Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

OctBride03 Posted: Mar 11, 2003 10:23 AM

Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

Thought I'd post this since so many of us are not sure what is the customary way of tipping the day of... I thought this might help!

GRATUITIES
As always, gratuities are not mandatory nor expected, but well appreciated. These are some guidelines for tipping. Keep in mind that these are very general guidelines; One can tip higher or lower according to his or her own discretion regarding budget, price of service, size of service, and quality of service.

BANDS
Please use your own discretion and remember that the gratuity will be split equally among all members of the band. A general guideline is 10% or $25 - $50 per man.

DISC JOCKEY
It is customary to tip $50 - $100 per man- (DJ, MC, etc.)

LIMOUSINES
Usually, a minimum gratuity is included in the price. If you feel your service has gone above and beyond, a further tip is much appreciated.

PHOTOGRAPHERS/VIDEOGRAPHERS
It is usually customary to tip $50 -$100 per photographer and per videographer, and $25 - $50 per assistant or helper.

FLOWERS
While many consider this gratuity to be strictly up to the client, a good rule of thumb lies somewhere between 5% and 10%.

HAIR & MAKE-UP
Generally, 15% and higher is customary.

NancyC Posted: Mar 11, 2003 10:29 AM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

Oh No I did not know you have to tip those people I thought only the Matre D at the reception Hall.....

shelzyp Posted: Mar 11, 2003 10:37 AM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

Why don't places work this into their prices, more or less you have to tip everyone, I think tipping in general has gotten way out of hand, like at Starbucks they want a tip, how bout not charging me 4.00 for coffee, and then I would give you a tip!!! Sorry just needed to vent.

OctBride03 Posted: Mar 11, 2003 10:39 AM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

I know!!! It's a lot to think about!!! I'm not sure how I'm going to handle this yet...

Shelzy - you have me chuckling here! I know exactly how you feel! lol!

nylisa Posted: Mar 11, 2003 11:17 AM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

Lauren: thanks for this post. I actually just printed it out so that I have it for a reference for when it comes time for me to set up my tip envelopes.

Niecey Posted: Mar 11, 2003 11:20 AM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

I have to tell you the tipping part gets sickening. It is the type of thing often you forget to include in your budget and it adds up. I think our tips were at least $1,200 in total. (PS I am all for tipping people and tipping generous - but this many tips and all at once - wow!!!)

The week before the wedding Lou and I were trying to figure it all out and put it into envelopes and I thought he was going to have a hard attack.

michele31 Posted: Mar 11, 2003 11:28 AM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

THis is NOT based on NY prices at all
PHOTOGRAPHERS/VIDEOGRAPHERS
It is usually customary to tip $50 -$100 per photographer and per videographer, and $25 - $50 per assistant or helper

I would never have given my photographers only $100 each. They were with me 11am-11pm. Often these 'tip sheets' are based similar to those 'budget' sheets like theknot.com has. The knot.com said that with a $20K budget I should have the wedding of my dreams! So just consider the source of the information. What applies to brides in Michigan, doesn't always apply to brides in NY, San Franciso, Boston or LA.

ssdare Posted: Mar 11, 2003 11:32 AM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

OctBride03: Could you tell us where you got this information? Just wanted to make sure it's applicable to this area. Thanks.

mmm Posted: Mar 11, 2003 11:54 AM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

I thought the florist was one person you did not have to tip?

OctBride03 Posted: Mar 11, 2003 11:54 AM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

I got this from the Scotto Brothers Perfect Wedding Planner website... so I'm assuming it would be correct information for the NY area....

I just posted this as a reference for you ladies, NOT something to be followed exactly...

Also, I do not frequent any other wedding sites other than LIW or the Scotto's site, to ensure that my information is pretty much pertaining to this area....

shelzyp Posted: Mar 11, 2003 12:01 PM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

A photographer that I know of, when I asked him about this, he had said instead of feeding the asst, give the assistant $50 instead, they would rather the money then the food, becasue they will eat at the cocktail hour. So I think $50 for the photography asistant is reasonable. Also don't you not have to tip anyone that owns the business?

OctBride03 Posted: Mar 11, 2003 12:03 PM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

I also heard that you don't HAVE to tip owners of their own companies, however, I probably will... I think I heard somewhere that they are not supposed to ACCEPT it...

7-11 Posted: Mar 11, 2003 12:11 PM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

that is what im curious about, owners. my dj and photographer are both the owners. did most of you tip owners?

Niecey Posted: Mar 11, 2003 12:12 PM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

mmm- I tipped the florist delivery people. They not only deliver your flowers to your home but they also setup you church/ceremony flowers and centerpieces at the hall.

shelzyp Posted: Mar 11, 2003 12:15 PM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

I guess the better question was who does not get a tip?

Hopefully I don't have to tip my grandmother!! JK!

OctBride03 Posted: Mar 11, 2003 12:22 PM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

Shelzy, I think you have to tip everyone.... excluding Grandma of course!

Niecey Posted: Mar 11, 2003 12:22 PM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

shel- thath was my DH's exact reaction!

shelzyp Posted: Mar 11, 2003 12:23 PM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

What about my parents?

eroxgirl Posted: Mar 11, 2003 12:23 PM

Re: Hey! I just found this! Re: Gratuity!

Honestly, this whole tip thing gets to me... I'm paying you thousands of dollars to do something and now I have to throw another hundred your way to ensure that you do what I already paid you to do! Just feel like complaining.