Throughout the wedding planning process, couples often face the question,

“Should I feed my wedding vendors?”

Our answer is…If a wedding vendor is there at the time of the reception, YES, they should have a meal.

Think about your normal work day, or better yet, a day that you worked 10-15 hours…did you take a lunch break? If you didn’t, by the end of that work day, did you feel like you did the absolute best work you could possibly do during those last few hours? Feed them! We know firsthand how many hours go into a vendor wedding day. We know the aches they’ll have in their feet the next day. We want them to have a hearty, hot meal so that they can give YOU the VERY best of them from the beginning of the event until the end of their day!

Photo by Amanda Hedgepeth Photography of The Deloreans at Christina & Matt’s Woman’s Club of Portsmouth Wedding!

Once you know which wedding vendors will be there for the reception & need a meal, how does Montero’s handle feeding wedding vendors, you ask? When you work with Montero’s, vendors receive the very same menu you choose for all of your guests, including the china plates and real silverware! Trust us when we say, they really appreciate this.

Photo by Dragon Studio of Astro Entertainment! at Chris & Morgan’s The Water Table wedding!

We typically expect weddings will have approximately 8 vendors present at the reception, excluding the catering staff, of course! For example, you may have a wedding planner and their assistant, a photographer and a second shooter, a DJ, a videographer and their assistant, and perhaps a photo booth or valet attendant. Of course, every wedding is different! Another wedding may have: a wedding planner, a photographer and their second shooter, and a band with 5 members and another may have a photographer and a DJ!

Photo by Dustin Lewis Images with Kevin and Brandi of Atlantic Digital Entertainment, Nicole from Montero’s, Dominic Davis of DreamClip Films, & Kelly and Aaron’s Woman’s Club of Portsmouth Wedding!

For this reason, when you book with Montero’s, we include up to 8 vendor meals for a low, low price of FREE. If you exceed the 8 complimentary vendor meals, we prepare the extra meals for an additional $20 per vendor.

When your final guest count is due to us (10 days out!), we’ll also need your final vendor count. Your catering sales manager will also ask for any special accommodations vendors may need, such as if they have any dietary restrictions, if they need to eat at a specific time, etc.

Photo by Dustin Lewis Images with DJ Roger Cruz of Astro Entertainment!, Lindsey Hocker from Simply Perfect Events, Alison from Montero’s, & Ashley and Shane and their gorgeous Virginia MOCA wedding!

Typically, your photographer will eat at the same time as you, in case they need to steal you to take sunset photos! Bands and DJs sometimes request to eat during the cocktail hour, so if this is the case, we will definitely want to know so that we can have their meals prepared when they are ready to eat! Most of your other vendors will eat after all guests have been served.

We hope this gives you some insight about feeding your wedding vendors! Have thoughts or questions you’d like to share? We’d love to hear them in the comments!

Hampton Roads Wedding Vendors at the Aisle Society Launch Party in DC!
Back Row: Nicole from Montero’s Restaurant, Chelsea from Tidewater and Tulle, Alison from Montero’s Restaurant, Tiffanie from All-Star Photobooth, Romeo from ProTones, Lil from The Hermitage Museum and Gardens
Front Row: Bryan from Eyecaptures Photography, Jennifer from The Bridal Dish, Kelly from Inspired Events by Kelly and The Bridal Dish Williamsburg.