Service Charge AND Gratuity

Usually you get the service charge AND gratuity on your bill.

So they are 2 different things?

The service charge goes the the hall, the gratuity is what actually pay the people... at least that is how it works at my place.

We have the 7% tax and 18% service charge on ours.

Our caterer is off-site, coming to the reception site. They do all the linens and everything. And their websites say there is a service charge of 19%. So I'm guessing we have to tip...*gulp*...both the site AND the caterer!?!

Is your reception at a hotel, or is this a separate catering company? I used to plan conferences at a hotel, so I can only speak about the hotel-side although I'm guessing a separate caterer is similar. The service charge gets distributed among the banquet servers who work your event. Essentially, yes, it is a gratuity, but they'd never call it that since it's an automatic charge, and they want you to feel like you can tip extra if you'd like. You should be able to pay an additional gratiuty over and above that if you'd like, but I wouldn't unless there's someone who just went way over & above in their service of your event.

If you do decide to tip someone, give them an envelope with cash the night of your event. If you add it to your final bill, you should be able to do that, but the venue will probably tax the heck out of it so the person you want to get that money won't get nearly as much.

PS: also be sure to ask your caterer/venue for details on what the difference is, or what they define "service charge" as. Every place is a little different.

Yes, the vendor and the caterer are totally separate. We have already booked the reception site and they have a list of caterers that they work with from which we must choose. The website of the caterers openly have the service charge on the page. But they say nothing about a gratuity.

My catering contract has a $30 surcharge, 18% grat, and 7% tax.

I asked for a full contract from all my vendors. I wanted to know what tax rate and other fees they are charging me. I didn't want any hidden fees or end surprises.