I'm not paying you to eat

i work all day. no one here feeds me butttttttttttttttt they do provide me with a fridge and a microwave.
do you really want your vendors brown bagging it or taking a break so they can order some food

not me

Definitely feed them!

But they don't need their own table, I think they usually eat at their stations or in a separate room. Reccommended vendors eat for free (as long as minimum is met).

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Posted by Jordy1010

When I booked my vendors I actually asked them if they eat hehe. All of them told me that it is up to me whether to give them a meal, but that they are there to work and not to eat and they make sure to eat something before and usually grab food after the wedding. All of my vendors also told me that they would rather have the money for a meal go toward their tips.

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ALRIGHT ALRIGHT EVERYONE SETTLE DOWN!

There are obviously a lot of opinions on this and I didn't think it was going to start such controversy!
but there's no need to be rude...I am glad you all cleared up the process because it wasn't something I was aware of before. And I definitely found Jordy1010's point interesting.

Of course for someone like a photographer that's with you all day, it's necessary. I don't want anyone dying on my account. At the same time however, the other vendors are just there for the reception and honestly it's really only four hours so I would think they didn't come to their job expecting to be fed...because I don't think any of us do that at our job.

That's my opinion. However I'm sure I will still end up serving them all anyway!

Can we go back to getting along? Thanks

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Posted by mrsdraskin2009

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Posted by decemberbride

You don't have to feed them. Most RH don't charge for house vendors and 1/2 price for non in house vendors. When you book with your vendors discuss it with them before hand. They can eat all they want at the cocktail hour for free.

IMO I don't think its rude not to feed them. I work all day and no one provides meals for me. I think you pay enough at a wedding that adding the cost of your vendors food is insane

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I am not trying to attack you or the OP, but honestly, people think nothing of spending thousands of dollars on their wedding, but don't want to feed the people making it possible?

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I don't think you are attacking me but I am feeding the people who make the day possible by paying them thousands of dollars

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Posted by decemberbride

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Posted by mrsdraskin2009

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Posted by decemberbride

You don't have to feed them. Most RH don't charge for house vendors and 1/2 price for non in house vendors. When you book with your vendors discuss it with them before hand. They can eat all they want at the cocktail hour for free.

IMO I don't think its rude not to feed them. I work all day and no one provides meals for me. I think you pay enough at a wedding that adding the cost of your vendors food is insane

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I am not trying to attack you or the OP, but honestly, people think nothing of spending thousands of dollars on their wedding, but don't want to feed the people making it possible?

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I don't think you are attacking me but I am feeding the people who make the day possible by paying them thousands of dollars

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well you should check your contracts cuz i know some vendors put that they need to be fed on ther

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Posted by luvly73

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Posted by Jordy1010

When I booked my vendors I actually asked them if they eat hehe. All of them told me that it is up to me whether to give them a meal, but that they are there to work and not to eat and they make sure to eat something before and usually grab food after the wedding. All of my vendors also told me that they would rather have the money for a meal go toward their tips.

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ALRIGHT ALRIGHT EVERYONE SETTLE DOWN!

There are obviously a lot of opinions on this and I didn't think it was going to start such controversy!
but there's no need to be rude...I am glad you all cleared up the process because it wasn't something I was aware of before. And I definitely found Jordy1010's point interesting.

Of course for someone like a photographer that's with you all day, it's necessary. I don't want anyone dying on my account. At the same time however, the other vendors are just there for the reception and honestly it's really only four hours so I would think they didn't come to their job expecting to be fed...because I don't think any of us do that at our job.

That's my opinion. However I'm sure I will still end up serving them all anyway!

Can we go back to getting along? Thanks

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I actually sort of agree. I plan to feed my photographer and videographer b/c they will be with me all day. However, my band should be playing all night, so I dont know how they would even have time to eat! They actually told me I didnt have to feed them.

Wow.

I will be feeding my vendors... hungry = angry / tired, etc. I don't want anyone being all grumpy because they are starving and no one is giving them any food. Plus, the drinks are free... and I don't want any of my vendors getting trashed on alcohol because they're drinking and not eating!

In my *opinion* it's a courtesy to feed someone who is with you for most of the day... They're working hard and it's my job to make their job as easy as I can, so if I'm providing a few extra meals... it's not going to break the bank. I'd feel horrible if someone was with me for 4-5 hours and didn't get to eat!

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Posted by JoanneAndJustin

Wow.

I will be feeding my vendors... hungry = angry / tired, etc. I don't want anyone being all grumpy because they are starving and no one is giving them any food. Plus, the drinks are free... and I don't want any of my vendors getting trashed on alcohol because they're drinking and not eating!

In my *opinion* it's a courtesy to feed someone who is with you for most of the day... They're working hard and it's my job to make their job as easy as I can, so if I'm providing a few extra meals... it's not going to break the bank. I'd feel horrible if someone was with me for 4-5 hours and didn't get to eat!

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ITA Joanne...I can't fathom NOT feeding them.

I always expected to be feeding my vendors, and that's why I'm intentionally using NRC house vendors. this way I don't have to pay for them to eat. NRC vendors eat free......that was my compromise on booking a band - they HAD to be an NRC vendor because it's an extra 9 people to eat! My photogs, videogs, and band will all be eating free..........that's one way to climb through the loophole

Food for thought:

Depending on the hall, vendors get fed the meals from your wedding or (if they are lucky) they can order their own food. If the RH gives them meals from your wedding, they put down the number of meals for the vendors. First come, first served, meaning if you have 6 vendors, they might put down 2 chicken, 2 beef, 2 fish. Last vendor to the table gets stuck with what everyone else didn't want.

The vendors are usually served in a separate room. For example, they might eat in your cocktail room when everyone is in the main room. Vendors will not be eating food from or during your cocktail hour. It just doesn't work that way. Your DJ is setting up, your photographer is taking pics of your centerpieces etc., your DOC is making sure there are the correct number of settings per table.

Your vendors aren't going to get served their meal till somewhere areound 930/10 and possibly later depending on the timeline of your day. Usually during dinner or some sort of lull in activity.

DJ will usually split up to eat. If the DJ isn't set to auto play some music while food is served than they will usually split up and the DJ will eat and then the MC or assistant will come in.

Vendors are working for an extended period of time and don't really have free access to food and drinks. A vendor doesn't really want to keep running up to the bar for a drink as it may look unprofessional and there isn't a separate drink station for them. If they pick up a grape or carrot stick during CH, your guests might look at them weird. They also don't have any place to put their personal items. RH don't have a vendor suite for them.

Speak with your vendors and RH and ask them what their preference is. HTH!

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Posted by Lsorrent

I always expected to be feeding my vendors, and that's why I'm intentionally using NRC house vendors. this way I don't have to pay for them to eat. NRC vendors eat free......that was my compromise on booking a band - they HAD to be an NRC vendor because it's an extra 9 people to eat! My photogs, videogs, and band will all be eating free..........that's one way to climb through the loophole

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I tried doing this but I really didn't like any of the house vendors so to me the 40 bucks its gonna cost to feed them was no biggie...