One of the areas that couples tend to neglect when planning their wedding budget is the subject of tipping. From caterers to waiters to clergy members, it is customary to provide an additional tip on top of the regular costs and rates. Tipping is never required unless spelled out in your contract! However you can’t ignore the fact that some vendors will expect a gratuity and deserve gratuity especially those vendors who have went above and beyond to assist you or provided extra special or added “free” service, which forces tipping to be considered for your wedding vendors.
When planning out your wedding budget, be sure to allow an additional amount to the quoted price, so that you aren’t caught unaware and short of cash. The following is a general idea on the amounts you should set aside for different wedding suppliers. Remember, these amounts are not set in stone. Plan according to your budget and the type of service you receive from each. When you’re already dipping deep into your (or your parents’) savings for so many wedding expenses, paying out gratuities on top can be hard to handle and can add stress and confusion to an already stressful planning process.
Wedding Planner
Wedding planners won’t likely expect anything; however, Approximately 80 percent of couples do tip their planners
It is optional but The Standard: $500 or 18% of her total fee
When to Tip: The bride should hand off the envelope at the end of the reception, or, she should send a thank-you note with a check after the honeymoon.
Wedding Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist
This is one area where a gratuity is definitely expected. Tip between 15 – 20 percent just as you would in a hair salon, and consider giving a little extra if there’s a crisis, like one of your bridesmaids has a meltdown over her updo and it requires a redo at the last minute.
Tip is: Expected The Standard: 15 – 25 percent, depending upon the quality of service
When to Tip: At the end of your service
Wedding Delivery and Set-up Staff
Slip a few dollars to anyone delivering important items to the site (wedding cake, flowers, or sound system). And if a lot of equipment is being brought in and set up (tents, chairs, or port-a-potties), the workers deserve a tip too.
Tip: Expected The Standard: $5 – $10 per person
When to Tip: On delivery if you have a wedding coordinator leave it with them to pass out if you do not have your Best Man or Grooms Father handle it.
Wedding Ceremony Officiant
If you’re getting married in your church or synagogue and they’re charging you to use the space, feel free to give a smaller amount.
Protocol: Expected (depending on Officiant) The Standard: Donate $500+ to the church or synagogue, or, for a nondenominational Officiant, $50 – $100
When to Tip: Most ceremony fees are required prior to the wedding. Otherwise, have the best man pass the cash envelope at the rehearsal dinner if the Officiant is in attendance otherwise directly after or prior to the ceremony as most officiates leave immediately.
Wedding Ceremony Musicians
If you worked with a mini orchestra to come up with the perfect score for your service (and they pulled it off flawlessly), consider showing some monetary thanks for their talent. However, you probably don’t have to tip the solo church organist who was required to play.
The Standard: $15 – $20 per musician
When to Tip: At the end of the ceremony.
Wedding Photographer/Videographer
Consider tipping each person (or give a certain amount with a thank-you note to disperse to staff).
The Standard: $50 – $200 per vendor
When to Tip: At the end of the reception.
Wedding Reception Staff
This type of staff includes the on-site coordinator, maitre d’, and banquet manager. A service charge is almost always built in to the food and drink fee, so check your contract. If the gratuity is not included, tip as follows.
The Standard: 15 – 20 percent of the food and drink fee (based on labor, not the cost), or $200 – $300 for the maitre d’.
When to Tip: If it’s covered in the contract, the final bill is typically due before the reception. Otherwise, have the father of the bride or best man hand the envelope to the maitre d’ at the end of the reception since you will need to know the final tab to calculate the percentage.
Wedding Reception Attendants
When it comes to bartenders, wait staff; parking, bathroom, and coatroom attendants the rules of tipping are dictated by your contract. If the service fee is included, consider doling out extra only if the service was exceptional. If it’s not included, ask ahead of time how many attendants will be working your wedding and calculate on a per person basis. Again this is Optional, based on contract
The Standard: $20 – $25 per bartender or waiter; $1 per guest for coat room and parking attendants; $1 per car
When to Tip: Although tips are traditionally passed out at the end of the event, you could alternately distribute them at the beginning of the evening, to encourage all the workers to give you great service.
