Do you eat at the receptions?

The assistant driving means it's less dangerous to eat and drive!

I never drink alcohol at weddings, I doubt anyone here does. I do have a few drinks afterwards though.

tim wrote in post #2601500
I never drink alcohol at weddings, I doubt anyone here does.

I'll 'fess-up.

tim wrote in post #2601500
I never drink alcohol at weddings, I doubt anyone here does.

I'll confess I *have* had a drink at two of the weddings. One I was done and packed up to go home and the bride insisted I have a drink with her. The other was a winter wedding, big ice storm, the whole day had been crazy and by the end of the day I was part of the "family" ... while in the limo the bride & groom and wedding party insisted I have a drink ... how do you ignore chants of your name?? I had protested and said I still had to get their first dance images (whenever the DJ showed up, he'd gone into a ditch - I was well past my scheduled time with the couple but promised to stay until the end of the first dance because of all the problems) and the bridal party laughed and told me the pictures get better the more the photographer drinks I did take the drink and nursed it and the pictures turned out fine so no harm.

For the most part, though, no, I won't drink

I eat right after the B&G and immediate family dish up.

Yup - all the weddings I've been to, we've had our own table - either in the main room, or more commonly, in a side room, though I've only shot at 350+ guest weddings (well, shot as a second shooter).

I do eat at receptions. Understand that you are spending 5 hours or more with them in the wedding. An average person east every 3 hours. Along that time, you see everyone munching and snacking on things before the wedding.. and then at the reception. It would not be good to work on an empty stomach. Clients know this, you know this. Eat. Don't be scared. Take the offer. =] Enjoy the food and cake!

wow, 3-year old thread resurrected, talking about miracle.

lol. seriously.

Well Im gonna be honest. I eat and drink at receptions. Usually only after all the important stuff is out of the way (formal dances/ toasts/ cake etc.)

Then I hit the dance floor with the guests.
NOTHING will get you better shots than that.

In order to capture the party I feel you must be in the party.
my brides and grooms love it.
guests high five me.
and bridemaids end up all over me.

good thing my wife shooting with me and has a sense of humor.

It's in our contract that we get fed at the reception. We get in line early-right after the wedding party and family, eat fast somewhere out of the way, and get ready to shoot the toasting. Sometimes the caterers fix us a plate. Heck, by now, it's been five or more hours since we've started. We HAVE to recharge.
Chris

I bring food for myself just in case the opportunity to eat reception food doesn't manifest itself (usually when it's not a buffet). Either way, I do it quick - gas and go just like a pit stop.

QUOTE=tim;2601500]The assistant driving means it's less dangerous to eat and drive!

I never drink alcohol at weddings, I doubt anyone here does. I do have a few drinks afterwards though.[/QUOTE]


I did a wedding last year for free (family friend/ photographer no-showed- I happened to have a gear bag in the car from an earlier shoot) and I got absolutely tanked because that is why I came to the party.

Now to be honest, the photos were sub par for my standard because I was outright drunk. On top of that the dance/late night photos looked like the club photos i shoot because i do regularly drink at those. Since the family was as close to my family as you can get it really did not matter at all. I came to drink, not shoot.

That said drinking and shooting wedding events is sort of a bad call.

The meal is the part I look most forward to the day. I must be provided with a meal, simply put. Or I will not be shooting the wedding.

viet wrote in post #11148584
wow, 3-year old thread resurrected, talking about miracle.

lol! totally! lol!I think it was a good thread though! Wait... is this the tread that at one point people posted what was served too?

My fault =] It's a forum. People always get gripped for starting a thread without first doing a search on a similar topic.. Enjoy!

Great advice everyone. I love to eat, and working 8-12 hour days will not go well without any bathroom breaks and low blood sugar. Glad most of you eat. I tend to shovel my food so I don't think 5-10 minutes will cause me to lose a great shot while everyone is eating.