Some ground rules: Vendors who provide a product, like a cake baker or florist, don't usually receive tips, but vendors who provide a service, like your DJ, do. (You are, of course, welcome to tip 'product vendors' and their staffs for performing above and beyond the call of duty.) Additionally, since tips are meant to supplement the salaries of folks on the lower rungs of the business ladder, a vendor who's self-employed or is the owner of a business is generally not tipped.
The day of the wedding, appoint a very responsible person, like a wedding planner or parent, to pass out tips at the end of the event. A plain business envelope filled with cash is fine, but adding a 'Thanks for everything!' will earn you extra points—you'd be surprised how much it means to a vendor to receive a heartfelt thank-you note or email after the wedding.
Ceremony
Hair/makeup pros: 15–20 percent of the total bill
Musicians: $25–$50 each unless tips are included in a house of worship's rental fee. The best man offers the tips after the ceremony.
Officiant: $50 if you're married by a judge or clerk; clergy members, in general, don't accept tips, so instead, make a donation ($100 on average) to the appropriate house of worship.
Altar boys or girls: $5–$10; if they decline, add this amount to your donation to the church. The best man offers the tips to the kids after the ceremony.
Reception
Wedding planners: $0; however, their more junior staffers should be tipped $50–$100 each.
Photographers/videographers: $100–$200 if the pro is part of a larger outfit or agency (but not the owner). Second shooters should receive $50–$75.
Catering manager: $250–$500
Waitstaff: 15 percent of the total pretax food bill (given to the catering manager or 'captain' to distribute) if a gratuity is not included in the contract
Bartenders: 10–15 percent of the total pretax bar bill. (if a gratuity is not included in the contract) Inform the bartenders of your intent to tip after the reception, and request that they refuse tips from guests. No rogue tip jars!
Reception band/DJ: $25–$50 per person (band) $50 to $100 for a DJ . if they work for an agency; no tip if they're self-employed. The host offers the tip at the reception's end. (but take their performance into account: Did your bashful uncle boogie for the first time in 40 years? Then give a little more cash.)
Chauffeur/driver: 15–20 percent of the total bill, typically presented at the end of the day (if tip is not included in your contract)
Valets: $1–$2 per car, given to the supervisor in advance, to be split among staff. Display a sign at the valet station stating that gratuities have been taken care of. The valets should also be instructed to refuse any tips offered by guests.
Restroom/coat-check attendants: $.50–$2 per guest; calculate this total in advance and give to your reception site manager to distribute.
Here is another aricle from January 2011 from Brides.Com.also: note - some of the amounts are different that the article above:
