with sandwiches (my venue makes fabulous sandwiches, so don't think I'm being mean, I think it's way better than something that has been kept warm) or something like that in the staff lounge during their breaks. My band actually plays dinner parties at my venue all the time, so I'm sort of assuming they will just tell me exactly what they normally have.
posted by suzanno Bumble bee: 2,425 posts 8 months agoI think I am on the same page as everyone else.
Feeding: Officiant (and his wife), photographer, dj, and singers.
Not Feeding: Bartenders, wait staff, etc.. they come with the venue.
My venue offers "vendor" meals that cost quite a bit less than my regular guest meals. However, my officiant is eating as a guest (he is a good friend and co-worker).
posted by caliocteach Busy bee: 799 posts 8 months agoSame here - feeding officiant, who is also a great friend, the photographer and the assistant. The site coordinator (not day of coordinator, but the person provided by the venue), bartender and catering staff all take care of themselves. Most caterers offer a vendor meal. Espeically if you are having a pricey meal, this may be a good option.
posted by missm Busy bee: 784 posts 8 months ago