Should We Provide Meals For Our Wedding Vendors On the Main Day?
Do you feed vendors at a wedding? It’s necessary to feed wedding vendors who are on-site throughout your wedding. They should not pay for their own food.
Wedding vendors usually include a clause in their contracts stating they require meals. This clarifies which vendors to feed at the wedding.
A getaway car driver, officiant, ceremony musician, and other vendors who only stay for a few hours at the wedding don’t need meals. Vendor meals at the wedding are typically for those working over 4 hours over dinner time.
Who Needs Vendor Meals?
You have to serve your wedding vendors dinner if your wedding occurs in the evening. The vendors included in this meal are those who are there for the entire reception or have been around for most, including:
- DJ or Band
- Photography/Videography Team
- Wedding Planning Team
- Photo Booth Attendant
- Specialty Reception Entertainment (Live Painters, Aerialists, Ice Sculptors, etc.)
Personal attendants, hair stylists, and makeup artists usually are not included in the meal. However, if they stay for touch-ups for at least the first half of the reception, you can provide them with meals. Vendors who leave before your wedding party starts, such as décor and floral teams, are also not included in the meal.
The catering team takes care of their meals. Do you feed bartenders at a wedding? If your bartending staff is separately hired from the catering staff, provide them with meals.
Your wedding planner or coordinator will determine which vendors need meals and provide the final headcount.
What Should You Serve for Vendor Meals?
If you have a family-style dinner or food truck, or your guests will order at their tables rather than pre-select their meals on the RSVP card, serve your wedding vendors the same meals as the guests.
Some vendors, like DJs and bands, require hot meals, like chicken, potatoes, and green beans. Others may want boxed dinners or sandwiches. You can also request vendor meal preferences in advance to accommodate varying dietary needs.
When Should You Serve Vendor Meals?
The catering team can help you determine when vendor meals should be served. Generally, these meals are served before the entrée because the guests are ready to hit the dance floor.
Wedding vendors also cycle through taking a break. This ensures someone is always available when an emergency arises. For instance, the second shooter snaps wedding photos when the main wedding photographer eats during dinner. But bands generally often eat meals before their set during cocktail hour.
Where Should Wedding Vendors Eat Their Meals?
Wedding vendors will likely want to eat their meals in an area separate from the guests. This allows them to take a break properly. They usually prefer anywhere out of view from guests and comfortable.
If your wedding takes place in a hotel or a venue that hosts large events, you can provide an extra room for vendors to have their meals. But if the venue is an open-air loft, you can screen or curtain off a separate space for the vendor meals.
How Much Do Vendor Meals Cost?
The vendor meal cost varies, but it ranges from $30 to $90 per person if it’s like a buffet. If the vendor’s meal is the same as the guests’, the pricing is often half the guest’s food cost. Many venues offer vendor meals at discounted rates, making it a manageable expense.
A nice meal is an excellent way to show appreciation for your wedding vendors’ hand work to make your special day successful. So, when planning a wedding, consider the well-being of your vendors by providing them with delicious meals.
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