Wedding Dinners for vendors, officiant, wedding planner?

Yes, you would normally set up a table for them and get them a plate. Most people offer discounted rates for vendors on their plates of food, but it is the norm to do so.

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I'm glad I asked! Thank you, Allie!

I plan to check with my DJ, photographer and officiant to see if they would like a formal seat at a table or where they would prefer to eat but am definitely planning to feed them.

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Thank you, Stella!

Our venue has a separate area for vendors but we are buying them a hot meal, yes!

Our venue doesn't seat vendors with guests (their policy is that vendors eat in a separate area), but yes, all of our vendors will definitely be served a hot meal.

Some couples/venues force the vendors to eat in the kitchen away from the activity (also a health department violation) while others set up a table in the same room. You definitely need to feed them something substantial and hot, in the same room. Talk to your caterer about feeding them the same meal without the bar tab.

Most vendors will add in their contract somewhere about them allotting time to eat, which is normally during the same time your guests begin to eat.

We'll be asking our caterer if they mind setting aside separate plates for our vendors (we're having a buffet style meal, but want to ensure our vendors also get fed). Like Stella, we'll get with our vendors to see if they prefer to have a table set aside for them, or if they prefer to make their own arrangements.

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Thank you! It's an expense I definitely wasn't planning for...I'm glad I asked!

Our officiant situation was slightly different, because she was also a family friend so we sat her at a regular table among guests that she knew (and she was also essentially a guest, not a vendor, after the ceremony ended). For our other vendors--coordinator + assistant, photographer + assistant, and band members--our caterer set up a separate buffet for them with mostly the same food that the guests were served in a different area of our venue, in our case, where the cocktail hour was held. Some of our vendors specified requiring hot meals in their contracts. You should ask your caterer about what they do for vendor meals, because these are generally cheaper than guest meals

Our food is included in the price of our venue, but vendors are billed for significantly lower per person than a normal guest. I planned on having a specific table just for the vendors (with the exception of our DJ who is a family friend so he'd be seated with the rest of his family)

I’m always torn about the seating policies - I’d feel bad that vendors would have to sit with guests and mot get a breather for a bit, but many have pointed out here that it’s insulting to seat vendors away from guests. Maybe it’s my introvert nature that I would be hoping for a few minutes to sit and not have to be “on.” It was eye opening to see the other side.

View Quoted Comment I agree! Many great viewpoints. I will reach out to the venue and see what their policy is or how they accommodate!