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Devoted March 2018

Tip for Caterer

Taren, on March 13, 2018 at 12:29 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 8

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Hey Guys!

My wedding is in a little over a week and I’m still trying to understand tipping for the caterer. Most google searches seem to bring me to advice about caterers that are a part of the venue. I am bringing an outside caterer into my venue and am doing a buffet style dinner.

some places were saying the tip should be 15-20% of the entire bill, other places were saying it should just be for the cost of the food. Some mentioned tipping each person but I actually don’t know how many staff members are being brought.

Any advice?

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8 Comments

Latest activity by FME, on March 13, 2018 at 3:18 PM

Devoted April 2018
Boinkin · on March 13, 2018 at 12:42 PM
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My caterer said it's about $50-75 per server/bartender and communicated with me that there would be 6-8 servers for 70 people.
Then, for the owner/main person I've been working with, I figured I would tip about $150 or $200.
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Devoted September 2018
Katie · on March 13, 2018 at 12:51 PM
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Have you checked with them to see if they actually include a total gratuity charge on the total bill?
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Devoted March 2018
Taren · on March 13, 2018 at 12:54 PM
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They did not include gratuity in the bill
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Devoted September 2018
Katie · on March 13, 2018 at 12:57 PM
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Oh ok. I only ask because our catering company did not either but I had decided to double check with them and our coordinator had told us that it would actually be included on our final bill after we’ve given them our final guest count and food choices.
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Super September 2019
An · on March 13, 2018 at 1:22 PM
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I have always heard 15-20% of the entire bill before tax, but if your bill has a lot of line-item extras, it might be best to ask the caterer what the norm is.
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Super April 2018
JanissC. · on March 13, 2018 at 1:50 PM
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Following, I have the same question!
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Dedicated June 2018
Melanie · on March 13, 2018 at 2:02 PM
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My catering friend said that catering staff are paid a good wage (unlike a restaurant wait staff). I don't know if that is true for everywhere?

I'm in smallish town Virginia and will be doing $150 for the catering manager and $30 for each server and bartender.
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Master March 2018
FME · on March 13, 2018 at 3:18 PM
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We paid $500 up front as a "service charge" for the staff. Our caterer said that was their tip and they were paid "generously". They all did an amazing job and the food was so much better than wedding food, since we used a restaurant so we tipped the chef $80 and the other staff $40 each. We didn't tip the bartender because even though we were told she wouldn't have a tip jar out, she did and I saw $20's and $10s in there so I didn't tip her.
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