Photographer question...

Most venues will offer a 'supplier meal' - Basically a hot meal that they will serve to suppliers who need it. You'll have to pay but it shouldn't be much.

Some togs prefer to take their own stuff though so I'd check with your venue then offer your tog the choice.

This might help with abbreviations etc https://www.hitched.co.uk/chat/forums/t/246443.aspx

Great thanks!

Exactly this! Some photographers will have it written into their contract that they require a meal some don't.

I hadnt even thought of this!!

Have a meeting with my venue on Mon & my maybe TOG on Tuesday so will figure this out

Thank goodness for Hitched!! ?

We had a hog roast, deliberately over catered so everyone could have seconds/thirds, and just told all suppliers that they could help themselves to as much as they wanted! Our band sent US a thank you note for looking after them! (I think at that point we still had money behind the bar as well!). Much, much better all round if suppliers feel well fed, watered and happy!

Most suppliers I contacted required a meal if they worked more than 6hrs. These 'crew' meals dont usually include alcohol, & just a main meal (not 3 course) & maybe a softdrink, hence cheaper than guests meals. Its certainly a consideration though because at my venue it was half the cost of a normal guests meal.

I looked into having a live band, but having to feed 6 in the band, plus the TOG, plus a DG & an MC, it was adding up! I preferred to invite 4 more friends than pay for 9 crew meals. I ended up with just a TOG & DJ that doubled as an MC!

It all depends on you tbh - sometimes I get fed sometimes not lol but personally i don't request it there's usually a McDonalds around somewhere

but becareful i know some photographers who invoice you after the day for the meal :o

In my contract it says that I don't expect to be fed but would like to know if food will be provided. (So I can cater for myself if need be).

The problem arises when togs leave the venue. I do table shots so have a 45 minute window to find and eat food. If the venue is in the middle of nowhere (think Buxted Park in Uckfield) and it becomes hard to do. I was at the Brighton Grand the other day and they were going to charge me £16 for a burger and half glass of coke.

I've always been fed though, without even asking about it. It appears to be courtesy or perhaps it is mentioned by another supplier and in turn they ask me as well.

I guess if your tog is there all day, like 11am to 8pm it would be a good idea to keep them topped up rather than them topple over.

Some togs have it in their contract that they require feeding and I know of one tog who expects to be fed and sat with the guests...which is a rediculous request to make. This isn't just togs though, many bands, singers, musicians, toastmasters all require feeding.

Your venue may have a seperate policy on feeding suppliers at a reduced rate or for free so it's always worth asking them.

Another thing worth doing is to read your contract properly. The amount of couples who said 'they just signed it' without reading is crazy high.

My photographer said he didnt want any food he nipped across the street to the pub for 1/2 hour, so i was fine with that and then he came back and started photos again, but he also had some of the food we had at night, and also my dad being my dad brought him drinks all throughout the day lol

It's in our Tog contract we have to feed her and her assistant. Our venue do a supplier menu so they'll be fed from that

We have the same as Chris- we do not require feeding but do need to know so that we can make our own arrangements.

We always advise guests to check with their caterers or venue beforehand as to what exactly what their supplier meals include before deciding whether or not they want to feed us.

Some venues are great and will put on vendor meals at no extra cost, some will charge a lower rate for just a main meal and some will charge £30 for sandwiches and chips- which I would never want (or expect) a couple to have to pay out for.

Honestly, you wont look silly asking- it's the sort of thing that most of us are asked about alot. Ask whatever you need to, the chances are we'll have heard it before anyway

Ha, at least you have a conscience Jo Jo.

I rely on the generosity and thoughtfullness of the families, if that fails I hope they read my terms stating that I perform best with a hot meal and a full tummy. If that fails I'm at the mercy of the hotel or caterers, who are generally merciless. Somehow I usually get fed but when I don't or like yesterday when the promised meal turns out to be a rack of very pale, unappetizing sandwiches I get very grumpy and struggle to carry on. I know some VOGs and TOGs are quite happy to munch their own clingfilmed picnic in the car but I need real food. I'm skinny, so if I leave home half way through the morning and work hard all day I need hot food by teatime. I'm quite happy to buy my own bar meal but many venues don't have the facilities.

I meet and work with different TOGs every wedding and invariably we sit together chatting and enjoying our food during the break. When we don't get fed I guarantee 9 out of 10 TOGs grumble just as much as me. Imagine sitting there starving while delicious aromas waft througn from the wedding breakfast. Please brides spare a thought for us and remember that keeping your suppliers happy means they want to do their best for you.

Hiya

It's best to ask your photographer, and see what they say. As a few others have said, have a check through your contract with them to see if food is mentioned at all, & if not just ask.

We really appreciate a meal if our couples offer, but would never expect to be fed - I personally find that quite rude, as at some venues the price per head (even for a supplier meal) can be quite high & we're not guests at the wedding, we're there to provide a service. If we are offered a meal, we prefer to sit in a bar area or similar away from the guests, as it gives us a chance to have a bit of a breather and to have a look over the photos we've taken so far. We're quite happy to take sandwiches along with us, or buy something at the venue if we can.

Ali x

I think it's more embarrassing not to ask :-) At least your photographer will know if he needs to have a back up plan if you won't supply a meal for him. It's a long day of hard work and a clear mind is a must. I usually get fed, but always have few bars of choclate and cans of red bull with me for emergencies :-)