A quick note on service charges...

Jenny-$ pp is usually only Food/Drink/Supplies Service charge is usually part of this too, it's just on the contract that it gets singled out as part of the $pp. Then people think gratuity has been included.

Alina, yes - it is a catering definition.... but this is catering we're discussing. A service charge is almost always additional to the per person cost for food, drink and supplies. It's not gratuity.

It's a charge for service. Gratuity is a tip, service charge is a charge for the service portion of the contract. The hall is technically asking you to pay a charge for serving the food/drink/supplies you purchased per person. . The Maitre D' then gets a tip above and beyond, and sometimes splits this with the rest of the staff depending on their pay scale/set up. Same with the event planner, valets and sometimes the bar staff.

It's kind of like being charged a handling fee. If I buy something on Ebay I may be charged a handling fee (so that shipping and handling is more than the cost of actually shipping). I'm paying for the service of having someone wrap it up and take it to the post office basically.

Hope this makes it a little clearer, but - everyone should check directly with their hall because occassionally (but seldom), it can differ.

dmorris - where are you getting married?

and umm - the food/drinks/supplies are seriously NOT going to cost what I am paying per person!

I am not sure, and I may be a harsh judge.

If you go to a restaurant, you're not given separate charges for food, use of plates, or use of table cloth/napkins/utensils, etc.

I really think that the service charge is in fact gratuity, but mandatory kind.

And if my contract had a service charge, and I was paying taxes, I probably would not pay gratuity and would not give the matre'd/bridal attendant tips.

As far as I am concerned, you're over paying as it is b/c its a wedding, so nothing wrong with not paying extra, unless people totally went out of their way for you.

Most places include the service charge when they quote the $pp price. They should anyway, if they don't they're being shady.

But, it's when people look at the breakdown and see the service charge of 18% or so that they get confused and think it's gratuity (tips). Then they think the tips have been included in the $pp, which they have usually not (unless gratuity is added on top-which is not the norm).

We met w. the hall yesterday, and they said that our contract covers everyone (tips included) for all but the Maitre D (sp?) and the bridal attendant. But they wrote that the suggested tip for the maitre'd is $1-3 per guest, That would mean that he gets $150-$450 as a tip I think that is insane, I mean even if hes great, I highly doubt anyone can earn a $450 tip in five hours. THese wedding places are really nuts. Now I have no idea what to tip.

And, if I have to hear FH say 'why do we tip them? No one tips ME at MY job' one more time I will flip out

Julybride, I agree that the service charge is you paying for the service of food delivery, however, IMO, that's what tips are as well, especially given that they are almost mandatory in a lot of halls.

If tips were to reward excellent service above expectations, they would not be expected from every wedding, correct. Nor would people expect to pay them. But the way the restaurant industry has evolved in this country is such that tips are expected and have effectively become the 'service' charge for the waiting industry.

Therefore paying additional tips on top of the service charge should not be expected unless the waiter is literally 'wiping your mouth' and doing all other kinds of above expected service. For most of the halls you are already paying a premium for space and food that is above average, therefore you should be expecting above average/excellent service and should only tip (if service charge is included) if the hall went above your expectations.

I agree with your FH

I don't get a tip either & I serve my members everyday!

Alina,

It's your choice not to tip. I've read your opinions on tipping in general in several posts, and that's fine, but most people who are wondering about the service charge want to do what is the norm and want to make sure that the bridal attendant/maitre d' get a tip of some sort at the end of the day.

And, NO a service charge is NOT gratuity. Sorry, it's just not. Service is almost always included in the $pp price given, but is sometimes singled out when writing up the contract (I think due to union or other rules). A handful of places do add gratuity to the bill too, but most don't.

Some places (such as the Harrison House) give you a sheet explaining what is standard in who to tip and even a range of normal tipping amounts, others leave it up to you. And yes, we had a service charge as part of our $pp.

Most of the people wondering about this don't want to stiff anybody at the end of the day. We're not eating at restaurants on our wedding day, at least most of us, and our parties require a lot more work than a meal. You don't sign a contract to eat at a restaurant, so it's not as confusing.

If you don't want to tip, don't. We are all paying a lot for our weddings, but IMO if I can pay thousands for flowers and a dress, and so much for food, I can afford to tip the person bustling my dress all day or making sure I get to taste the meal at my wedding. JMO of course.

Most importantly, we can all talk about this all day - but the point is if you want to be sure - ASK YOUR CATERER to make sure you know what's included when you sign your contract.

Anyone who works for tips or has worked for tips knows how to tip!

I don't get a tip either, but most wait staff in restaurants don't make even minimum wage...it's not required to pay waitstaff more than a few dollars an hour. And, I don't work my ass off running around serving food and getting burns, sore feet and usually not very good health insurance.


Come on, we're all paying tens of thousands of dollars and we can't extend a little gratuity

I just called my reception hall. They said that the 18% pays tips for waitstaff/valets/bathroom attendants etc. It does not include Matre D', Bridal Attendant or Captain. They also told me that the 18% was not taxed.

YAY!!!

Funny thing is, my contract says 'Service Charge.'

I know everyone is being helpful, but I really think you should call your own reception hall and ask. It seems that every place is different.

Good Luck!

PS> My FI is growling about the extra tips. We can't even figure out what a 'Captain' is. Are we going on a boat ride??

Alina, asking the catering manager or the hall manager can't hurt. THEY don't get the tip!


And, most people want to make sure the staff gets a tip...esp. after seeing how hard they work all day or night, for their wedding. So - giving misinformation that the service charge is gratuity is not helping them.

No, the catering manager doesn't get a tip. I don't know how their salary is calculated. But in the end, its like asking the boss, if you should tip his employees. Why would he want to make less $$$ for them, if he has to deal with them and manage their work every weekend...

Does that make sense? Its like a captain standing up for his team mates.

The reason why I feel so strongly about the issue is b/c many russian restaurants have 'service' charge included and expect you to tip on top of that. And I am talking about regular restaurants.

Usually, its extra 10%, so if I am tipping plus doing 10% service charge, then effectively I am paying an average of 25-28% of tips, which IMO too much for just serving the food.