Tip jar or no tip jar for bartenders at open bar?

The problem with this thread is that it looks to be very biased. I'm just going to throw it out there that those who have never worked behind a bar or waited tables are the ones that say no to the tip jar while those of us who have are for it.

Maltese, I've never worked in that industry at all.

You might've been on the money about this being a regional thing. I'm pro-jar because, in Florida, minimum wage is something like $4/hour for people that work for tips. It boggles my mind how people are expected to live off of that. Down here, it's hard enough to just stay afloat and not go into foreclosure and/or be evicted from your house. Florida is at the top of the charts on every list that you look at, I swear. Then add other bills, family members, I could go on and on... It's just bad down here. I might be looking into this a little much, but everyone's got a struggle, whether we choose to view it in that light or not.

No tip jar. The bartenders at our venue put one out, and we asked them to put it away. They were well taken care of by us so they agreed. In the end, they still received tips from several guests.

^Yeah I'm in Florida as well (and you're right, servers and bartenders don't make SQUAT, but in my experience it's a general consensus that no one ever leaves only 20% so usually we all do alright, but definitely not from our paycheck lol). And I don't think I explained this but gratuity is included in our contract, FH and I will tip additionally on top of that. I know no one on my side would be offended by a tip jar, (and I doubt anyone on FH's side would be OFFENDED...just whoever pointed out that people who didn't bring cash may feel bad, well, I don't want any one to feel bad). I think I am going to let people tip if they want to, but not have a tip jar out. I know the bartenders will be taken care of: both by us and by the people I am sure will tip regardless. I don't want to offend the bartenders by not letting them put a tip jar out...but I really don't want to make any of my guests feel like they have to pay for something at our wedding. So, guests win for me on this one. I'll consult my FMIL to get a better idea about the family out-of-towners but I think let them accept tips, but no public tip jar is going to be best option for us. Thank you so much for all the responses!

I will allow the bartenders to have a tip jar hidden under the bar. My guests will tip anyways (lots of former and current bartenders and waitstaff) and FH/myself have always tipped $1 or w/e per drink even though it was open bar at every other wedding we've been too.

I don't want anyone to feel obligated to tip since we're having an open bar, and the bartenders will be taken care of by us...also, I think a big fishbowl sitting on the counter is tacky.

I agree with Erin. Maltese, saying that those who are against tip jars have never tended bar or waited tables is a very blanket statement to make.

I waited tables at a 4-star restaurant in my early twenties. I still don't believe in tip jars.

If you are worried that the bartender won't receive tips because the jar isn't out, then you're basically admitting that the jar is there to not-so-subtly "ask" people for money.

No. its tacky. plus arent they getting part of the 20% or so tip the hall charges you?

The statement WAS SUPPOSED to be blanket...sheesh! Obviously the questioning tone was not translated well enough and I should have added a damn question mark.

I used to bartend for a wedding venue, and I agree that you should NOT put out a tip jar. Many venues tack on gratuity to your bill. Even if your bartenders only get a portion of it, if you're paying 20% on top of a $10,000 bill, that's a lot of money.

I would see how the gratuity is distributed, however. At my old job, the gratuity added to the bill wasn't really gratuity but a service charge that the venue used to pay our wages. Many couples didn't tip us on top of that so we were stuck without a tip (but we were paid between $12 and $15 an hour, so it wasn't normal servers wages). FWIW, this practice changed once there was new management.

Bottom line: I don't think guests should be prompted to open their wallets for anything.

Our venue is in Michigan. It is against our policy to have a tip jar out for wedding guests. The bartenders are paid well, with tips included prior to the event. Tip jar can be insulting to some. If your guests really want to leave a tip, they still may...but without a jar to do so.

I have been a bartender as well as a server and there will NOT be a tip jar at our reception. I'm tipping 20% (5% more than what is required by the venue) in addition to having another $300 ready to be handed out to the bartenders/servers if people don't have to wait for drinks and the servers pay attention to the place cards and aren't calling out entrees. If our guests tip the bartender, it will be because they want to. Not because it's implied that they should.

With our venues package we don't really know what we're paying for our bartenders. Our venue has an all inclusive package available that includes bartenders and security. We'll allow them to put out a tip jar and we also plan on tipping them additional at the end of the night. We know our guests and know that this won't be something they take issue with, especially since we're providing more than beer and wine (most of our family prefers to have mixed drinks)

If I see a tip jar there will be a serious "fire in the hole" situation. I am not paying 24% (yes 24%) gratutity and having a tip jar. Open bar = my guests should not have to pay any money whatsoever. They'll get their tip from us.

ETA- I served tables for 4 years in college so I understand the value of tipping. I still don't want a tacky looking tip jar on the bar at my wedding.

Event staff should not be working for tips. An event is not a bar; people are not paying for drinks, and the staff should be paid at LEAST minimum wage if not more.

I was a bartender for many years, just for the record.

If you are unsure about what your servers are making and how the tips are divided, ask. This is a HUGE deal right now, and illegitimate tip splitting is a criminal offense.

Tacky. And, I bartended & waitressed for 20+ years.

Maltese, that's a BS statement. I bartended and waitressed for 20+ years and there will definitely NOT be a tip jar at my daughter's wedding. It is beyond tacky. The tip will be coming from me (mother of the bride via the wedding coordinator) at the end of the evening.

We are thinking about hiring an acquaintance as a bartender for our AirBnB wedding. What are your thoughts on tipping her 10-15% and expecting the guests to tip the rest?

Not appropriate. You shouldn't be expecting your guests to tip her; that responsibility is on you. Tip her the full amount you think she should be tipped.