What does the Reception gratutity actually go towards...

Corduroy94 Posted: Apr 16, 2004 03:02 PM

What does the Reception gratutity actually go towards...

My friends brother has a job parking cars at Westbury Mannor. He said they get their paycheck and whatever tips guests give them - but they never see anything from what's 'included' in the 17% grat. He said same goes for bartenders.

What does this HUGE chunk of $$ cover?

I'm tipping the maitre 'd, bridal attendant, & now valet & bar (so there are no tip cups & guests don't pull out their wallets)...

...it seems like we pay ALL this $$ plus built in grats. & still have to pay more $$...ughh

Oh! And when I called Fox Hollow they said the vallet, waiters, bar staff... is all included?

I'm so confused!

brooklynbridezilla Posted: Apr 16, 2004 03:07 PM

Re: What does the RH gratutity actually go towards...

I am confused about this issue as well. I called my RH and asked if it is customary to tip the waitstaff and bartenders, in addition to the 17% gratuity. They said no, it goes to the staff. However, waiters I have known tell me that they do NOT see this in their checks....

I don't want to tip twice, but would feel awful if the waitstaff got shortchanged.

Rebecca

cfd28 Posted: Apr 16, 2004 03:09 PM

Re: What does the Reception gratutity actually go towards...

I agree with you.
I also wondered this and I've also heard that when you tip the maitre D, the waiters don't see any of that money-

KarenB Posted: Apr 16, 2004 03:13 PM

Re: What does the Reception gratutity actually go towards...

I called my hall and they said all tips are included. I'm not sure what I'm doing to do as far as further tipping.

MegLehner Posted: Apr 16, 2004 06:50 PM

Re: What does the Reception gratutity actually go towards...

Grat a lot of time goes to pay the servers salaries.

exotica776 Posted: Apr 16, 2004 07:10 PM

Re: What does the Reception gratutity actually go towards...

17%??? mine is 18%, and as per my hall.... it goes towards their 'overhead'. I think its BS. so we have to tip the maitre de, who will divide it amongst whomever, and the bridal attendant and i guess everyone else too!!!!

tinkerb30 Posted: Apr 16, 2004 07:13 PM

Re: What does the Reception gratutity actually go towards...

a good friend of mine worked for the Scotto Bros. at the WM. She said they treat their staff HORRIBLY and they never see any of the money. This steered me away from using any of their establishments.

tinkerb30 Posted: Apr 16, 2004 07:14 PM

Re: What does the Reception gratutity actually go towards...

Posted by tinkerb30

a good friend of mine worked for the Scotto Bros. at the WM. She said they treat their staff HORRIBLY and they never see any of the money. This steered me away from using any of their establishments.

It goes to their greedy pockets

Vicky1706 Posted: Apr 16, 2004 07:15 PM

Re: What does the Reception gratutity actually go towards...

My family and I actually had this same conversation on Easter. My sisters boyfriend works for a few catering halls, he is mostly a waiter but sometmies is the MD...he said that waiters see NOTHING of that gratuity money and that waiters wished more people would tip the waiters individually rather than pay the 18%. My aunt suggested I call Fox HOllow and see if they would change it so I wouldn't have to pay THEM the bulk amount and could distribute it myself to the waiters/bartenders etc.

I thought about it...and unfortunatly for the workers I am not going to do it. I feel bad that they work so hard and all but I don't want to have one more thing to worry abou tthat day...I don't want to rock the boat w/ Fox Hollow and my contract and I don't want to have to delegate the responsibility of tipping every songle waiter and staff that helps. FH said 'let someone else take a stand for all the waiters, why does it have to be us' and I kind of agreed with him. Hope that helps!

Julestrd Posted: Apr 16, 2004 07:15 PM

Re: What does the Reception gratutity actually go towards...

Oh my goodness after hearing all this I feel like I should be sitting there watching them divvy up the money correctly. I also feel like now I need to hand each individual their tip instead of giving it as a whole.

MegLehner Posted: Apr 16, 2004 07:22 PM

Re: What does the Reception gratutity actually go towards...

Posted by Uloveit22

My family and I actually had this same conversation on Easter. My sisters boyfriend works for a few catering halls, he is mostly a waiter but sometmies is the MD...he said that waiters see NOTHING of that gratuity money and that waiters wished more people would tip the waiters individually rather than pay the 18%. My aunt suggested I call Fox HOllow and see if they would change it so I wouldn't have to pay THEM the bulk amount and could distribute it myself to the waiters/bartenders etc.

I thought about it...and unfortunatly for the workers I am not going to do it. I feel bad that they work so hard and all but I don't want to have one more thing to worry abou tthat day...I don't want to rock the boat w/ Fox Hollow and my contract and I don't want to have to delegate the responsibility of tipping every songle waiter and staff that helps. FH said 'let someone else take a stand for all the waiters, why does it have to be us' and I kind of agreed with him. Hope that helps!

Thats not very nice. One of the most important thing to make sure your guests really enjoy your day is the service. If the bartender or waiters suck - so does your wedding. People complain about the xtra cost all the time. I think they should take the $ away from the cheap favors that people are just going to throw away anyway. Delegate the job to your BM (thats supposed to be one of his jobs anyway). or dad.