Tipping Vendors? and Thank You question!

Can't believe our wedding is on Saturday!

Does anyone know what the etiquette is for tipping vendors who work for themselves? All my vendors are the sole business owners and get the full amount of what I pay.

I was always told that it was rude to give owners tips..but I went to a salon not to long ago and the owner did my hair. When I went to leave someone commented about my not giving the owner a tip, and I honestly didn't think I was suppossed to since he is afterall the owner of the salon and doesn't just receive an hourly wage!

Just wondering if my vendors should also be receiving tips...I wasn't planning on doing it--but I am curious if this is common,. I do of course plan on tipping waitstaff.

Also, are thank you's mailed out after the wedding for gifts or are they mailed out immediately when the gift is received?

Thanks so much! Best of luck in all your planning :)

This is an exellent question- my thinking was the same as yours- dont tip the owner since they are already getting to keep the bulk of what you are paying.
On a side note, my limo company includes gratuity, but it is only 10% so we will likely give the driver a little bit extra since I dont think 10% is a very good tip.

This is a older post i saved:

http://www.liweddings.com/chat/topic.aspx?ID=691698&Highlight=tips

I have at least 2 vendors that are the owners and I am tipping them. They are still providing us a service. Also, even though they own the business they probably still have overhead (ie: rent, paying workers things along that line)

JMO