sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
Peanutbutterandjelly
Posted:
Member since
sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
Hi~ this is my first time posting but I have found this site the most helpful so far!
I have a question about service charges and tipping. My catering hall has told me that the service charge is not the gratuity for the wait staff and that the maitre d tips them from the money he is given at the end of the night.
It was suggested, because of this, that we tip the maitre d anywhere from 1200 to 1500 dollars. The hall is already has a much higher per person price than we had hoped to pay, and there aren't any extras included, because of their reputation. Is this the normal going rate? Also, who else is going to need a big tip?
Thanks!
eelharas4700
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
well i know that the staff doesnt see any of it....youd think that after all the fees and extras theyd get some of that. i know we planned on tipping the bartenders too....i know theyll deserve it when we come through!
Peanutbutterandjelly
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
Could you share how much you are tipping your maitre d and the bartenders? Also, the bridal attendants?
We will have @150-200 people there. It seems most people tip 3-6$ per person and give that to the maitre d...
Peanutbutterandjelly
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
that is so funny..yeah I guess our bartenders will derserve it as well..maybe more than the maitre d!
eelharas4700
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
im not really sure on what we will tip. i know fh is a good tipper, when they really help us. it was suggested by our rh $2-$3 per guest for maitre d. but sometimes they go WAY out of their way and they deserve more....so i think it depends. sorry i couldnt be much help!
Pencils
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
I was told that the service charge WAS the gratuity for the wait staff, but the maitre d doesn't share in that so you have to tip him separately. I don't understand that, but it's OK. However, if you're paying 18% on top of your fees for the hall, and it's not for the wait staff, ask them who does get that money. If it's not for the wait staff, then who? I can understand if there's separate caterers you're bringing in from outside, then their workers aren't being tipped. But then the RH shouldn't be charging you the service fee. It's a lot of money!
I think you need to talk to your RH, it sounds to me as if you're being ripped off. The only reason to add a service fee is to make sure that the wait staff gets tipped--after all, it's a wedding, the guests don't tip indivually.
Captsarkasm
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
I have heard rumors that my hall gives the same 'Suggestion' when you get closer to the day. Personally, I think it will depend on the day. At the end of my wedding, if i've had little to no issues, then yes, i'm going to be more generous. Am I going to be opening my cards just so I can pay off the Staff....Hellz no....but i'll tip based on what I think they deserve.
acsm
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
from what i remember from visiting RHs and the one i picked the 'service charge' was either 18 or 20%...it seemed if the hall was in suffolk the charge was less! who knows... anyways the woman we worked with said that there is a tip for the maitre'd of like $300(something around that could be less) and then we should tip an additional $2-$3 pp to be distributed to the staff... the service charge is assessed to cover the staffs pay...
but $1500 seems a bit high to me... i would get more clarfication on that...
hth
blu6385
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
my hall automatically includes a matred fee ,,, do you think i have to tip on top of that???
greenfreak
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
If you do a search on tipping, there are tons of threads. I've seen brides pay anywhere from $1-$5 per person on the MD.
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
Thanks everyone! All the comments were helpful...
From what I was told the service gratuities do pay the waitstaff but it pays their regular salary ~they no longer make less and have to rely completely on tips. We are paying 20 percent service charge which also gets taxed and we have a minimum of 150 guests on a Friday night.
I do not mind tipping, especially if the service was good. Yet, 1200-1500 seems a lot.
I am just trying to stay with our budget and this is going to add to it significantly. Especially, since there are so many people to tip, and the rates increase for everything as soon as you even utter the word wedding.
I was just wondering if anyone else has been told to tip this much?
I have a feeling I may have upset our contact at the hall. She actually told me she is giving me a low figure and usually the maitre d gets tipped much more!
AeroJenn
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
Posted by blu6385
my hall automatically includes a matred fee ,,, do you think i have to tip on top of that???
CLM will tell you as you get closer that you should tip the maitre'd $2-$3 per person on top of the maitre'd fee because the maitre'd doesnt see most of that money. HOWEVER -- FH and I are NOT doing this because IMO if you call it a maitre'd fee and it doesnt go to the maitre'd....thats their problem, not mine. Plus, we're paying an 18% gratuity, which is a lot of money as it is.
Personally, I feel that these RHs are getting away with a TON of money and if they're charging a percentage of gratuity/service fee, they shouldnt be gettign any more money on top of that. JMHO.
Espo22
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
Well they put it in our contract that the maitre'd gets $300...another place we went to also had told us that it would've been $300...Anything after that is tip that you decide how much to leave, they can't tell you how much tip you HAVE to leave...First you need to see how they do before you can even determine that. They can suggest to you what others normally leave, what the norm is...but they cant tell you what you HAVE to leave to the waitstaff either.
Trishthedish
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
Posted by Espo22
Well they put it in our contract that the maitre'd gets $300...another place we went to also had told us that it would've been $300...Anything after that is tip that you decide how much to leave, they can't tell you how much tip you HAVE to leave...First you need to see how they do before you can even determine that. They can suggest to you what others normally leave, what the norm is...but they cant tell you what you HAVE to leave to the waitstaff either.
I too am having my reception at Jericho Terrace and did not notice it says that on the contract. My BM suggested we tip $800 - $1,000 for the maitre'd and the bridal attendant. My father thinks that is too much money and only wants to tip like $500. I am hoping he will change his mind and want to tip a little more. In my opinion, $800 seems like a lot though for a minimum of 165 people. I am going to suggest to my dad to do about $3.50 per person for the final headcount.
blu6385
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
Posted by AeroJenn
Posted by blu6385
my hall automatically includes a matred fee ,,, do you think i have to tip on top of that???
CLM will tell you as you get closer that you should tip the maitre'd $2-$3 per person on top of the maitre'd fee because the maitre'd doesnt see most of that money. HOWEVER -- FH and I are NOT doing this because IMO if you call it a maitre'd fee and it doesnt go to the maitre'd....thats their problem, not mine. Plus, we're paying an 18% gratuity, which is a lot of money as it is.
Personally, I feel that these RHs are getting away with a TON of money and if they're charging a percentage of gratuity/service fee, they shouldnt be gettign any more money on top of that. JMHO.
i feel the same way ... i didnt really plan on tipping anybody at the RH .. well maybe my bridal attendant if i get one ... why am i apying 18% gratiude if i need to tip on top of that ... also you dont tip till the end of the night so if i dont its not like they can ruin anything
Peanutbutterandjelly
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
Peanutbutterandjelly
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
Actually, I am expecting the best hopefully. They do have a reputation and no matter how bridezilla I get I think it will still work out. We do have guests looking for places to have their wedding next year...
Does anyone else feel themselves turning into Bridezilla?
Marchbride07
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
Posted by Peanutbutterandjelly
Actually, I am expecting the best hopefully. They do have a reputation and no matter how bridezilla I get I think it will still work out. We do have guests looking for places to have their wedding next year...
Does anyone else feel themselves turning into Bridezilla?
YEs! I am definitely turning into a bridezilla!
Peanutbutterandjelly
Posted:
Member since
Re: sounds strange to me..question about service gratuity and tipping
Oh good I was beginning to feel it was just me....thanks...
