tip - maitre de

When I went to my hall last week to go over the menu, they said the average tip for maitre de should be anywhere from $400 - $1000. I am having 135 people and was thinking of giving 400-450. Is this too cheap???

I am starting to question whether the shoe should show - I hope it is not too short! Feedback please!!!!!!

October is now the most popular month to get married...so everyone says. We had a hard time finding vendors available for October...just our experience.

tip - maitre de

$1000 for 135 people. That is the first time I heard of that!! I think you are well within the suggested range I have always heard. What hall are you having?

October is now the most popular month to get married...so everyone says. We had a hard time finding vendors available for October...just our experience.

tip - maitre de

All the halls I visited recommended $1-$2 pp. I think $200-270 is more than enough.

October is now the most popular month to get married...so everyone says. We had a hard time finding vendors available for October...just our experience.

tip - maitre de

thank you both - that was what I thought - Even if I give $400 - it is about $3 per person. My hall is Jericho Terrace!

Dawn-

Did your lips look or feel dry from it? I have tried some sealers from time to time and they always ended up with my lips feeling and looking dry. If this wasnt the case, it sounds like it would be helpful, at least for that day. Thanks. 2 days did sound strange but it does make sense that you'd test this stuff out on yourself first

tip - maitre de & others too

I guess it is in their best interest to puff up a suggested tip. For the brides & grooms that take it as gospel, the maitre 'd gets a hefty tip, for those who consult with other brides and other wedding guidelines, they get a nice fair tip, either way they win :-) My DJ has a one liner in the contract that says something about "tips being appreciated (usually 20%")...but he is the owner of the company too..we are still not sure how we will work that. I mean there are costs that go into the company he owns, I understand that so he's not necessarily pocketing the fee like he would with a tip but I have also read that you need never tip the owner. Our photog is also the owner..how can we not tip him for 9 hours of his time ...

Did your lips look or feel dry from it? I have tried some sealers from time to time and they always ended up with my lips feeling and looking dry. If this wasnt the case, it sounds like it would be helpful, at least for that day. Thanks. 2 days did sound strange but it does make sense that you'd test this stuff out on yourself first

tip - maitre de & others too????

I understand why we tip the maitre de but where does the 18% gratuity I am paying go??? Is that for the catering manager or the waiters. And if it is for the wait staff, why should I pay them if they haven't rendered a service yet.

I guess it is in their best interest to puff up a suggested tip. For the brides & grooms that take it as gospel, the maitre 'd gets a hefty tip, for those who consult with other brides and other wedding guidelines, they get a nice fair tip, either way they win :-) My DJ has a one liner in the contract that says something about "tips being appreciated (usually 20%")...but he is the owner of the company too..we are still not sure how we will work that. I mean there are costs that go into the company he owns, I understand that so he's not necessarily pocketing the fee like he would with a tip but I have also read that you need never tip the owner. Our photog is also the owner..how can we not tip him for 9 hours of his time ...

Did your lips look or feel dry from it? I have tried some sealers from time to time and they always ended up with my lips feeling and looking dry. If this wasnt the case, it sounds like it would be helpful, at least for that day. Thanks. 2 days did sound strange but it does make sense that you'd test this stuff out on yourself first

tip - maitre de & others too????

The 18% is for the wait staff and bartenders if that is not a separate charge. The reason that most catering halls include that is because this way everyone gets an equal share. You should also know that wait staff in most cases do not make minimum wage as a salary. Their average tips are included to bring them up to minimum wage(or more if the catering hall pays them well). I agree that being required to pay a set amount upfront defeats the traditional purpose of the tip, but that is how all catering facilities work.

Thanks for the info - I'm always looking for lipstick that will stay on. I'm glad I found the web-site. They have a sample set you can buy for $30. I wouldn't normally waste so much on something I haven't seen work but if you said it does, how can I not believe a make-up artist. I just don't know which color to get. I don't want to waste the money if the color doesn't look good.

By the way - do you have a web-site or something? Do you work out of a salon/your house/ do you travel to brides houses/

tip - maitre de

I found a tip schedule in a book I read ( I read million of them)

Dj - $20 - $50 Photographer - $20 - 50 Video - $20 - $50 Maitre de - $1 - 2 per guest (judge on how well they do)

Also take into account if your feeding them, I know nowadays it's common practive that they get fed, but that comes out of our pocket, and then they want a tip.

tip - maitre de & others too????

Thank you

That clears it up.

Are you lining your lips, then lipstick? How about just gloss?

Gratuity?? Inside Scoop

My sister works at a very well known Long Island Reception Hall (actually for a company that owns a few).I don't think it would be appropriate of me to name names. I don't know if their practices are the industry standard. However, to the best of my sister's knowledge and mine they are pretty representative of the field. Your 18% gratuity is kept by the Hall Management!!!!! No money is distributed to the staff directly. I guess indirectly they "cover" thier employee's wages with the gratuity. However, what happens to the rest?????? I think it it is a gross misrepresentation calling this charge a "gratuity". There seems to be a trend for couples to ask for signs to be put up saying "Please no tipping - gratuities will be taken care of by your host/ hostess". I am sure these couples probably believe that the 18% is divided up. Not so... the hard working servers and bartenders just get jipped out of a few extra well earned dollars. Not much inspiration to give your guests top-notch service. huh?? Caterering employees' seldom make minimum wage, but not a signigicant amount more. I have a confession to make: I never tipped my server at a wedding before. I didn't know I was suppose too (and I was a waitress for years, yikes). I know better now!! Better late then never, I guess. I make sure now to show my appreciation, especially, when a server takes special care to make my night enjoyable.I am writing this to set the record straight. I find the whole thing crazy. I am glad to have an insider's info, this way on my Wedding Day I can thank/ tip those deserving.

if you have a copy of "Weddings for Dummies" there is a sample of each religion in the back of the book. since you're blending the religious services, I suggest you exercise a little creativity and mix both processions.

