Are you providing a meal for your TOG?

It's in our contract that we have to, so we'll be feeding them from the suppliers menu.

I am usually fed at all my weddings but I wouldn't mind if they couldn't afford to do that as I'd bring my own.

Does it say in their contract that they need to be fed as some do state this.

Of course. First wedding we had a 4 course sit down meal. Suppliers were offered their choice of sandwiches or bar menu.

Second wedding, the photographers fee covered her accommodation, food and flights, since we flew her in from Tanzania to our Zanzibar wedding. At the reception, the only external suppliers were the band, and they were given free rein over the hog roast buffet, same as the guests.

We offered our photographer either the same as us, or anything else he fancied while we had our meal. He was grateful to be asked but said no as he brings snacks to eat throughout the day and might feel too tired eating a proper meal (and to be honest I could have done with a snooze after our meal, ha!).

We did tell him just to pop any soft drinks/ coffees etc on our tab and he was over the moon with that

Nicky

Ours was offered the same meals as us but he said no.

Yes of course - We are providing a meal for the TOG and the band

Yes! Ours has said he can bring his own, but I wouldn't dream of not offering him a meal....he will be with us for at least 12 hours, he'll need some sustenance!
Haven't spoken to the caterers yet, but I am sure they do a suppliers meal.

This ones puzzling me too. Not once has our TOG mentioned food, and when I mentioned it to mum with OH and MOH because of a similar thread like this months ago - they all looked at me like I was mad for thinking of it. Its not like we're feeding our venue manager and staff who'll be running round for us all day, and not the caterers either. They're all working longer than the TOG and it seems a lot to have to feed them all. I think its a nice guesture, but at the same time, do you go to work and expect your employer to provide you with food too?

Chedi, the difference is that venue staff have catering on tap if they want. Same with caterers. I don't see it as acceptable to expect suppliers to work for you for many hours without food or drink. What's more, on the cost of a £10k wedding, is £25 for a meal and a couple of drinks really relevant?

I have to offer ours a meal!!

Our photographer is oh's dad so it would look odd if we didn't ?

When oh has photographed at weddings he has been offered a meal.

I do ask for food of some sort, although I don't expect it to be the same as the guests, just a sandwich would be cool. It's actually more because there's no way I'm going to have room in my camera bag for a sandwich, and then if I had it in a little carrier bag it's just inconvenient and I'm bound to leave it in one of the venues. If I have to nip out to buy something from the local tescos, well that removes me from the action and I'd be bound to miss something. It's true that you don't feed the other suppliers but they tend to be situated in one building and have somewhere to eat/somewhere to leave their stuff, togs tend to be a bit homeless in that sense lol Also, no other supplier will be with you for as long as a tog/vog. They're literally working from as early as 10am right into the evening. Other suppliers are working for you for a much shorter time period.

Edit- just noticed Chedi's post, I don't know about caterers but I do full day shooting. Notably if you have a tog for say 4 hours, then no I wouldn't see the need to feed them. I've gone on the assumption that most togs shoot full days

Chedi, as BBB said, those working in the venue have food on tap. The photographer is with you from the bridal prep right through to first dance....when are they supposed to get a break? Sure during the meal, but think about the work they are doing thr whole day! hours and hours of non stop work to get the best photos. Even during the meal most photographers still work, looking at the photos they have shot so far, making sure they have enough, the ones you want. They have an awful lot of work to do and are flat out for the whole day!

I did . He even got his own name card . Must have appreciated the gesture as he put a photo on his website. I made sure to sit him with very friendly folk he would have a laugh with . My tog was with us from 1 pm till about 10 pm . He was not wildly expensive and gave us full copyright to 1000 photos so a meal was the least i could do. I would recommend him to anyone in Scotland .

