Tip Jar for Bartender(s)

My opinion is that tipping is the responsibility of the host(s). It's also impossible to know whether or not your guests tipped adequately so that you can supplement it with your own funds, unless you plan to go to the bartenders and ask them to count out their tip money, which would be awkward and inappropriate.

I'm not a fan of a tip jar. It kinda shows the guests that you aren't properly taking care of your staff and instead it's their responsibility.

Our venue gives us the option of paying the tip or tip jars. Typically at weddings, my fiance and I tip the bartender regardless if a tip jar is out or not because it feels weird not to!

I think it's fine!

I think it's fine, we are doing one as well! I also think this is a regional thing as I remember reading that tip jars were a no-no. However, in Minnesota, it seems like every wedding I go to has a tip jar and people see them as normal!

We also had the option of tip jar or paying the tip ourselves. We are going to do both. We don't want to make the guests tip, and if we did, we wouldn't like to have to rely on them to tip the proper amount. At the same time, if they do want to tip a little extra, I don't want the bartenders to lose out on that.

I always bring cash to a wedding specifically to leave a tip for the bartender. I think it's rude to receive drinks made by someone and not tip (even if its an open bar). I would leave a tip whether or not there was a jar so I would set one out!

View Quoted Comment I do the same. We had an open bar at my wedding. I tipped the bartender adequately and the guests tipped on their own accord. The bartender put the tip jar out, not me.

No, do not put out a tip jar, pay the tip yourself privately and make sure the bartenders know that you will pay it. If guests see a tip jar, they will feel obligated to take out their wallets. If I’m a guest at a wedding, I assume the bride and groom are generously tipping their staff.

We are planning to tip our bartenders and servers ourselves.

View Quoted Comment I agree with this. If a guest wants to tip the bartenders they still can. But the jar suggests they “should” which doesn’t feel right at a wedding.

View Quoted Comment Exactly I tip regardless of a tip jar being out but if the tip jar is out I def side eye the host a little.

Does the venue say anything about a tip jar? Some venues will charge if you do not allow one.
Do you plan on privately tipping the bartenders? If yes then you can put a sign that states the gratuity has been covered by the hosts. If not then a tip jar is appropriate.

Tips are included with our package. However, when we go to weddings, we tip the bartender anyway, and I don't remember seeing tip jars as well.