Feeding Your Vendors

Regal Beagle Posted: Nov 19, 2006 02:12 AM

Feeding Your Vendors

How many people think that is is wrong to have to pay full price to feed your vendors if they are recommended by your reception hall?

I am human, I know that my vendors have to eat, but I have to pay for their services, food and tip them too! My hall should give us a break!

I have 6 vendors to feed.
Also, when do they eat? When we eat? I am not comfortable with my vendors getting loaded on my dime--lol Esp. since they are supposed to be working.
I have seen it at other weddings. Some of the vendors were getting drunk and slacking off! I don't want to have to worry about that.

I don't mean to sound like a B#$%*, but the bills keep adding up and I worry things won't go right.

I am just venting!

libby2595 Posted: Nov 19, 2006 02:39 AM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

i know EXACTLY how you feel.

feeding and tipping is something that i complained about during my planning.

Regal Beagle Posted: Nov 19, 2006 08:05 AM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

Thanks

faithandkevin Posted: Nov 19, 2006 08:37 AM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

I think it's annoying too. I don't go to work expecting to be fed! But I do see feeding the photographer, he is with you ALL day long.

leighdvm Posted: Nov 19, 2006 09:38 AM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

I fed them all and didn't think twice about it......I paid 1/2 price for their dinners at Villa's.....They ate in a separate room at the same time everyone else was served the entree.

SummerBride06 Posted: Nov 19, 2006 09:40 AM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

let me give you some advice---ASK your vendors if they want to eat!

i asked all my vendors and they ALL said no! they said they will eat at cocktail hour and don't have time to eat during the reception. i got a no from my DOC, 8 person band, 2 photographers and 2 videographers. i would have wasted a lot of $$$ if i just assumed they would eat.

remember, they do several weddings a weekend, EVERy weekend. wedding food gets old to them and your wedding is only one of many they attend.

many brides on LIW insist that it's rude not to feed them. that's not necessarily true, as i can attest to. ask first, then go from there!

JenMike331 Posted: Nov 19, 2006 09:54 AM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

Posted by faithandkevin

I think it's annoying too. I don't go to work expecting to be fed! But I do see feeding the photographer, he is with you ALL day long.

sooo true!

October Bliss Posted: Nov 19, 2006 10:15 AM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

I fed all my vendors. All but one was with me from 11:00 AM to midnight (and the one that wasn't started at noon).

Oops, all but two - the other started at 9:00 AM and was with me until 1:00 AM.

kflan75 Posted: Nov 19, 2006 01:14 PM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

I didnt think twice about not feeding them...
you may 'need' the head count in the end too--

happygirl07 Posted: Nov 19, 2006 01:18 PM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

Posted by SummerBride06

let me give you some advice---ASK your vendors if they want to eat!

i asked all my vendors and they ALL said no! they said they will eat at cocktail hour and don't have time to eat during the reception. i got a no from my DOC, 8 person band, 2 photographers and 2 videographers. i would have wasted a lot of $$$ if i just assumed they would eat.

remember, they do several weddings a weekend, EVERy weekend. wedding food gets old to them and your wedding is only one of many they attend.

many brides on LIW insist that it's rude not to feed them. that's not necessarily true, as i can attest to. ask first, then go from there!

That's an awesome idea!! I will now ask all my vendors this question.

Thanks!

kathrynlinton Posted: Nov 19, 2006 02:14 PM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

Yes you should ask. We fed our band and our photographers. Our officiant said no.

We also paid half price for our vendors and they weren't the ones that reception hall recommended.

Honestly, since they are with you for so long and they are working hard, FEED THEM. Your photographers are going to be with you for AT LEAST 10 hours and your band or DJ is out on the floor working hte crowd and they are going to get hungry.

To be honest, put yourself in their place.

waterspout4 Posted: Nov 19, 2006 02:24 PM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

I didn't even notice where my vendors ate. The hall said they would take care of them. We paid 1/2 price for them. I never thought twice. They work hard.

