Tip Help Needed - Especially from other LI Brides

Photographer - I have two shooters; one owns the studio - tip both?

What about the limo and shuttle drivers? Tip them?

Am I missing anyone?

Don't assume the admin fee is a tip; generally it's not. You're smart to talk to the venue about this because USUALLY, an admin fee, service fee, whatever they call it, is salary, not a tip.

Find out what the maitre d' and DOC get; again, usually there is a specific number and it will be higher than you think.

Tip owners if they do a great job.

Look at your limo and shuttle contracts. The tip expectation is probably in there (which I find weird and rude, but hey, whatever....)

Celia: when you say "find out what the maitre d' and DOC get" do you mean when I ask if the admin fee includes tip also ask specifically if it includes tip for the maitre d and DOC? And you were right! It said 15-20% gratuity is appreciated for the transportation guys, thanks!

I know our administration fee is NOT including gratuity- it's for the coordinator... I don't know how much to tip yet but there is a Facebook group called brides of Long Island and they can definitely help you! Where's your venue?

Yes. Maitre D's. DOC's and bridal attendants normally get tipped more.

Definitely tip the drivers, both photographers. My florists are getting a bigger tip because they are doing really labor intensive work- candles, moving things, etc.

LuckyAK- thanks I'll check that out; my venue is the Bellport Country Club; I'll find out from the venue who sets up the flowers- the florist is one of the three in house florists so idk if things work differently because of that (our centerpieces were included in our package

I guess I was thrown by the admin fee because it's 20% and that's a normal tip amount (and at this point I can't remember how they explained it when we booked because it was a year and a half ago).

Okay so assuming this is not tips. What do people recommend doing? I'm assuming I should ask the venue how many servers/staff/bartenders will be working, but what is a normal per person tip? One thing I read say 15-20% of the food and drink fee but we don't have a food and drink fee because its all inclusive.

I got married at Chateau Briand (semi-inclusive) and these were my tips (recommend by my DOC who was not provided by the venue):

DJ - $150

Photographers (I had two): $100 each

Cinematographers (I had two): $100 each

Florist: $75 to the delivery guys

MUA: 20% of all services

String quartet: $80

Officiant: $100

Photo Booth attendant: $75

DOC: $500 (tip not expected, but she went above and beyond).

Venue: They rec'd $700: $500 to the wait staff (handed to the maitre d who distributes it to the wait staff/bartenders), $100 each to my 2 bridal attendants. I spoke w/ my banquet manager for guidance prior to the wedding, and he told us that most couples tip the wait staff between $300-$600, so we met in the middle.

Getting married on LI and admin fee is 100% not tip.

Brides of Long Island Facebook group has a detailed document with tips for every possible vendor. You don't have to go with those exact prices, but it's helpful.

I am also an all inclusive Long Island bride. This is not my list, but the Brides of Long Island group has come up with this tipping guide. You definitely need to personalize it to what you have and what each vendor is specifically doing. 20% is most likely an administrative fee, NOT tip on LI. My venue specifically says to tip 3-5 dollars a person for Maitre D and another 3-5 for Staff which is much higher than this list says. The limo company however said that gratuity is included.

I really have questions about Long Island tipping too. My venue does not charge a service charge which is very unusual. The maitre d tip seems low on that chart posted above especially since it includes servers. I had a friend get married 14 years ago and at that time they were recommending $3-5 per person. Also, I don't understand the florist tip. I'm being charged $350 for delivery and thousands for flowers. Is a tip really necessary? I'm not sure I'll even see my delivery person as flowers are being delivered to venue. It just seems like service was built into florals. It's not that I'm not appreciative but I'm wondering

@D&G This was a general list they came up with, but I do think it has to be realitive to the cost of each vendor and how involved of a service they are providing. I agree that the 350 for Maitre D AND staff doesn't seem right, unless they mean 350 for each? We were told 3-5 dollars per person for each.

Thank you all so much! This is so helpful! I joined the LI Brides group on facebook so I can look up the stuff they have on there.

@GymRat thanks for your full breakdown! Was the Maitre D included in your staff tip?

You're welcome. Yes, his tip was included in that.