How to Tip Your Vendors

As with any service industry, tips are not required, but are greatly appreciated. Use this as a general guideline for how to plan your wedding budget and include tips for your vendors. 

Don’t forget! All vendors love good reviews. Whether you plan to tip or not, carve out time post-wedding to leave feedback and write reviews. This not only helps your wedding vendors, but also future couples.

HOW DO I DISTRIBUTE TIPS BEFORE, ON, AND AFTER MY WEDDING DAY? 

Some couples love to hand deliver their thank you notes and tips, but often couples get caught up in the day and the tip envelopes get forgotten. If you’re worried about making sure the envelopes get where they need to go, your coordinator would be happy to keep track and deliver them at the end of the night after services are completed. Let your coordinator know ahead of time and we can keep track of your envelopes starting at your rehearsal or the morning of your wedding.

HOW DO I TIP? 

We recommend gifting cash in an envelope accompanied by a hand-written card. Some vendors factor the gratuity into your invoice **make sure to check each invoice before deciding on your tip amount**. If gratuity is included on your invoice, no need to feel obligated to tip more. Some vendors will include an optional gratuity option on their virtual invoices OR if you forget to tip, you can always mail a thank you after the event! It’s never too late! 

HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP? 

You’re welcome to go by the typical 15-25% rule for tipping! If that’s overwhelming to you (some of those bills are quite large), a simple $100, $50 or $20 bill can go a long way. Here are the typical industry guidelines regarding tipping… 

Caterer

Expected and appreciated-15-25%. Check your invoice before tipping the night of. Almost all caterers build gratuity into their invoices and it is not expected to tip in addition if they have. If it is not added to the invoice, expect to give a tip at the end of the night. You do not need to count and individually tip all servers as the catering manager or owner will divide the tip between the team members.

Bartender

Expected and appreciated-15-25%. Check your invoice before tipping  the night of. Some bartenders build gratuity into their invoice, but many do not. If not, expect to give the night of. Many bartenders will put out a tip jar for guests to tip as well. The couple/event hosts are expected to tip on top of guest tips. 

Hair + Makeup

Expected and appreciated-15-20%. Typically given when service is completed before they leave the site. Some hair + makeup artists will have their Venmo information available, otherwise cash is acceptable.  Since hair and makeup artists leave early in the day, expect to tip them (or have your coordinator do it) before they leave after services are complete. 

Photographers/videographers

Customary and appreciated.  If you choose to tip, usually a custom cash amount given at the end of the night.  

DJ + Musician

Customary and appreciated.  If you choose to tip, usually a custom cash amount given at the end of the night.  

Planners/Coordinators

Customary and appreciated.  If you choose to tip, usually a custom cash amount given at the end of the night.

Bakers

Not expected, appreciated. If you want to, a small custom amount can be given. Usually would be sent with initial payment or after the event because bakers are only on site for a short period of time doing delivery.

Rental or linen companies

Not expected, appreciated. If you choose to tip, usually tip cash to delivery drivers. 

Florists

Not expected, appreciated. If you choose to tip, usually a custom cash amount when they deliver, or sent after the event. 

Venue and support staff

Not expected, appreciated. If you choose to tip, you would typically tip the venue manager or owner directly and they would distribute to the team.