:)

Gratuity?? Inside Scoop

Its true! I worked at a catering hall. The gratuity is nnot split among the servers, but they do make more by the hour than a typical waitress. If you tip the servers individually they would absolutely appreciate it. Some places if people ask for it, will split the gratuity...speak up!

Hi. We are trying to decide if we should have our pictures taken in Old Westbury Gardens or at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum. Does anyone know if they have websites???? The fee is a big thing. I know Old Westbury is pricy and Bayard is only per car. Any help would be great. Thanks

Anyone having an uneven number of ushers and bridesmaids? If so, how are you handling it for the ceremony and first dance? Any suggestions?

Gratuity?? Inside Scoop

My hall specifically says that the tip to the waitstaff, bartenders & coatcheck is part of that gratuity. If they say that to me as a bride who has booked their hall, why would I believe otherwise? I understand what you are saying and I definitely mean no offense to the people who work so hard on the wedding day to serve our guests but if my hall says it is covering their tips, I dont know how I feel about doling out another round of tips. If there is misrepresentation, why should we as the people who are paying have to pay even more??? I hope I dont come off as unsympathetic here because that is not my intent with this posting. Just a viewpoint...

Good luck

tip - maitre de

Maitre De tip is usually $2 - $3 per person. I have 113 guests and at the end of the day my Maitre de received $300 from us because he was outstanding and did EVERYTHING for me including putting up my bustle in 30 seconds. My photographer received 60, video 40 - deserved more, DJ 50. You'll see, you will give what you can at the end of the night. It all changes. My husband said he wasn't tipping anyone and by the end of the night, he opened his pocket and said dig in! ha ha ha

Saturday I am going shopping for my dress. Any last minute advice from anyone who has already done it is greatly appreciated!! Thanks

Good luck

Gratuity?? Inside Scoop

I agree with Elizabeth. If the gratuity is added to the bill that's it for me. This tip stuff is way out of hand. The only additional people that I am tipping at the catering hall are the bridal attendant and the maitre'd and that is because they were specifically excluded in my contract. I also know from a family member who spent many years working at local catering facilities that the wait staff's base salary is increased to include the average tip. It makes it easier for the catering hall to do it that way for income tax and payroll purposes. A tip on top of a tip? Not for me.

Saturday I am going shopping for my dress. Any last minute advice from anyone who has already done it is greatly appreciated!! Thanks

Good luck

tip - maitre de

I am planning on tipping others..I meant as far as the catering hall staff goes I will tip only the bridal attendant and the maitre'd. I am not tipping the wait staff when there is already a gratuity included in my price.

Hope this helps a little!!! HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!

Good luck

tip - maitre de

You shouldn't have to. You're right. If the contract says 18% or whatever gratuity is for staff, then that's what it is. It's up to the hall to take care of the staff, not you. You've already paid your tip to them. I guess if the catering business was bad and the staff didn't get tipped well, they wouldn't do it so they must be taken care of.

Thanks!!!! Old Westbury is $$$ but if it rains you can take pictures indoors. Bayard you cant but at Bayard you pay $5 per car Thats it!!!

If you have someone who you can trust to be honest and pushing their opinions on you, take them along. Besides, the dresses can be heavy and if the shop is more self-serve rather than providing help, you'll need someone!!!

Gratuity?? Inside Scoop

i agree with Liz and Louise, hey we can request that it be divided ? what if they say "well of course it is ??" theres no way of knowing exactly what goes on......especially if its run by ehem ehem...organized crime :) believe me its out there........

Gratuity?? Inside Scoop

Michelle- I believe you are a woman that knows what she is talking about. There are plenty of greedy people in the world that surely would take advantage of the public's trust. Girls, it's our responsibility find out what happens to the money that is tipped to the maitre'de. Does he/she keep it. In my opinion, that's a big tip to give one person for the work of many.I am going to make seperate envelopes from the 18% gratuity.From that 18%, I will decide how it is divided. Making sure that there is an envelope for the maitre'de, bridal attendant and one for the waitresses to split. It is a gratuity and I will not see anyone take what others deserve. That would be like getting pick-pocketed. Thank you for enlightening me Michelle.

THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR GOOD WISHES. BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OF YOU AS WELL. ONLY GOOD THINGS FOR US ALL.

Good luck. They are fabulous!!!!!

Gratuity?? Inside Scoop

Well - I also work for a catering company that owns several facilities and I worked in their main office and I know for a FACT that the gratuity goes to the staff that is a part of their paycheck - I don;t think we have anything to worry about - grauity is normally spilt up among everyone including the kitchen staff - so if you want to just tip the wait staff you are leaving out a lot of people - leave up to your caterer

Best of luck, Phyl. Enjoy every minute!

I don't have a problem feeding vendors, I'm just wondering where they would sit. I'm not having a videographer so the only vendors I have are the photographer, his assistant, and the dj. Do they get their own table?

Gratuity?? Inside Scoop

I know this to be true. In some Halls they even take the tips from the coat check girl. This matter really needs to be exposed!