Do you feed the photographer at a wedding? My honest answer

I often leave the house at 6am to get to a wedding. I eat before I set off, but some weddings finish at midnight. That’s a long day by anyone’s standards.

We are having fun, but our brains are constantly switched on, making sure we cover everything and give you our absolute best creatively. It’s a brilliant job but it does take it out of you.

Photographers have a name for the day after. We call it the wedding hangover. That’s even with food and drink, so a meal part way through really does help.

Can’t the photographer just bring their own food?

If I know there’s no food and the venue is a long way from anywhere, I do bring my own. The trouble is that on hot days food spoils very quickly. With all the gear we already carry, it’s one more thing to move around with us.

I once had a venue that was a 40 minute drive from the nearest shop, with no food provided. I brought food and even brought a cooler. By the time I got to it, it had been in there for over eight hours and it tasted awful. Not my finest lunch.

I partly agree with this and I can see why people say it. The average UK wedding now costs £21,990, according to Hitched. With numbers like that, I completely understand why couples look closely at every extra cost.

But at my own wedding, which was a small one, I absolutely made sure our photographers were catered for and given a proper meal. For me it was simple. They were working non stop for us all day and I wanted them to feel looked after.

It also often costs less than you might think. A lot of the time your caterers will have supplier meals and many venues price these lower than a guest meal. In some cases they’re free of charge, so it’s always worth asking.

What if it stretches our budget?

Be open and honest with your photographer. I’ve had couples tell me before. I completely understand and I just let them know I’ll take some time out to go and find food.

We absolutely love it when we get the same meal as your guests. It’s a full warm meal and exactly what we need.

Here’s a tip. If a guest or two has dropped out, ask your wedding organiser to give those meals to your suppliers. This is often what my couples do and we really appreciate it.

Most venues have a tab you can open for your suppliers, which is the easiest way. It’s worth checking though, as most venues close the kitchen while the wedding food is going out.

If I’m honest, a sandwich is my least favourite. After that many hours on my feet a cold sandwich doesn’t go very far, so I’ll often nip out for something warm instead. I’ll chat to your wedding planner to work it out.

Does your photographer have any dietary needs?

Ask them. I’m allergic to crab, but other than that I eat anything and everything.

Should you buy your photographer a drink?

I don’t drink alcohol. I’ll have a coke or water through the day. Hydration is important for creativity!

The best meal I’ve had was at Wootton Hall. They have one of the best chefs I have ever seen and it feels like a full Michelin experience when you eat there. Honestly, I’ve never experienced anything like it.

They even go out of their way to have supplier canapés during the day, which is incredible.

A supplier shout out

Annika’s Apron

Annika and Mark at Annika’s Apron are incredibly talented at what they do. They once gave me a supplier meal so large I had to share it out among the staff. Their personality and the attention they give to suppliers make every wedding a pleasure to work at.

Most of the time it goes perfectly. These are the rare times it didn’t. In almost every one the couple had arranged food for us, so they’re here for a smile, not to make anyone feel guilty.

In most of these stories the couple had arranged food for us. So it’s worth one quick check with your caterer or venue that your suppliers are on the list.

When should the photographer eat?

We prefer to eat when you do. The earlier the better. Venues generally serve us once your main course has gone out, which makes sense.

The only issue is that sometimes the speeches start before we’ve had time to eat. I’ve seen plates being taken back before we were served and food arriving just as the speeches began. If speeches are going to start quickly, I’ll have a chat with your wedding planner.

It’s nothing fussy. A warm meal and a few minutes sat down is all we’re after. My wedding day timeline shows where the meal fits into your day.

I always ask people to imagine it was them. Most jobs in the UK come with a 20 minute break once you’ve worked six hours. A wedding day for us can run from a 10am start until midnight.

It’s hard to do your best work on an empty stomach. Having a chance to sit down with a warm meal helps those creative pistons in the brain keep working, right through to the party in the evening.

So feed us if you can. If you can’t, just let me know. I completely understand and I’d always rather know beforehand, so I can plan where to go.