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Some caterers have a vendor dish. They don't serve the vendors the same plate as the guest but they serve them something simpler. You only pay about 10 bucks for it instead of 100. Ask your caterer.
Check with your venue and see if they can do a vendor meal which is usually half the cost - but it normally wont be what your guests are eating. Also check your contracts, as some vendors specifically write out in their contract what they need to be fed the night of your wedding, what time, etc. I served my vendors what my guests were having at a slightly lower price because they didnt eat hors d' oeuvres or anything. We had 2 photographers, a DJ and a photobooth attendant that we paid for for their meals.
I was happy to pay for my vendors meals... they need to eat too! Plus, you should ask for them to be served when the bridal party is served so they can eat, and get back to work making sure your wedding is great :)
Since we did buffet, our vendor meals were included/"free".
My venue had a different price for "vendor meals" so maybe you can ask if that's an option at your venue?
Vendor meals do not cost $100. They are closer to $10. But yes those folks need to eat, and your caterer is well aware of that. Especially your photographer, videographer, day-of coordinator, as they will be working at least 8 hrs without a break otherwise. Legally, an employer in any other business would not be allowed to force someone to work an entire day without a break. While your own employer doesn't pay for your lunch, they do offer you a break and you would be rightfully outraged if you weren't allowed that break. They won't have time or opportunity to leave your wedding to go to McD's for a quick bite without missing part of your wedding that you are paying them to be there for. Also, it's a health code violation to feed them in the kitchen, despite what many brides insist. They should be seated in the same room but not necessarily at the same tables as the guests. Otherwise they will miss anything that goes on during dinner that you wanted captured and they won't be able to if they are quarantined to another room. If they don't get something to eat when everyone else is, their job performance will diminish quickly due to running out of energy. Cranky hungry vendors are not likely to want to do their job the same way that vendors who are treated well will do. Many vendors even require that you feed them in the fine print of the contract you sign but they don't require the same 7 course meal that everyone else gets.
As others are saying, ask your venue/caterer about vendor meals...they shouldn't be as expensive. We are having tasting stations, so we aren't paying any extra for our vendors to eat. And they DO need to be fed...make sure you check their contracts. For example, my photog has it written in the contract that he and his team need to be fed a certain amount of times depending on how long they are with us. In our case, he'll be with us all day, so we'll be serving them both lunch and dinner...
Unless you really need to cut corners, bite the bullet and feed your vendors what everyone else is getting. The "vendor meal" is typically a cold sandwich. Would you want a cold sandwich for dinner? Hot food = happy vendors. Happy vendors = better quality in pictures, better DJing, better effort in post-processing in pics... all around, it will probably make you happier in the long run.
Vendor meals are less expensive. Check with your venue and, yes, they need to be fed. Plus, if they're there for HOURS wouldn't you rather them be full then hungry and half concentrating?
We paid the same amount for our vendor's meals as we did for our guest meals. I don't think vendor pricing was an option for us. However, our meals weren't $100/person, so I was just fine with paying for them. I figured that we wanted to make sure they were happy and fed, because they were doing important jobs for us on the wedding day.
We'll only pay 1/3 of the price per person for each vendor.
I will for sure ask the wedding cordinator at our venue if the meal will be less..the per person cost does include a lot of OTHER non food related things so i'm sure they will accomodate us. And YES I know they need to be fed...I was just joking around!!!
For sure you need to feed your vendors - you don't want your vidographer/photographer's hands to shake from hunger or your DJ's stomach to audibly growl over the mic or for your DOC to pass out!
Most venues will provide a discount for vendor meals. If they won't, find out if you can bring in outside vendor meals. Negotiate with your caterer or venue on this, for sure. As others have said, it's worth it in the long run. Especially for your videographer/photographer - since their work for you does not end at the reception. Happy, well fed vendors will give you better service.
Your caterers will have a vendor dish. Double check with your vendors that none of them have allergies (wheat, nut, gluten, etc, you don't want to give them something that may trigger a reaction!).
But I do agree with the Bee above, warm food makes for happy vendors. Don't forget, they're actually WORKING at your wedding to make your day wonderful and memorable. If you were in their shoes and got the choice of a sandwich or a hot meal which would you choose?
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hahaha, just kidding I know they need to eat but cant I ask them to pick something up before they get to the wedding so I DO NOT have to spend $100 on them to eat?! I'm joking...what are you ladies doing about feeding your DJ and photographers? We have a per person pricing at our venue and I am hoping I will not have to pay the whole amonut for our venders :( There will be the Dj and a helper and two photographers...that's FOUR extra people!