Service Charge is Not Gratuity. Now What?

Ditto was @annakay511 said!! I almost made that mistake (our venue had an 18% service charge that specifically wasn't gratuity), so in my initial calculations, I was gonna tip on top of taxes and the service charge! Plus our caterer provided the venue, tables/linens, decor, bartenders, cake, belly bar tables for cocktail hour, etc and we tipped specifically on the food service portion, not the extra fees.

I am a server and a bartender so I will post my opinion. The standard 20% tip guidelines are not followed usually for catering halls because they get paid more hourly than your down the street local bartender. The wages will vary by state, but mostly catering is paid more. You would be surprised to know that a little extra gratuity goes a long way. I plan on seeing how many people work the wedding, you can ask before and will probably give $100 to the Maitre D' and at least $20 if not more to the other workers, so basically what Celia said. Trust me, you do not want to be those people who don't leave a little something extra.

The tipping situation puzzles me too. i am expecting to tip the bartender, hair/mu, and any servers... even though our venue catering has a service fee, they are pretty clear that it isnt a tip.

but.. do i tip the guys who drop off and set up my cake? the officiant? photographer? dj? the lighting guy who is staying all night to babyset that setup? the day of coordinator my venue provides? im just.. so lost and dont want to offend anyone.

My service fee was for the cost of setting up tables, linens etc.

Tipping a certain percentage of the total bill would be absurd.

I am paying $5000 for the venue and an 18% service fee... this doesn't even include the likely $10,000 for food and beverage. I don't understand how the $5000 venue fee doesn't cover all of the services? They are also making money off all of the food.

My venue told me $25/server. Its in my contract, but not included in my venue fee.

Venues tell clients like you that the service fee goes to banquet servers. Some venues list that at $30/he. I know NOT A SINGLE banquet server that receives that much. In addition, I have worked as a banquet server and bartender for 2 years now and revived a $50.00 gratuity ONCE. That only happened because the happy groom came in the kitchen and announced to staff in front if mgmt "make sure you get your gratuity!" Or we would have gone home penniless like every other night. We enjoy what we do but when you know your employer is a filthy thief that watches you do all the work, it makes this a sad business to be in. I plead for servers everywhere please do not trust the venue and assume anything. If you would like to top servers at your wedding, please insist on doing so personally.