Gratuity Question

It is very common that a *service charge* is NOT a gratuity. Service charge is to pay the salaries of the staff. Gratuity is up to your discretion and is their tip for good service. Ours was the same. We did not use the 20% rule as it would have been way too much. On the advice of the venue, here is what we tipped:

Service Captain - $150

Bartenders - $100 each (x2)

Serving staff - $50 each (x10)

All tips were divided into separate envelopes and given to the coordinator on the day of the wedding.

Emily, thanks! I do feel like the language in the contract suggests 18-20% on top of the service charge, I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks that is crazy.

I would ask my DOC what she's seen in the past on how to tip in this situation. But I think if you give what you believe they deserve or you can afford, that will be just fine. Not much help but I will definitely be looking back on this post when the time gets closer!

So your DOC is suggesting the difference between 15% and 18/20% (so 5%) as the tip? That makes a little more sense at least for the bartender. For food it would just depend how many people work if its fair. Splitting, say, $500 (5% of 10k food bill, just making that up) between 15 people or more isnt very much.

The only tip I gave their staff on site was the DOC and I gave her $50 i think. I think you have some good advice here! That's crazy they changed it so much.

My DOC told me to ALWAYS as up front what tax and gratuity would be so that way there is no surprises! So i asked my venue and luckily they are a non profit so those things are necessary. Now as far as my caterer and such I also asked them up front and they told me right away. My DOC said that they do not have to disclose this to you until the final bill....which i find BS! She also said that all tips should be put into an envelopes with each vendor on it and also a not saying in your case....front and back staff etc

I'm going to find out how many people will be working the event and probably go $50-100 per person. I'm still reeling that this clause was just added, but not much I can do. I appreciate the feedback, ladies!

WHAT is the service charge FOR then??? Omg I would be so angry that this is the 3rd time you've seen your contract and the first time you're hearing about it... Even a small % on such a large amount is hundreds or thousands of dollars...

OK, I just looked back at my contract and I guess I considered the service charge the gratuity - I initialed that it was a 20% "Service gratuity" so to me that meant gratuity. Maybe I was an asshole and didn't know it. But there's definitely no clause about the service charge NOT including gratuity and to tip on top of the service charge. It's so weird that they just added that all of a sudden!

@Lara and Jillian, I was in the exact same boat as you guys panicking about the tip...thinking another 15-20% on top of the bill is a fortune. You are not alone, I thought the service charge was the tip too. Anyways the below was the guidance given by my catering coordinator:

Service Captain ($50-$100)

Bartenders ($50-$100 each)

Servers ($20-$40 each)

Dishwasher ($20$40 each)

Kitchen staff ($20-$40 each)

I didn't even think of the dishwasher and kitchen staff so I am so glad she provided the guidance.

Hope this help, good luck!

Our catering contract includes the hourly rate for all staff, so no service charge. Gratuity is not added and we will be tipping. I used martha's guide for tipping and found it very useful.

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/226661/tipping-wedding-vendors

I'm BACKKK. Just talked to my venue. So, they said that they put on the contract that the 18% service charge is added to banquets/parties, etc to compensate employees with a higher wage. I flat our asked about tipping. She said they do put a tip jar on the bar and it is split up between the employees working. She said usually that's all they get. She flat out told me not to worry about leaving anything extra because they are paid better than a minimum wage. When I mentioned worrying about coming up with an extra 18-20% she was like 'nooo no no no!'. She said 'it's very sweet for you to be worrying and wanting to do this and even asking about it. If you guys want to leave a little something that's up to you, but don't stress out about it because it's rare that the couple/people in charge of the party leave anything extra other than what guests leave in the tip jar". I also asked and she said for our wedding (we have about 100 people) that it will be like 3 servers and 1 bartender. So, maybe we will throw in $20.00 a person. I'd feel generous and it's obviously more than they expect. Just wanted to let you know what I found out.