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M
Savvy June 2021

How to tip vendors that own their own business? Please help!

Mel H, on June 15, 2020 at 11:48 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 1 8
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Hi guys!


So I've been doing some research online and I'm still unsure what the proper tipping etiquette is when it comes to wedding vendors.


All of our vendors own their own business so are we still supposed to tip 20%? Our florist owns his own company and we are planning to pay him in cash so I'm not sure if we should still tip him? I was thinking of a flat rate like $500 but I don't know if that would be a "slap in the face". Our flowers are coming out to around $11,000 and we honestly cannot afford to pay a 20% tip ($2,200), on top of the $11k. I just feel like especially since he is getting cash we don't need to tip that much? But I don't want to be rude. I'm sure he has some other assistants who help but I'm not sure how he pays them.

Our photographer also owns her own business but she will have an assistant photographer, so we are planning to tip her, but does anyone have any suggestions on how much to tip our photographer and assistant? Does it have to be 20% or can we tip a flat rate?


Lastly, is it weird to tip our wedding coordinator? We paid additional to have an in-house wedding coordinator and nothing in our contract states that gratuity is included in the price. She is so amazing so I'd love to tip her!


Would love to hear what you guys did/are doing!

8 Comments

Latest activity by Mel H, on June 19, 2020 at 9:05 PM
  • H
    Master July 2019
    Hannah ·
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    It's typically not expected to tip business owners since they set the prices they are comfortable with. Definitely tip the photographer's assistant. When it comes to everyone else, tip if you want to and how much you want to.
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  • MOB So Cal
    January 2019
    MOB So Cal ·
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    All daughter's vendors owned their own businesses, but we tipped each of them in cash (NOT 20%...): the photographer (bill $2700; tip $200 -- we gave him two $100 bills and guess he split it with his assistant); the DJ (bill $1300; tip $100); the florist (bill $1700; tip $150); HMUA (bill $1000; tip $200 -- that one was 20%). The event director at daughter's venue was her day-of coordinator (included in the venue fees). She NEVER suggested or indicated that there were any expectations of a tip, but daughter LOVED her and she was awesome, so we tipped her $200. We got the impression none of them expected a tip, but they were all very appreciative.

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  • M
    Legend June 2019
    Melle ·
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    I tipped my dj photo booth vendor 15% in cash too. Paid him the actual fee via Venmo though. I don’t think you even have to go by a percentage rule. Because as you said that would be so much $
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  • Chelsea G
    Devoted June 2021
    Chelsea G ·
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    If you don't feel a tip would be proper you could always write them a nice thank you note with a small gift? Especially for your day of coordinator you can write her a nice note and give her a box of chocolates or something like that.

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  • Kristen
    Master November 2020
    Kristen ·
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    I might do $100-$200 for my photographers and that is because they are a husband and wife team but I am already charging a good amount. HMUA 15-20% which I may do %15 but pending the experience I may do 20% because according to the owner for the trial there is champagne and fuits so that is a nice experience.

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  • M
    Savvy June 2021
    Mel H ·
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    Thank you! Yes, I think we will for sure tip the assistant

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  • M
    Savvy June 2021
    Mel H ·
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    This is a very helpful guideline, thank you so much!!

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  • M
    Savvy June 2021
    Mel H ·
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    Yeah I think flat rates in cash will work best in this instance. Thank you so much!

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