The basic tipping guide
Here is a long, but detailed reason on why and who you should tip at your reception hall.
The people who will make or break your wedding are the maitre d and the service staff. I was a maitre d for a small country club for a year. When there is an event, I spend 4 to 5 hours setting up an entire room the way THEY wanted it. Round tables, rectangular, oval..ect...10 people by this window, 12 at the table, 8 on this table...maitre d make sure that the room is set up perfectly, your favors are put out, the flowers are centered, the tableclothes are clean and ironed. Then after 4 hours of making sure all of that is done, along with shining the silverware, and glossing every glass! We spend another 6 hours waiting hand and foot and making sure everyone is happy. Maitre d is in charge of making sure the food is cooked properly, the temperature of your meat is correct, the food goes out hot and on time. Getting 14 tables of 10 out all at the same time is not easy, thats why some halls cant do it, but a good maitred can make it so everyone eats at the same time. The maitre d then goes around to each table and asks if everything is okay, or if anyone wants seconds! The maitre d is in charge of the rest of the wait staff as well, timing out the cake, the icecream bar, chocolate fountain...everything must be timed correctly. If you think that the amount that you tipped in your constract is enough..its probably NOT...2$ a person is the bare minimum. The maitre d spends on average..20 hours preparing for your wedding. They are in charge of ordering your food, the cake, setting up your place cards, and dont forget the laverish diplay at your cocktail hour, the maitre d is usually also in charge of having the proper amount of waitstaff on so you have a successful wedding. Edited...Please read other posts! Thanks girls!
Also, ask your hall...usually the *service charge* is NOT gratuity. I was surprised to realized that the 2000 was not to tip my waitstaff!!
*
Bridal attendant! This is important. The bridal attendant gets paid minimum wage and works side by side with the maitre d to assure that the bride and groom get superior service. The bridal attendant also keeps an eye out on immediate family. Anything you need you should be able to call on your attendant. My attendant was my side partner thoughout my entire wedding! And that is their job! My experience, the average tip was 150$
(Which is what an average good server makes on a saturday night waitering at a local busy resturaunt, this is your WEDDING!)
When I go to someone elses wedding. If I see that someone is going above and beyond such as wrapping up something to go for the table, offering seconds on coffee, asking if we need anything and bring us our cocktails, I will tip as a guest. Even 5 dollars a person from one table can make a waiters night!
The Bartender!!! Im sorry but please dont go to a wedding and NOT expecet to have to tip the bartender!! Most of the time....bride and grooms will forget about the bartenders. Bring with you some singles and tip at least 1 dollar a drink! Personally, if you can spend the money on gas and a gift to go to a wedding, I believe you have a few bucks to tip.
The bathroom attendant...if there is one...its a nice gesture. Check with your hall and see if you will be having one of these. Bride and Groom, please remember to tip this person. They get paid minimum wage to sit in a bathroom and make sure its clean! Most of the time guests will not tip.
People who are having valet service, Yes weddings are expensive, and over all you will be shelling out alot of money in tips...but this is how it works. Guests are usually the people who tip the valet service. You can do it differently and tip the valet before hand and tell them NOT to accept tips from the guests. So guests please remember to tip the valet service.
Remember to say thank you, its a busy day, but as bride and groom, on your way out, go up to your maitr d and thank him/her, do the same to the bridal attendant. I gave my bridal attendant a hug and said thank you....she looked at me and told me how nice it was, and not many people take the time out to say thank you!!!
Remember to send a thank you to your hall! If there was something you did NOT like, tell the owner, or the person in charge, so that it doesnt happen to someone else on their wedding day![]()
If I forgot anyone in reguards to the hall, please let me know and I will add!
The people who will make or break your wedding are the maitre d and the service staff. I was a maitre d for a small country club for a year. When there is an event, I spend 4 to 5 hours setting up an entire room the way THEY wanted it. Round tables, rectangular, oval..ect...10 people by this window, 12 at the table, 8 on this table...maitre d make sure that the room is set up perfectly, your favors are put out, the flowers are centered, the tableclothes are clean and ironed. Then after 4 hours of making sure all of that is done, along with shining the silverware, and glossing every glass! We spend another 6 hours waiting hand and foot and making sure everyone is happy. Maitre d is in charge of making sure the food is cooked properly, the temperature of your meat is correct, the food goes out hot and on time. Getting 14 tables of 10 out all at the same time is not easy, thats why some halls cant do it, but a good maitred can make it so everyone eats at the same time. The maitre d then goes around to each table and asks if everything is okay, or if anyone wants seconds! The maitre d is in charge of the rest of the wait staff as well, timing out the cake, the icecream bar, chocolate fountain...everything must be timed correctly. If you think that the amount that you tipped in your constract is enough..its probably NOT...2$ a person is the bare minimum. The maitre d spends on average..20 hours preparing for your wedding. They are in charge of ordering your food, the cake, setting up your place cards, and dont forget the laverish diplay at your cocktail hour, the maitre d is usually also in charge of having the proper amount of waitstaff on so you have a successful wedding. Edited...Please read other posts! Thanks girls!
Also, ask your hall...usually the *service charge* is NOT gratuity. I was surprised to realized that the 2000 was not to tip my waitstaff!!
*
Bridal attendant! This is important. The bridal attendant gets paid minimum wage and works side by side with the maitre d to assure that the bride and groom get superior service. The bridal attendant also keeps an eye out on immediate family. Anything you need you should be able to call on your attendant. My attendant was my side partner thoughout my entire wedding! And that is their job! My experience, the average tip was 150$
(Which is what an average good server makes on a saturday night waitering at a local busy resturaunt, this is your WEDDING!)
When I go to someone elses wedding. If I see that someone is going above and beyond such as wrapping up something to go for the table, offering seconds on coffee, asking if we need anything and bring us our cocktails, I will tip as a guest. Even 5 dollars a person from one table can make a waiters night!
The Bartender!!! Im sorry but please dont go to a wedding and NOT expecet to have to tip the bartender!! Most of the time....bride and grooms will forget about the bartenders. Bring with you some singles and tip at least 1 dollar a drink! Personally, if you can spend the money on gas and a gift to go to a wedding, I believe you have a few bucks to tip.
The bathroom attendant...if there is one...its a nice gesture. Check with your hall and see if you will be having one of these. Bride and Groom, please remember to tip this person. They get paid minimum wage to sit in a bathroom and make sure its clean! Most of the time guests will not tip.
People who are having valet service, Yes weddings are expensive, and over all you will be shelling out alot of money in tips...but this is how it works. Guests are usually the people who tip the valet service. You can do it differently and tip the valet before hand and tell them NOT to accept tips from the guests. So guests please remember to tip the valet service.
Remember to say thank you, its a busy day, but as bride and groom, on your way out, go up to your maitr d and thank him/her, do the same to the bridal attendant. I gave my bridal attendant a hug and said thank you....she looked at me and told me how nice it was, and not many people take the time out to say thank you!!!
Remember to send a thank you to your hall! If there was something you did NOT like, tell the owner, or the person in charge, so that it doesnt happen to someone else on their wedding day
If I forgot anyone in reguards to the hall, please let me know and I will add!