Here is the older thread https://www.hitched.co.uk/chat/forums/t/360931.aspx

This is a common question. Had you tried the search function?

https://www.hitched.co.uk/chat/forums/t/291825.aspx?PageIndex=1

https://www.hitched.co.uk/chat/forums/t/306172.aspx?PageIndex=1

https://www.hitched.co.uk/chat/forums/p/309496/2883155.aspx

https://www.hitched.co.uk/chat/forums/t/38336.aspx?PageIndex=1

I don't specify food in my contract as I'm happy taking a couple of snickers. However I just seem to get fed at every wedding, sometimes it's just a supplier meal, sometimes I get the works.

I think the conclusion of the thread is that all togs are different, so your best bet is to ask your tog and gauge what they usually do

Hi

Our TOG stated in his contract that he didn't need "feeding" He and his son were with us from 10am until 11pm and during the wedding breakfast they slipped away to a quiet area to have their rest period.

We asked them to help themselves with the evening buffet and chocolate fountain which they did so.

I think it depends on the individual TOG but do ask them especially if they are with you all day long, i think anyone would be appreciative of being offered food when they are there for the whole day

What Marianne said ? Some photographers specify it in their contract and some don't. We'd never expect to be fed on a wedding day, we often just take sandwiches & coffee along with us and will have these in our car while the guests are having their meal. Some couples do offer us a meal (either a bar snack or a suppliers meal which venues usually offer), we gratefully accept as a hot meal is always nicer than sandwiches, but it's something we would never expect.

Ali

Every wedding I've covered the couple have insisted that I eat and ask for my preferences - honestly. I don't really feel comfortable sitting and eating with the B&G's family, friends and loved ones. And, I'd agree that eating a proper meal makes me feel drowsy late afternoon.

I provided a meal for our VOG, TOG and DJ as they were all with us for the full day. They were all very happy to be offered but none of them had stated beforehand that it was a requirement of the contract.

Our TOG has it in the contract that she needs to be fed, which is fine with me considering she's there for 10-12 hours! Our venues suggests giving her £20 credit to spend in the restaurant so it also means she can have a break for a bit whilst we're having the wedding breakfast.

We will offer to feed ours as it's a long day and hopefully they will feel happier and work better if they aren't hungry. Just some advice for those planning to feed their TOGs off a supplier menu. I asked about this at our venue, and they said it can be done, but it would mean the TOG would have to eat at a separate time to the wedding breakfast. Therefore, we will feed the TOG the same as what we are having, as I don't want them to be taking time out to eat at key times.

Something this thread has made me think about- someone said about seating them with friendly people. Do you sit them at the tables with your guests? I'd assumed they would eat the same meal but eat it elsewhere, e.g. in the bar or somewhere!

After reading so many threads about this, I will be feeding our suppliers the wedding main course and pudding. It will cost £20 per head. We have our photographer, videographer and DJ who are there all day / most of the day so it will be for these 3.

Can I ask peoples thoughts on drinks? Should we tell them to help themselves to drinks from the bar and we will foot the bill? :-/ (but if I was them and someone wasn't paying for me I'd just drink tap water...?)

Sorry if this has already been addressed in this post... not gone through it all yet.

Yes in the bar would be much better - we use this time to check through our photos so far, and also just to rest - it's a very tiring day for us so it's nice to have a bit of quiet time to get our energy back

I automatically asked the venue if they would be able to provide some food for our TOGs and our DJ (just baguette and chips or something) before even speaking to the TOGs. It wouldnt occur to me not to!

An extra few quid for a couple of sandwhiches in the grand scheme of things is a drop in the ocean - plus I think its a nice gesture.

I dont see it as being anything to get to concerned about!

I'm not concerned about it, but I can see why some brides may be as it can add up to a lot of extra money. Many venues including ours, don't have an option of stuff thats a 'few quid'. We are going to most likely order our suppliers the same food as we are having (as otherwise it would have to be served at a different time) and that will be at least £35 a head. Considering we have a tog and vog (and not ours, but some brides will have an assistant tog or vog) it can add up.