Wedding Reception Band or DJ
Whether you hire 12-piece swing band or grooving to a DJ, tipping musicians is completely optional. (Depending on the quality of the job and how willing they were to follow your ideal play list!) And don’t forget about any sound technicians they bring with them.
The Standard: $20 – $25 per musician $50 – $150 for DJs
When to Tip: At the end of the reception, by the best man.
Wedding Transportation
Again, check your contract, as gratuity is usually included. If it isn’t, plan to tip provided they show up on time and don’t get lost!
The Standard: 15 – 20 percent of the total bill again check your contract!
When to Tip: At the end of the night or after the last ride. If you used a separate company for the guest buses, designate a bus captain to hand the driver a tip, otherwise, this duty falls to the best man.
Put Someone in Charge of your Tipping
Assign someone you can rely on, your wedding planner, one of the fathers, the best man, your super-organized maid of honor to hand out envelopes with the non-contract tips in cash, either at the time of service (hair and makeup people), at the end of the wedding (which allows you to adjust the size of the tips to reflect the service), or at the beginning so you don’t have to worry about remembering and it allows you to start your married life with out worries.
Here is another way to figure how to break down your tipping
* Caterer and/or Banquet Manager – 15-18% for extra special service. Usually, the gratuity is already included into the set fee. Be sure to check on this. If it hasn’t been, add 15-18% to the price.
* Bartenders – 15% to 20% of the liquor bill. Again check your contract it may already be included!
* Parking Valets, Powder Room and Coat Room Attendants – 50¢ to $1.00 per guest or car. You could also arrange to pay a flat tipping fee instead.
* Officiant – $50 to $150.
* Civil Ceremony Officials – $50 and up. However Remember some Judges cannot accept money.
* Florist – 15% directly to the driver who delivers the flowers. (Don’t include it when paying the bill; the driver will never see it.)
* Photographer – 10% to 15%
* Videographer – 10% to 15%
* Cake Decorator – 10% to 15%
* Musicians or D.J. – 15%
* Limousine Driver – 10% to 15% paid directly to the driver. Again check your contract as most are already incorporated into it!
* Wedding Planner – 18% of contract or minimum of $500 for large weddings
Happy Wedding Planning to you!
Sincerely,
Terry
Magical Moment Weddings
239-369-7797 or 239-878-3526
When planning out your wedding budget, be sure to allow an additional amount to the quoted price, so that you aren’t caught unaware and short of cash. The following is a general idea on the amounts you should set aside for different wedding suppliers. Remember, these amounts are not set in stone. Plan according to your budget and the type of service you receive from each. When you’re already dipping deep into your (or your parents’) savings for so many wedding expenses, paying out gratuities on top can be hard to handle and can add stress and confusion to an already stressful planning process.
Wedding Planner
Wedding planners won’t likely expect anything; however, Approximately 80 percent of couples do tip their planners
It is optional but The Standard: $500 or 18% of her total fee
When to Tip: The bride should hand off the envelope at the end of the reception, or, she should send a thank-you note with a check after the honeymoon.
Wedding Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist
This is one area where a gratuity is definitely expected. Tip between 15 – 20 percent just as you would in a hair salon, and consider giving a little extra if there’s a crisis, like one of your bridesmaids has a meltdown over her updo and it requires a redo at the last minute.
Tip is: Expected The Standard: 15 – 25 percent, depending upon the quality of service
When to Tip: At the end of your service
Wedding Delivery and Set-up Staff
Slip a few dollars to anyone delivering important items to the site (wedding cake, flowers, or sound system). And if a lot of equipment is being brought in and set up (tents, chairs, or port-a-potties), the workers deserve a tip too.
Tip: Expected The Standard: $5 – $10 per person
When to Tip: On delivery if you have a wedding coordinator leave it with them to pass out if you do not have your Best Man or Grooms Father handle it.
Wedding Ceremony Officiant
If you’re getting married in your church or synagogue and they’re charging you to use the space, feel free to give a smaller amount.
Protocol: Expected (depending on Officiant) The Standard: Donate $500+ to the church or synagogue, or, for a nondenominational Officiant, $50 – $100
When to Tip: Most ceremony fees are required prior to the wedding. Otherwise, have the best man pass the cash envelope at the rehearsal dinner if the Officiant is in attendance otherwise directly after or prior to the ceremony as most officiates leave immediately.
