A wedding photographer has gone viral with her “unpopular opinion” that she would rather be sat at a table with other vendors for dinner — and not other guests.
In a TikTok video, published last month, Ohio-based photographer Chelsea McFolly, shared footage of the fun she was having at a “vendors table” at a client’s wedding.
@chelseamcfolling As a wedding photographer, I know a lot of people who work in the wedding industry who complain about being sat in the back corner at a vendor’s table during dinner. And I have 2 things to say, 1) if you give me a chair and a meal, THANK YOU BABY, im happy and 2) sit me with my people so i can relax, feel understood, and possibly even network. I LOVE a good vendor’s table. I’m not here to complain about where I’m sat at your wedding reception (as long as i have a chair 😉). #ohioweddingphotographer #weddingphotographer #documentarystylephotography #weddingvendor #northeastohiophotographer #adviceforbrides #bridesof2024 ♬ original sound – Chelsea McFolling
In the clip, it appears that that the newlywed couple had sat the people who were working at their wedding on a separate table at the reception to the standard guests on the big day.
‘Don’t Sit Us With Guests’
In the TikTok video, which has over 3.1 million views, McFolling and the other vendors are seen dancing and enjoying themselves as they eat their dinner together in the corner of room at the wedding reception.
“Unpopular opinion as a wedding photographer: a vendors table is [raising hands emoji],” McFolling captions the clip.
“Don’t sit us with guests. Let us enjoy dinner with our fellow hired friends.”
In a further description accompanying the TikTok video, McFolling says she knows “a lot of people who work in the wedding industry who complain about being sat in the back corner at a vendors table during dinner.”
But, the photographer says that she personally feels that she can more fully “relax, feel understood, and possibly even network” when she is sat with other vendors at a wedding, rather than with guests .
However, in the caption to the video, McFolly made sure to note that she was always thankful and happy whenever her clients simply provide her with “a chair and meal” at a wedding — no matter where that was.
‘Take Care of Your Vendors’
Despite McFolly’s belief that this was an “unpopular opinion,” the TikTok video amassed over 351,000 likes. Many viewers loved the idea of a separate vendors table for photographers at a wedding, rather than seating them with guests.
However, in the comments of the TikTok video, some wedding photographers and vendors suggested that they were lucky just to be fed by their clients on the big day.
Some photographers said that they were often made to eat their dinner “in the back of a kitchen” or alone.
As a result of McFolly’s video, many TikTok users commented on how important it is “take care of your vendors” a a wedding. Some social media users vowed to make sure their future wedding photographer ate at a table with other hired workers.
Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.
