Invites RSVP?

[ljeagle]

Am I post to send a invite and RSVP to my photographer? Do they eat while they are working? I'm not sure so I thought I would ask you all. The wedding I was in that she took pictures at I never seen her eat but I'm not 100% sure she didn't.

[feb-bride]

I fed all of my vendors (photographer, videographer, DJs). The way I look at is like this: Your vendors are working for HOURS, and they do not have the luxury of leaving your wedding to get something to eat. People work at their best when they're not hungry, so it makes sense to feed them.

Besides, some vendors will actually have it written into their contracts that they are to be fed a meal. My videographer had this in his contract. My other vendors did not, but I fed them anyway. Happy vendors = hard working vendors!

[555Ann555]

You can provide food seperately if you don't want them to sit down with your guests but it is good manners to provide food for them.

We'll be feeding our MC & two photographers at the meal. The band can grab something from the buffet coz they don't start until about 8pm...

[Cirig]

It was actually in the contracts I signed, that I must provide food for the vendors. But I don't think you need to give an RSVP, b/c they WILL be there

[Marrying_the_Good_Husband]

Right, don't send an invite. Sometimes the caterers offer a reduced fee for the meal for the photographer and DJ, etc., so you should ask about that.

[Marge129]

I fed all the vendors, but I asked them over the phone or in person what they wanted to eat. I didn't send them anything formal. They were all VERY appreciative!

[ljeagle]

Thanks I don't have a problem feeding then I thought I should at least offer it. I just didn't know the right way to go about it. Next time I talk with her I will ask her what she wants to eat cause we need a head count on each food.

[syringa]

Do plan on feeding your vendors and adding them into your head count. When I am doing an event, if it is a sit down meal, I usually get to eat, as do the photographer, videographer, DJ, etc. We appreciate it when the bride calls and asks what we want an an entree. If she doesn't, then we get whatever the kitchen has prepared in largest quantity.

If it is a buffet, your merchants will usually go through the line last after all of the guests. In that case, we often don't get to eat unless the caterer saves a plate in the kitchen. By the time the last guests get through the line, you are finished eating and it is time to go on to cake cutting, toasts, etc. Your merchants will be needed to announce/photograph/coordinate those activities, leaving no time to eat.

At a recent wedding at a country club, the banquet manager had promised to provide meals in a separate room for those working at the wedding, but he forgot. When I mentioned it to him, he said it was too late; if we wanted food he would have the kitchen staff fix take-out boxes for us. Only the photographer and her assistant agreed, since they were leaving soon. The DJ and I had cake for dinner. The videographer and his assistant left without eating. Therefore, it is a good idea to remind the banquet captain about the extra meals and they may still forget. If they forget, be sure that they didn't charge you for the meals. A quick call to the coordinator should give you the information.

[ljeagle]

My family is doing the food and we have servers that will plate and server the food. So the only people that are not really guest at the wedding is my photographer and servers. My sister is going to ask the servers what they want and they can eat after the cake has been severed. I'll have plates made for the photographer and her 1 help and they will have a place at a table with every one else. I will let her choose when she can eat.

[whiddle]

I would not send an invitation but I did feed all of my vendors.