Full List of Wedding Vendors to Tip
Did you know that when you create your overall wedding budget, you should also take into account seller tips? A number of different professionals will help you make your big day a success, so you should not forget to express your gratitude for their hard work. You need to make sure that everyone is taken into account, from your catering team to your photographer, from the ceremony to the reception, to the drivers who shuttle around your guests. “I strongly believe you should tip all your service vendors for your wedding, just as you would tip your hairdresser, nail technician, or server,” says wedding planner Robyn Swink. “A tip is never required, but always appreciated. Consider a few factors in how much to tip: time spent working together, quality of service, cost of service, and the number of team members you are actively working with.”
In the past, it was not recommended to tip certain vendors for your wedding. Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman says: “Historically, business owners did not expect tips. However, times have changed and small business owners have gone too far for exceptional service, and since they are often sole proprietors, offering some generosity is a kind gesture. Small business owners also They charge extra for important events, and tipping helps cover the costs of sellers. Consider carefully rewarding their efforts with a tip if they go beyond what’s expected.” Lizzie Post, co-chairman of the Emily Post Institute, said, “Whether you decide to set your thank you way, whether in the form of cash, a gift certificate or a genuine gift, send it personally from you as a couple, along with a heartfelt note expressing your appreciation after your day. ” She also states that tip jars should not be displayed at festivities. “You never want your guests to feel like they are being asked to tip for related services.”
Some tips are given on the day of the wedding, while others are already included in your vendors’ fees. “Review each contract and see if your contract with your caterer or other vendor includes a prepaid bonus,” says Gottsman. “This will prevent you from accidentally tipping twice. A service fee is different from a tip, so it’s important not to confuse them.”
Get familiar with the lists below and prepare to collect some cash before the big day. Going forward, we present the final list of how much you should tip your wedding vendors.
Official
Are you hiring a professional officer to perform your wedding ceremony? Then be prepared to give a hint. If your officer is a clergyman, you may not be able to tip him directly, but you can make an additional donation to the house of worship. “A $100 donation would be a fair wage,” Gottsman shares. For non-clerics, tip around $50 to $100 before the wedding ceremony. If they are attending the reception dinner, this would be a good time to extend the gift. But, Gottsman adds, “The law forbids tipping if a civil officer presides at your courthouse ceremony.”
Photographer and Videographer
Traditionally, photographers and videographers did not ask for tips because they were business owners. However, these wedding professionals who spend hours with you on the big day always appreciate a cash tip. “We don’t expect to get tips on wedding days,” says photographer Jenny Quicksall. “But when our clients tend to tip (about 50 percent of the time), they tip us between five and ten percent. This includes dollars tipped to the rest of my team. The time we spend before and after our clients’ wedding day sometimes goes unnoticed, but our clients When you appreciate our work and tip us (whatever the amount), a small coin goes a long way.”
Wedding planner Jennifer Matthews of Memorable Events, LLC shares that she often sees photographers and videographers getting tips, and that the total number a couple gives them is indicative of the level of skill their job requires. “Since photographers and videographers are more skill-trading sellers, they usually get tips at a higher rate, usually up to 15 percent of their total. If I’m not tipping as a percentage, I usually see photographers and videographers getting tips at $300. $500 and the second shooter $50. Tip was given from .
If you haven’t planned to tip in cash but want to thank your photographer or videographer for their hard work, sending a sentimental gift at a later date is a great idea. Bash Please’s wedding planner Sunna Yassin says, “Often, for vendors like photographers who do most of the work after the wedding, we advise our couples to expect a monetary gift right away and send a gift after their photo is received! This is what the photographer can only look back at and help create. does not allow him to enjoy beauty and memories. but also to enjoy a pampering massage or a bottle of wine from where an event is held on the wedding weekend.”
Caterer and Waiter
Refreshments are required for catering and are usually included in your total bill. If not, Gottsman recommends giving 15 to 20 percent of the total cost. “Make sure the manager distributes the tip to the servers and other staff involved with your event. You can also choose to give them personally after reception.”
bartenders
Bartending services are often included as part of your caterer’s package, and the tip is usually included in the bill. If not, or if you’ve kept your bartender apart, tip $10 to $15 per guest, advises Matthews. If you’re tipping your bartenders, make sure you do it at the end of the night and confirm that they don’t accept tips from your guests either.
Hair and makeup
As with the lounge, 20 percent of the serving is the tip, Matthews shares. If you pay for all your bridesmaids’ services, you can either give this tip yourself or add a tip to the total amount owed to each of them so they can make sure they have enough cash on hand. The tip should be extended immediately after services are provided. If this is too stressful between wedding events, delegate the task to a trusted friend, family member, or wedding planner or coordinator.
musicians
Plan to tip your ceremony musicians and reception group or DJ. If tip isn’t included in your contract with musicians, tip between $25 and $50 per person, Matthews says. And don’t forget the band’s sound technician! The musicians should be tipped at the end of the event if they will stay after their performance or until its completion. If you have a DJ, you should tip him between $200 and $500.
Drivers or Drivers
Many shipping companies add tips to their bills. It’s a good range to aim for a tip of 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill if it’s not covered by your contract, Gottsman says. Drivers or drivers are tipped after their service is complete, so this may require handing the task over to a trusted wedding member who will be on the final trip.
Delivery Personnel
Gottsman recommends tipping staff delivering flowers, chairs, cakes, and other necessities from $10 to $20 per delivery, depending on the service they provide. “Do they clear chairs for a few hours or just leave a cake? Effort will determine the tip.”
Venue Staff
“Ask in advance how staff will be compensated, including the banquet manager, chef, servers and bartenders, parking attendants, bathroom attendants, and cloakroom workers. The venue can include this in their contracts,” says Gottsman. “Otherwise, you can tip employees at 15 to 20 percent. Make sure employees are instructed not to tip guests.”
florists
As business owners, florists traditionally did not receive tips, but they are now appreciated in exchange for their services. “Florists often get tips as a percentage of the total,” says Matthews. “I usually see this around 10 percent (pre-tax), but sometimes people also tip on a per-person basis – usually between $50 and $100 per person for everyone involved in installation and demolition.”
wedding planners
Wedding planners work hard to put together your big day, so a tip would be greatly appreciated. “We see a wide variety of tips in our category,” says Matthews. “Usually, it’s $250 to $1,000, depending on the level of service booked. Some may choose to do it for 15 percent of the total package price.” If your wedding planner brought in an assistant who did a great job, be sure to send a tip for them too. Anywhere between $50 and $150 is suitable for a planner’s assistant, higher amounts are available for someone who really goes beyond the call of duty.
Onsite Coordinator
If you’re working with an onsite coordinator, you should also give them a tip for all their hard work. Matthews recommends $100 to $200 for a coordinator and $25 to $50 for any assistant coordinator.