Wedding Planner Gratuity? Help please!
Hi, I need some advice on the wedding planner gratuity. Our wedding passed a couple of months ago, but it totally slipped our mind so we figure that if we're going to give it at all, we should do it now in time for the holidays....
My venue was not a reception hall and required a lot of vendor coordination, so I hired a wedding planner. I selected most of the vendors on my own, but she really held my hand to put it all together and really came through on the wedding day. The planning fee was quite hefty relative to our budget so I'm not sure if, and how much, we should pay for the gratuity. I saw a 10% guideline on many threads, but that would bring the gratuity to almost $1K. DH and I are at odds as to how much we should give, given the amount of the fee and the amount of work I put into it as well. I'm willing to pay more b/c she did a fantastic job (though def less than $1000), but DH disagrees and thinks we should give $200-300, especially since the tips we gave the other vendors were nowhere near 10-15%, more like $25-100 here and there, based on our planner's recommendations.
Also, she had an assistant who helped the entire time we were planning. Do we give her a separate tip or tip them together and expect the planner to split it as she sees fit? And what is the best method of payment if not cash (check, certified check, gift card?)
I know gratuities are always a confusing subject but I appreciate any help I can get. Thank you!!!
My venue was not a reception hall and required a lot of vendor coordination, so I hired a wedding planner. I selected most of the vendors on my own, but she really held my hand to put it all together and really came through on the wedding day. The planning fee was quite hefty relative to our budget so I'm not sure if, and how much, we should pay for the gratuity. I saw a 10% guideline on many threads, but that would bring the gratuity to almost $1K. DH and I are at odds as to how much we should give, given the amount of the fee and the amount of work I put into it as well. I'm willing to pay more b/c she did a fantastic job (though def less than $1000), but DH disagrees and thinks we should give $200-300, especially since the tips we gave the other vendors were nowhere near 10-15%, more like $25-100 here and there, based on our planner's recommendations.
Also, she had an assistant who helped the entire time we were planning. Do we give her a separate tip or tip them together and expect the planner to split it as she sees fit? And what is the best method of payment if not cash (check, certified check, gift card?)
I know gratuities are always a confusing subject but I appreciate any help I can get. Thank you!!!
