Dinner for photographer? Opinions please!

Soooo, I've searched the forum and I get that etiquette is you provide dinner for your vendors.

Buuuut, I didn't find anything that covered my situation exactly, and I'm REALLY hoping some of you gals (or other photogs on the forum?) can help me figure this one out!

Basically, our only vendors are our photographer and his assistant, and our DJ.

The DJ is a no-brainer...he's there for four hours during our reception -- of course we'll give him dinner!

The problem is what to do with our photographer and his assistant.

We've only hired our photographer for three hours. He'll be there for MOST of the cocktail hour but then our three hours are up before our dinner starts.

If he and his assistant are only there for three hours, do we still invite them for dinner?

At our resort, we have to pay for every person over 20 people. And we have over 20 people!

So, the cost of two dinners for the photog and his assistant would be $160 ($80 per person).

That seems like a lot to me for someone who's only staying for three hours (who we will also be tipping as well...)...but maybe I'm just being cheap!? :-)

BUT, I also don't want to be rude!

As a side note, if we go over 30 people (which the photog and his assistant might put us over 30), we can no longer have a sit-down dinner, our resort forces us to have a buffet...which we don't really want.

Sigh.

Anyone?

What would YOU do...??

Opinions appreciated...even if it's just to tell me I'm a cheap loser:-)

Talk to your photographer about it. If they are only there 3 hours and dinner will start after that time is up, they may have already made other plans. On the other hand if they don't have plans it would be a good way to show your appreciation.

I've seen that most photogs/videographers require a meal if they work at least 4 hours. You might wanna look into that, perhaps your photographer works by the same guideline. If so, then you're home free!

Thank you for posting this. I am in the same situation! Can you please post back what you finally do? Thanks

Since your photographer will only be with you for 3 hours ending shortly before dinner, perhaps you can give a bigger tip and a thank you card to show appreciation instead of dinner. This way, you can have a sit-down dinner and still give the photog a thank you gift.

they should have it in their contract. but, 3 hours doesn't usually require dinner.

Thanks ladies!

Providing dinner is NOT in the contract...I just don't want to be rude...

I asked the WC at my resort today if there's any wiggle room on having 32 people for sit-down dinner instead of 30...and she said she'd check...but they've been pretty UN-flexible on everything else, so I'm not holding out hope:-)

Honestly, it's very kind of you to even ask this question! But since they are finishing up before dinner starts, you don't need to arrange dinner for them. Usually vendors won't like to hang around just to hang around anyway after they finish as it's not like being at a wedding socially, so they will usually just pack up and be on their way anyhow.

If you're concerned, maybe just mention in an email to the photographer that just to confirm, since they're finished before dinner you haven't arranged for a meal, and is that alright. I'm 99% sure they'll say absolutely fine. :-)

I like Lisa's suggestion. If you were flying them down from the states or Canada, and they didn't have anywhere else to be. Or, if they were taking pictures through dinner then it would be a nice gesture. But for locals who are only staying 3 hours finished before dinner, they shouldn't be offended.