How Much Should I Tip My Wedding Vendors?
Do you tip wedding vendors? Tipping your wedding vendors is not expected or mandatory. You should give them a tip if you’ve received excellent service. It is a case-by-case decision influenced by several factors, like your budget and level of satisfaction.
Some wedding vendors include a gratuity or service fee in their invoices or contract. A rule of thumb is to give tips to vendors who provide the service instead of the business owner.
What Is a Customary Tip for Wedding Vendors?
At a minimum, tip the service staff $20-$100 per person and higher-tier vendors $50-$500 per person. You can also base the tips on 20% of the overall contract and take a lump-sum approach. This delivers a single amount to each team’s manager.
But don’t feel pressured to tip your wedding vendors, especially if the following suggestions are more than you can afford.
Expected Tips
Makeup Artists and Hairstylists
- Amount: 15-20%
- Timing: At the end of your service
Officiant
- Amount: $50-$100 tip, a $100-$500 donation, or a gift
- Timing: At the rehearsal or rehearsal dinner
Delivery + Setup (Tent, Flowers, Wedding Cake, or Larger Rentals)
- Amount: $15-$20 per person
- Timing: Upon delivery
Based on Contract Tips
- Transportation
- Amount: 15-20%
Timing: Upon pickup or after the last ride
Bartenders
- Amount: 10-20%
- Timing: At the end of the reception
Venue Staff or Attendants
- Amount: $1-$2 per guest or per car for parking valets
- Timing: at the beginning of the reception
Catering Staff
- Amount: Cash tip or 15-20% of food and beverage bill
- Timing: at the end of the reception
Cash Tips for Catering Staff:
- Wait and Kitchen Staff: $20 each
- Head Chef: $50-$100
- Head Waiter/Banquet Manager/Catering: $100-$300 each
Optional Tips
Photographer/Videographer
- Amount: $50-$200 each
- Timing: At the end of the reception
DJ/Musicians
- Amount: $15$50 per musician, or 10-15% of the total bill
- Timing: At the end of their performance
Photo Booth Attendant
- Amount: $50-$100
- Timing: At the end of the reception
Floral Designer
- Amount: $50-$150 or 10-15% of the total bill
- Timing: Upon delivery or setup or at the end of the reception
Wedding Planner/Coordinator
- Amount: Up to $500 each or 15-20% of their fee
- Timing: At the end of the reception
What are the Pointers for Wedding Vendor Tipping?
Understand Vendor Contracts
Tipping is already accounted for if vendors include a gratuity in their fees. So you don’t need to give them additional tips. Clarify any uncertainties with the vendors to prevent confusion.
Prepare Tips in Advance
Pull out cash and put the appropriate amount into a labeled envelope before your wedding. You can assign a trusted person to hand the tips throughout the event.
Leave Online Reviews
Leaving positive reviews for your wedding vendors on websites like The Knot, WeddingWire, or Yelp is an excellent way to show appreciation. Share your positive experiences and recommend their services to other couples.
Share Photos
Another way to thank your vendors is by sharing your wedding’s professional photos. You can get permission from your photographer to share these images. Planners, stationers, cake bakers, and florists often need images of their work for marketing materials.
While these guidelines are helpful, you can adjust the amounts based on your budget, the level of service received, and your relationship with the wedding vendors.
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