Wedding Ceremony Musicians
If you worked with a mini orchestra to come up with the perfect score for your service (and they pulled it off flawlessly), consider showing some monetary thanks for their talent. However, you probably don’t have to tip the solo church organist who was required to play.
The Standard: $15 – $20 per musician
When to Tip: At the end of the ceremony.
Wedding Photographer/Videographer
Consider tipping each person (or give a certain amount with a thank-you note to disperse to staff).
The Standard: $50 – $200 per vendor
When to Tip: At the end of the reception.
Wedding Reception Staff
This type of staff includes the on-site coordinator, maitre d’, and banquet manager. A service charge is almost always built in to the food and drink fee, so check your contract. If the gratuity is not included, tip as follows.
The Standard: 15 – 20 percent of the food and drink fee (based on labor, not the cost), or $200 – $300 for the maitre d’.
When to Tip: If it’s covered in the contract, the final bill is typically due before the reception. Otherwise, have the father of the bride or best man hand the envelope to the maitre d’ at the end of the reception since you will need to know the final tab to calculate the percentage.
Wedding Reception Attendants
When it comes to bartenders, wait staff; parking, bathroom, and coatroom attendants the rules of tipping are dictated by your contract. If the service fee is included, consider doling out extra only if the service was exceptional. If it’s not included, ask ahead of time how many attendants will be working your wedding and calculate on a per person basis. Again this is Optional, based on contract
The Standard: $20 – $25 per bartender or waiter; $1 per guest for coat room and parking attendants; $1 per car
When to Tip: Although tips are traditionally passed out at the end of the event, you could alternately distribute them at the beginning of the evening, to encourage all the workers to give you great service.
Wedding Reception Band or DJ
Whether you hire 12-piece swing band or grooving to a DJ, tipping musicians is completely optional. (Depending on the quality of the job and how willing they were to follow your ideal play list!) And don’t forget about any sound technicians they bring with them.
The Standard: $20 – $25 per musician $50 – $150 for DJs
When to Tip: At the end of the reception, by the best man.
Wedding Transportation
Again, check your contract, as gratuity is usually included. If it isn’t, plan to tip provided they show up on time and don’t get lost!
The Standard: 15 – 20 percent of the total bill again check your contract!
When to Tip: At the end of the night or after the last ride. If you used a separate company for the guest buses, designate a bus captain to hand the driver a tip, otherwise, this duty falls to the best man.
Put Someone in Charge of your Tipping
Assign someone you can rely on, your wedding planner, one of the fathers, the best man, your super-organized maid of honor to hand out envelopes with the non-contract tips in cash, either at the time of service (hair and makeup people), at the end of the wedding (which allows you to adjust the size of the tips to reflect the service), or at the beginning so you don’t have to worry about remembering and it allows you to start your married life with out worries.
Here is another way to figure how to break down your tipping
* Caterer and/or Banquet Manager – 15-18% for extra special service. Usually, the gratuity is already included into the set fee. Be sure to check on this. If it hasn’t been, add 15-18% to the price.
* Bartenders – 15% to 20% of the liquor bill. Again check your contract it may already be included!
* Parking Valets, Powder Room and Coat Room Attendants – 50¢ to $1.00 per guest or car. You could also arrange to pay a flat tipping fee instead.
* Officiant – $50 to $150.
* Civil Ceremony Officials – $50 and up. However Remember some Judges cannot accept money.
* Florist – 15% directly to the driver who delivers the flowers. (Don’t include it when paying the bill; the driver will never see it.)
* Photographer – 10% to 15%
* Videographer – 10% to 15%
* Cake Decorator – 10% to 15%
* Musicians or D.J. – 15%
* Limousine Driver – 10% to 15% paid directly to the driver. Again check your contract as most are already incorporated into it!
* Wedding Planner – 18% of contract or minimum of $500 for large weddings
Happy Wedding Planning to you!
Sincerely,
Terry
Magical Moment Weddings
239-369-7797 or 239-878-3526
