Can someone please help me understand why a vendor, who will be working from say, 7pm-12pm needs a full dinner meal? Can't they eat before they get to work or bring their own, like any other person who works? I can't get a decent size band because of this!!! And then to 'tip' on top of the cost and the meal.....I'm in the wrong business.
AmorPeruano
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Re: Vendor Meals?
I feel your pain. Even sometimes when the RH offers half price for vendors, its still a lot of money for dinner for a whole bunch of near strangers, so to speak. But they are doing you a service and for whatever reason, its just protocol to feed them too (on top of paying them, i know...i know!!)
MrsD71208
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Well, I'm good friends with the DJs and wouldn't even think twice about NOT feeding them. As for the photographer and 2 videographers, I am going to feed them so that they can eat when the DJs and MCs do.
JnD110808
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My photographer is coming with a crew of 4 and he told me when i'm booking to tell my hall that theres only 1 of them. And I said ok why? And hes like believe me my crew rather you tip them than feed them. We were planning on tipping them even before he told us this.
Kimbalina
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Ohhh my! This brings me back to another poster named Babylove. It caused a heated arrgument because she went to far into it (and was crazy ) I think that vendors should have some sort of meal! If you are uncofortable or do not want to give them they guest meal, then see if your RH will do a 1/2 price meal for vendors, or maybe a less expensive meal. After all they are not eating all the salad corses and sorbets etc...
Good Luck!
xXxNovember08xXx
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gotta feed them... thats all i have to say
MrsHtobe
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I was just thinking of the prior poster that brought this up as well.
I can see how it might seem frustrating, but its just the way things are done. You don't want them not feeling well because they are hungry and not doing as good of a job, and you don't want them to have to bring a PB&J sandwich either. Personally, I wouldn't want people to see one of my vendors have to bust out a brown paper bag lunch (JMO)!
I think you have to bite the bullet on this one, lots of vendors put it in their contract that they must be fed, make sure to check that out, you might not even have a choice!
AmorPeruano
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I know its the customary thing to do.....but Im trying to think of a single other instance where you hire someone for their services for 5 or 6 hours....and they expect you to feed them b/c your eating as well.........................I really think its ONLY American Weddings.
redjasper32
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Posted by xXxNovember08xXx
gotta feed them... thats all i have to say
I agree.
Future Mulligan
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some vendors - like your DJ in particular are there for much longer than 5 hours.....i know this because for extra $ my FH works for a DJ company and he works weddings on the weekends.....he gets there early to set up - which involves unloading the equipment and setting it all up. sometimes parties will go into overtime. after the party is over they have to break down all of their equipment and load it back into their vehicle. do you know how heavy plasma tv's and speakers are? you don't even see them do the hardest part of their job..... feeding them is the decent thing to do....
AmorPeruano
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I agree it IS the decent thing to do and ethically its the right thing......... BUT we cannot forget that we are in fact paying these vendors thousands and thousands of dollars to do this work, including any labor and setting up. Its not like they are doing this for free....they can be extremely expensive. I think thats why the poster was perplexed that on top of that, shes paying hundred and hundreds of dollars to feed dinner to them as well AND on top of that, a generous tip. I dont know about you, but I dont get treated to dinner and tip and get paid well hourly for my services when I go to work and bust my *** every night. I mean, that just doesnt ever happen in any other area of life. A lot of us worked very hard to earn the money to pay them for their services, just as they work hard to earn it.
nifheim
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As stated above typically the hall discounts vendors or they might be free. That is why we tried to choose house vendors in order to get their meals for free. IF they are not house vendors (our dj's) they get half price meals and honestly i think it is worth them being happy.
Espo22
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Re: Vendor Meals?
Posted by AmorPeruano
I know its the customary thing to do.....but Im trying to think of a single other instance where you hire someone for their services for 5 or 6 hours....and they expect you to feed them b/c your eating as well.........................I really think its ONLY American Weddings.
well for instance a photographer will be with you for about 10-12 hours. Now they dont have to be fed but that would mean that they will leave to get something to eat somewhere, which means time away from your wedding and probably missed moments. Personally i prefer for them to be there eating rather than leaving for an hour.
ALSO many dj's will tell you that they dont need to be fed...they get there later than some vendors and will eat before so they'll tell you straight up they wont eat.
I guess the reason why its done simply bc of the first statement, they are hired but they are working in a catering hall where they are expected to stay with you for 8-10 hours, they dont have the option to buy their own food at the catering hall so only other thing is for them to leave which the bride and groom normally dont want that.
Also, some places do pay for your meal...at my job we have free lunch every single day...we have a kitchen and a cook and its provided for us.
AmorPeruano
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****, Im coming to your job girl
kslmbuggie
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our DJ who is a friend of the family said he does not eat while he works, but he will take a dinner home...i told him sorry, im not paying for you to eat out, if you want 2 eat in we will get a plate otherwise u need 2 fend for yourself.
i dont think its right the RH charge us even half for a vendor because its not like they are actually sitting down for a 5-7 course meal....they are prob only getting a dinner playe and maybe wedding cake if that much.
Espo22
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Posted by AmorPeruano
****, Im coming to your job girl
it does help and its a nice gesture considering i spend alot on commuting here. BUT again it comes back to the same reason as i said above, we are GIVEN lunch bc of one reason...people NEED to be here in the office and its done simply so people dont leave to go get lunch
JeanetteandSteve
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i don't know how your wedding is going, but my photog and videog are going to be w us for like 10 hours!!! think about it, they are starting at home, for me they are coming to take pics before the ceremony, for many of you they are going to a church and then will still be w you for a few hours break to take pics before the RH, and then they will be at the RH for 4-5 hours.
the other vendors are working more than just a 4 hour gig too...as someone pointed out, the DJ takes time to set up and for some may be providing music for CH and for a ceremony. the florist doesn't start his/her day at the RH...they have to get together the arrangements, travel to your RH, set up...
your vendors are working an entire day for you, even if you only see them for a few hours. maybe if you think of it that way, you'll have an easier time paying for their meals. i think after an entire day's worth of work, even w tips on top of it, they deserve a meal.
AmorPeruano
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They def. deserve a meal.....the question she had was...should she be the one paying for it..... on top of their pay, on top of their tip, etc.
minibride08
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I agree that you have to feed them. We specifically discussed this with our RH- Vendor meals are 1/2 price and when selecting vendors/ setting up budget & total head count we factored this in.
Espo22
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Posted by AmorPeruano
They def. deserve a meal.....the question she had was...should she be the one paying for it..... on top of their pay, on top of their tip, etc.
Personally I think so, but i do know many feel differently...i have read on here about some ppl not offering their vendors meals, so its not a forced thing...In the end just do whatever you are comfortable with you shouldn't be forced to do something you're not comfortable with...BUT just keep in mind vendors such as a photographer and videographer will still have alot of work to do after your wedding for you and you don't want to upset them before they do any of that lol
there obviously is no wrong or right answer, just how we personally feel about it
