Tipping Tips

I found this of BBB website:


Tipping Tips: A Complete Gratuity Guide.

The last thing you want to be doing on the day of your wedding is scrambling to figure out who and how much to tip. For starters, you’ll want to have factored tipping costs into your overall budget well in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises. Secondly, you’ve got a lot of other things to think about that day, like having fun and enjoying your guests. You’ll find all the information you need to avoid wedding day tipping trauma listed below.

CEREMONY:

Priest, Minister, Rabbi, Justice of the Peace, Ship Captain, etc:
Tipping the person who marries you is a personal decision.Sometimes this individual will charge for his or her services. In that case, tipping 15-20% is fine to show extra appreciation. If a member of the clergy is marrying you and no fee is charged, it is appropriate to make a donation to whatever religious institution he or she is affiliated with.



Note: The hosts (the person paying for the wedding – bride & groom) should pick up any travel, hotel, or other incremental costs for the ceremony officiant.

Organist: If you will be married in a church, tipping the organist should be done at your discretion.


RECEPTION:

Caterer, club or hotel banquet manager: Tip 15-20% of the food and drink bill (just 10% of the bill is appropriate if there is also a maitre d’hotel). The reception host may be asked to pay the bill in advance. If gratuities are not covered the host or wedding consultant pays in an envelope during the reception.

Photographer, makeup artist, hairdresser, videographer, etc: It is not necessary to tip these vendors, as they are charging for their services. With that said, if you think these people did a fantastic job, and you want to show appreciation, feel free to tip whatever you want, especially if they work with an agency and will be paying the agency part of what you paid them.

Maitre d’hotel: Tip15-20% of the food and drink bill, or $1.50-$5.00 per guest. The reception host or wedding consultant pays the tip in an envelope near the end of the reception.

Waiters, waitresses, table captains: Wait staff is usually not tipped directly. The maitre d’ often divides his tip with the staff.

Bartenders: Tip 10% of the total liquor bill. The reception host or wedding consultant offers an envelope near the end of the reception.

Powder room and coatroom attendants: Tip $.50-$1.00 per guest, or arrange a gratuity with the hotel or club management. The reception host or wedding consultant should pay in advance, so that the appropriate sign,'gratuities have been arranged by the host,' can be displayed.

Parking attendants: Tip $.50-$1.00 per car, or arrange a gratuity with the hotel or club management. The reception host should pay in advance, so guests will not be expected to pay.

Limousine driver(s): Tip 15-20% of the total limousine bill. The host or wedding consultant tips the driver(s) at the reception site.

Delivery drivers for florist, baker, etc.: Tip $5.00-$10.00 each. The host or wedding consultant tips the drivers at the delivery site(s).

Musicians or DJ: This is optional. If you choose, tip $20.00-$25.00 each. The reception host or wedding consultant offers in envelopes at the end of the reception.



And remember, tipping is a personal expression of gratitude for gracious and efficient service. The suggestions given above are only guidelines and apply when gratuities are not included in the bill. If you are unsure whether gratuities are covered, or if you’re still confused about who and how much to tip, just ask.

Re: Tipping Tips

Thanks! This was very helpful! I was going to post about the same topic and now you answered all my questions!

Kelly

Re: Tipping Tips

You're welcome, although i'd suggest you use your own judgement and not necessary follow these tips unless its what you want to do.
Happy Planning (Hi Shamma! lol)

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THANK YOU
cleared up a lot of my questions......

Re: Tipping Tips

Thanks for the info!!

x

x!

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Go Jenn...and you gave me credit for my phrase...LOL you are too much...that was a good find tho' I am sure it will help to clarify a lot for a lot of people!!!

Re: Tipping Tips

Thank you!! I'm printing that out!!!

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Thanks for the 'tips'. Remember tipping is only when people do 'above and beyond' and make your day go well. YOu do not have to tip a vendor that arrives late, is disorganized or makes you crazy that day.

Re: Tipping Tips

Michelle you are so right...could not have said it better myself...why tip if a tip is not earned?? just b/c it is expected??

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Thanks so much!! I gotta go through the bills & add up how much my 'appreciation' is gonna cost me!

Kinda makes you wish people do a crummy job...

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boy did I over tip. I wish I had seen this 3 weeks ago.

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I disagree with the tipping proceduce reguarding the photographer and videographer. These guys are with you the longest out of anyone!!!!!!!! When all is said and done will you remember the cake cutting song? No but the video will let you hear it. What about that special pitcure that you make a 16x20 and hanging up for all to see. Let's not forget these hard working folks and show them just how much our memories mean!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Tipping Tips

I plan on tipping my photographers along with many of my other vendors, however... ALL OF OUR VENDORS are being paid a ransom amount of money to perform these services for us. Gratuities should only be given when a vendor goes above and beyond their duties - not just completes them as agreed.

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I agree 100%...but you still tip a limo driver his 20% even if the service was not up to par...It's written in their contract!!!! All I'm saying is these guys do the most work and are often overlooked by other vendors who make it noted that they need 20% tip>>>>>>>>>>>

Re: Tipping Tips - Photographers & Videoagraphers

If tipping is based on performance , how do you know how good the pictures or video are?? yes they will be with us all day, but we are paying them, feeding them and gratuities are going to the assistants (photog & video guy are working for themselves). I will happily give them a tip when I see some of their output (proofs or raw video footage) but I don't know if it's necessary to tip them the night of the wedding.

I agree these are VERY important vendors that will be instumental in us remembering this day, but what if the cameras break and we end up with a blank video and awful pictures with crucial memory shots missed?

Re: Tipping Tips - Photographers & Videoagraphers

Honey I think you better do some serious research for your Photographer/Videographer. If you have that kind of outlook maybe you should hire your Uncle Joe with the Browine camera and his little 8mm video camera. These guys are professionals with their career and reputation on the line. Most of the time you never get the owner of the studio to do your wedding their sub-contract the work out and thesae guys work for 1/2 the amount the studio gets

Re: Tipping Tips - Photographers & Videoagraphers

I will add that Im not tipping my limo driver 20% - im paying extortion. They can call it what they like but when 20% is added to my bill without my consent - that is not a gratuity or tip - it is part of the bill. If it were up to me - I certainly would give a guy who is going to be spending 3 hours with me, $300!! Would you?

Same goes for any other vendor that includes a 'service charge', gratuity or tip. Its all BS.

In my case, I fully expect certain vendors (including photographers) to go above and beyond so I have budgeted a generous tip - but that is only because they have treated me well all along.

Re: Tipping Tips - Photographers & Videoagraphers

I'm not your honey. I am saying things happen beyond anyones control. And rest assured I KNOW who is taking pictures and videos at out wedding.

Re: Tipping Tips - Photographers & Videoagraphers

Firsttimer: I realize you may be new to the planning but you will all share in our disguist with the wedding industry pricing standards at large once you have spent the next year planning your wedding and seeing first hand (and wallet) how most vendors try to get every dollar possible out of a bride under the auspcious of wedding bliss.

Guess what? That limo, that catering hall, that dress, that (insert any vendor here) is charging you a heft premium for whatever service they provide PURELY because they know they can.

Come back in a year and see if you have the same opinion about tipping as you do now.

PS: Being rude to brides here is unnecessary. Christine was just expressing her opinion just as you were. Condescending terms like 'honey' and insulting her choices is uncalled for in my opinion.