I was just looking over my budget, and they charge you 18.5% gratuity plus they expect you to tip the guy $2-$3 a person? Is this right? The gratuity will come to $3600, and then they want/expect an extra $550. Now I've worked in the restaurant business for a long time and I am an avid over-tipper but this sounds like robbery....am I freaking out over nothing? Please help!!!
lilacwine
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Re: 18.5% gratuidy plus tipping maitre'd???
sad, but true. and, don't forget the sales tax.
o17range
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Re: 18.5% gratuidy plus tipping maitre'd???
Theoretically the 18.5% isn't going just to the Maitre 'd--it's going to the waitstaff so you don't have to individually tip each waiter/waitress. I say theoretically because some halls do not distribute that $$ around. I'm pretty sure mine did, though.
hocus
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Re: 18.5% gratuidy plus tipping maitre'd???
I posted this earlier that 18.5% is going to the waitstaff (either directly, or in direct in health care and other benifits) so it make a certain amount of sense.
I'm not tipping maitre'd. Our BM told us HIS tip was included in there, so too bad MD! LOL
Pmpkn087
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I agree it is robbery. I am only giving my Maitre d' $200 (for 100 guests), which I am not really happy about. I would rather put that money towards a bigger tip to the photog or DJ, after all, they have been working with me for the last 6 months and will be for the next 5 months. This person will only be helping for the 5 hours that I am there. I don't even know what they do!
cjik
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Re: 18.5% gratuidy plus tipping maitre'd???
It is said but true. It may or may not make its way to the waitstaff. I worked in catering in college as waitstaff, and the first maitr'd I worked under shared his tips with us. Then he left, and his replacement shared nada. No one saw a dime from the guy, and needess to say, I didn't stick around for long. The hall really should try to enforce this, though with cash tips, it's hard for them to tell who shares tips and who does not.
divabride
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Re: 18.5% gratuidy plus tipping maitre'd???
Welcome to wedding planning, where EVERYONE is out to bleed your dry.
Its a crime, but who's going to stop them? We are all at their mercy, and they know it!
capgrl26
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Wow! My place is charging 20% on the food and beverage bill! They are definitely not getting any more from me. Especially since they double-booked my wedding too!
oct2006
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Just had to chime in here.. I've worked at a catering hall before and I just wanted to let you all know that the 18% is never considered a gratuity and it never goes to the waitstaff it only goes to the house..
As for the staff its just like they are working in a restaurant they are working for tips. Most of them are 16-18 year olds getting paid $7.00 per hour and in all honesty praying for tips and without a good Maitre'D youll have a bunch of teenagers running your affair. If you don't see where I am goign with this your Maitre'd's job starts well before you even realize it. Its training the staff to be able to be compenant to work your 'special day'
In my opinion for any of you to say your not going to tip your Maitre'D is upsurd. He/She is the one who is coordinating everything. It goes from before you even get there till the last dance. They must coordinate with the kitchen, the dj, photographers. And on another thought if you are having your ceremony at the same place you should tip even more. In these scenarios there job is that much harder and more coordinating is involved.
Just please keep in mind if any of your Banquest Managers are telling you that your staff is satisfied with there pay and that tipping is not recommend 'Your staff is going to make your wedding day'... its something that you will remember forever and you should reward them for their hard work.
'every business is out to bleed you but you are going to punish hard working people because the house took all your money'
'your day will only go as good as your maitre'd runs it your house can promise you the world but once they get your money they go home and leave it up to a staff to run it so do u wnat 16 year olds or a mature good maitre;d running it' thats how I will leave this off .
LIBrideinBWI
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Re: 18.5% gratuidy plus tipping maitre'd???
HEAR HEAR!!!!!
azoodie
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Re: 18.5% gratuidy plus tipping maitre'd???
we gave our matire'd a very generous tip (5/pp)...we absolutely loved her and knew our wedding night wouldn't have been as fabulous without her....
i initially didn't like this whole tipping business of the maitre'd either, but in the end i sucked it up and gave her what we thought she really deserved
micmar
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Re: 18.5% gratuidy plus tipping maitre'd???
Posted by AlwaysSnow
I was just looking over my budget, and they charge you 18.5% gratuity plus they expect you to tip the guy $2-$3 a person? Is this right? The gratuity will come to $3600, and then they want/expect an extra $550. Now I've worked in the restaurant business for a long time and I am an avid over-tipper but this sounds like robbery....am I freaking out over nothing? Please help!!!
I totally hear ya!! I am shocked to find out all the tipping that lies ahead. Crazy.
lc214
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I don't mind tipping - or even a suggested amount. But my favorite part of all this tipping and gratuitiy nonsense is that ... YOU PAY TAX ON YOUR GRAUITY!!! I can't understand how that is legal! Somebody explain that!
N.Y.bride
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I agree its robbery. Its 5 hours and we already paid the gratuity!
Now what do you do when your BM and MD are the swame people?
AlwaysSnow
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Posted by lc214
... YOU PAY TAX ON YOUR GRAUITY!!! I can't understand how that is legal! Somebody explain that!
are you serious? That I didn't know, I can't see how that is legal...
Love_my_Freddybear
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Re: 18.5% gratuidy plus tipping maitre'd???
when we went to the hall they gave us a price per head. On top of that, we had to add tax and 18% grat. That is how we got our finally number per head. And if there is any surprised to come on top of that, i will freak!!! I am aware of 2-3 per head for matre-d.
yup, weddings are expensive!!!!!!!
ckgmwedding
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I didn't tip our banquet manager but my hall was completely different on this sort of stuff- I did 'donate' all the napkins I bought for my wedding to the hall as his gratuity and he was so happy.
