Catering Tip - No Staff

Hi ATalley! I’d recommend tipping at least 20%. That is typically the best option when it comes to tipping in my opinion. Especially if they are preparing the food for everyone, if you want to give a little more you can. It’s totally on you

When it comes to tipping just always adhere to the standard 20% rule unless their service is absolutely awful.

View Quoted Comment Thanks! You’d stick with 20% even though I’m tipping the staff (through the wedding planner) separately? This will end up making the food tip around 30% - 20% to caterer and roughly 10% to the servers that work for the planner.

View Quoted Comment Let me make sure I’m understanding correctly. The servers and bartenders are not from the catering services right because the caterer has no staff? If so, yes, I’d tip the caterer because the servers and bartenders aren’t the people preparing the food, they’re only serving it. You’re paying them for their services. With the catering you’re paying them for the meal they’re preparing for the dinner.

View Quoted Comment That is correct. Servers and bartenders are through a different vendor. I’m going to tip them separately. Everything I had read for the 20% included the staff under the caterer. I’m planning on tipping the caterer, just didn’t know how much to give them since their tip isn’t including the staff. If I give 20% to caterer and am paying the staff per employee, it ends up around 30%. Thanks!

View Quoted Comment Gotcha! Okay, I wasn’t for sure. And you’re saying you’re doing 20% total for catering, servers and bartenders. But if you do 20% for caterer and you’re paying servers and bartenders you’re exceeding the 20%. I gotcha. Or give them 18%? Maybe? That way you’re not paying more than 30% for tip.