MikeandJess Posted: Nov 19, 2006 02:38 PM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

Posted by SummerBride06

let me give you some advice---ASK your vendors if they want to eat!

i asked all my vendors and they ALL said no! they said they will eat at cocktail hour and don't have time to eat during the reception. i got a no from my DOC, 8 person band, 2 photographers and 2 videographers. i would have wasted a lot of $$$ if i just assumed they would eat.

remember, they do several weddings a weekend, EVERy weekend. wedding food gets old to them and your wedding is only one of many they attend.

many brides on LIW insist that it's rude not to feed them. that's not necessarily true, as i can attest to. ask first, then go from there!

so simple and never thought of this, thank you!

Regal Beagle Posted: Nov 19, 2006 05:48 PM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

I do agree that my vendors should be fed, but I think my reception hall should cut us a break, especailly if we use their vendors. I think we settled on a 'third off'. What if I had a 10 piece band---geez!

I asked my photographers how many people will be working my wedding so I can give the hall a head count and they said 'Thank You'. I thought that that was weird. Do people really say, I'm sorry, but you can't sit and eat??????

Good suggestion, I have to ask my DJ because he is bringing three people.

I didn't even think of that.

I just have this fear that someone is going to get drunk and ruin my wedding---(like at the last wedding I went to)lol

I guess my family can handle that all on their own.

I all of a sudden see my once small list getting out of hand.
I want everyone to eat, drink and be happy. I just don't want things to go wrong as we all do.

Thanks Ladies!

October Bliss Posted: Nov 19, 2006 07:08 PM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

Posted by Jenlucania

I just have this fear that someone is going to get drunk and ruin my wedding---(like at the last wedding I went to)lol

If you hire professionals with a good reputation, you won't have this problem. Frankly, the thought of my vendors drinking at my wedding and getting drunk never crossed my mind.

carolinebr Posted: Nov 19, 2006 07:25 PM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

Posts on this topic make me furious!!!!

You feed your vendors. It doesn't matter how much you are paying them. I actually find it offensive that one would even CONSIDER not feeding them.

I'm a professional wedding band singer in Boston and I have to tell you, we are there before you are & we are the last to leave. If my band is playing a wedding reception from 7-11, we are there usually about 4:30 or 5 pm for set up and sound check and we don't pack up until the party is over. I leave my house around 3:30 and get home around 1:30-2 am.

You cannot expect them not to need food. Seriously. They are human. I'd like to see you guys go 10 hours without food.

I don't know what weddings you have been to that the vendors were drunk but I have NEVER seen it. Hire a professional & this won't happen.

And, as an FYI, they don't get the same meal as you. We usually get pasta or some chicken or something simple. We don't eat at the cocktail hour or get 1st course or 2nd or dessert. Its just some nuritiousment and its almost always a very small plate. They are not trying to take advantage of anyone. Feed them. Its not only cheap not to, its BEYOND rude IMHO.

EverlovingEv Posted: Nov 19, 2006 07:38 PM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

My answer is plain and simple - of course I'm feeding everyone that's there to make my day amazing! Band, videographer, photographer, etc... These vendors are people and people need to eat. You want them to be happy and do a good job so keep them focused on their work and not have to worry about their hunger headaches and hypoglycemia by giving them one of life's basic requirements - food.

Regal Beagle Posted: Nov 19, 2006 07:39 PM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

EXCUSE ME BUT.........................DID YOU READ WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SAYING??????? (Carolinebr)

My gripe is with the reception hall and the cost ot it.
I witnessed a supposed 'professional' get drunk off his but at a wedding that these people paid good money for. I have also seen and read posts of wedding 'professionals' not doing their job and just hanging out. We all think we are hiring professionals for our wedding. A site like this wouldn't exist if everything went according to plan and vendors did what they were supposed to do. So don't preach about professionals!

I nor did anyone else say that vendors shouldn't be fed. Of course, they should be fed. They are providing a service for us. We are not cold hearted. No one ever said they shouldn't eat! Every bride wants to make sure that nothing goes wrong on their special day.
You need to read before your post something so obnoxious !

Ladies, What's up?????

lucite Posted: Nov 20, 2006 09:52 AM

Re: Feeding Your Vendors

You really should ask your vendors if they want to be fed. I've been told by some vendors they don't want dinners, they are to busy working and some said they've had enough catering food to last a lifetime and they try to eat before the job.