What do you feed the DJ at the wedding?

Question

In our contract with our DJ, it says, we must provide them with a meal...Does etiquette say to serve the same as everyone else. We our having 80 dollar a meal [7 courses], is this really necessary to feed them this, or would it be proper to order them from something else from the restaurant in the hotel.

$75= $60 plus 8% tax and 15% gratuity...my mistake, not $80.

Also this money includes, open bar with top shelf, wedding cake, happy hour with hor douveres, and many other things....the $75 is a VERY INCLUSIVE number that includes MUCH MORE than just food.

Answer 1

You feed him what you feed your guests. Be prepared, your photographer will expect dinner too.

Answer 2

I have not yet read all replies. I am a wedding DJ and will almost never eat at a client's event. This of course depends on the length of the event. In Houston, the average wedding reception is 4-5 hours in length. Most professionals will eat something prior to the wedding.

If you are having a long reception, then feeding the DJ a little something is not out of line. An $80 meal is way too much to pay for the meal though and for the DJ to expect it is unprofessional. I think most DJs would appreciate an inexpensive meal just the same. You did give them your business afterall. They should be happy enough with that.

Answer 3

It is a very nice gesture to provide a meal for your DJ, Photographer, and Videographer although I don't know many who would be offended if they did not get the entire 7 course meal. Most of the time they only have a small amount of time to eat anyway so having them sit down for 7 courses would probably not work or be something they will want to do anyway. But you will have happier hired help if you feed them something since it is a long day. Some halls will work out a cheaper price for the 'hired help' since they won't be drinking and most of the time the top shelf alcohol is a major chunk of the per plate price. I'm sure the hall will work with you by providing them with something good to eat for less. Give the hall a call and weigh your options.....

Answer 4

I would feed the vendors the same meal as everyone else, but I've heard of people doing otherwise. My photographer, who is awesome, did a wedding where she was told she'd be eating a "help meal" (a sub sandwich) in the kitchen. I thought that was incredibly rude since my vendors and I were like friends.

Of course, I didn't have a sit-down meal for my reception and it wasn't anywhere near $80 a head. I wouldn't have let it get that high if we couldn't have afforded to feed the vendors too. Getting to be friends with my vendors made working with them more fun. Several of them went out of their way to make my day special. The florist, for example, ended up doing some cleaning at the reception site because the owner/manager of the restaurant fell very short of what she'd promised us. No way would I have told my florist she was eating something cheaper!

Sure--you're paying these people for what they're doing; however, the nature of their jobs involves catering personally to a bride's every whim. Good wedding vendors will go above and beyond the call of duty by treating their brides like princesses, and they deserve a little respect for their service. I don't know what the etiquette books say about this, but my vendors did more than their contracts outlined and we wanted to as well.

Answer 5

If you're hiring a DJ or band or anyone who works for you such as the coordinator and their assistant you are obligated to feed them and that's insane to have an 80 dollar a plate and you're asking if you should feed the DJ and if it's in the agreement that you provide the DJ a meal then you are obligated to do so not doing it is a breach of contract. Everyone is served the same meal whether it's the DJ or your regular guests. If you're feeling the financial pinch then you may need to tone it down to $25 a plate because you're $20 short of celebrity standing when it comes to a per plate event. Go back and talk to your caterer about toning the cost down it's not necessary to be serving dinner like you're JLO. If you do that you might shave off a couple grand off the cost of your wedding.

Answer 6

You do not need to feed them a seven course meal...they are there to work not party. It would be acceptable to offer them a choice off of the clubhouse menu if you are say at a golf course or something like that. However, if you do end up with having to pay for a meal that someone didn't show up for or you were under numbers then you might as well let them eat that. You can also consider the meal as part of the tip if you do decide to give them the $80 meal.

Answer 7

No, you do not need to serve the vendors (DJ) the same thing as yur guests. Just a quick sandwich or simple dinner then they get back to work.

Of course, your officiant is not a vendor, but an honored guest-- you DO serve them the same food you would a guest, and you invite their spouse or partner, if applicable. You suually seat the officiant at the parents' table.

Answer 8

Give the DJ the main course of your 7 course meal to your other guests. Also any other people you have hired to work for you like the photographer.'

Answer 9

Yes I was even reading it in a book because they are there for so long and at supper time some do require a meal in their contract, but the book also said that dosent mean you have to provide them with what your guest or eating you can offer them something cheaper.

Answer 10

Order something else of lesser value in the restaurant if you can.

There is one thing I have to say honestly if you can afford $80 meals for people in general which sounds lavish and splendid will another $80 kill you, and let me tell you if he gets a cheap salad and sandwich his emotion will come out in the music.

Think about it though. Happy tunes.

Answer 11

You do need to feed the DJ and photographer but not necessarily all seven courses. I would go with an appetizer or salad plate plus the main course. They could also partake of dessert or the sweet table later in the evening too.