Tip Jar??

I'm curious about this too, gratuity is already included for all food and drinks - wouldn't that cover the bartenders tip too?

It's probably because it's the difference between service fees which are the actual hourly wage vs. gratuity or tips, which are seperate.

You should tip all vendors including the bartender... That way they don't have a tacky tip jar.

I've seen this too. I'm making sure that mine will not have this as mandatory. I feel like it just gives the guests the impression that I'm not already paying a tip, service fees and whatnot.

In my case we are using a non wedding venue. It's a bar tender and a bar back for $350 for 5 hours. We're supplying alcohol and paying for their service separately. I feel like they can have a tip jar or I'll pay them a tip (the latter is what I expected) but both seems greedy and dumb to me.

It is tacky. People tip at weddings all the time. We do when we go even knowing that most wedding bartenders have gratuity built in already. They don't need a jar. It seems greedy.

Add: I don't want a tip jar but I need a bar tender and before emailing her back about the contract and not wanting a tip jar I wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy for expecting me to pay the tip and no tip jar.

Eh, people will tip or not tip regardless of the jar. I really don't think this is an issue

Yeah no tip jar. I always feel awkward as a guest when I see the jar and I have no cash. I dont carry small cash at a wedding and with an open bar, no money is exchanged.

Aubrey: $70 per hour for two people, so $35 per hour each or however they divide it and they want tips. At that hourly rate, I'm not sure anyone should tip them.

My contract had an option and we chose for them to not have a tip jar, as we plan on tipping them and I don't want my guests to think they have to tip. If someone wants to hand them a tip, I am totally okay with that.

We attended a wedding about a month before we got engaged and the bartender had a tip jar out. I actually didn't even think twice about it and luckily FH always has cash. Now that I'm on this side of the wedding planning and thinking of my guests, I think it is best to not have one out.

My friend's bartender had a basket for tips (and it was open bar). I didn't really think anything of it (and neither did the other guests because the basket was pretty full). But you're right, if you're hosting you'll be tipping, so there's no need for a tip jar. I would try to negotiate that out of the contract.

I don't have a choice my venue is open to the public during my event and the tip jar will be out on the bar as it is during business hours. I have money set aside to tip everyone

When I got quotes for bartenders there was a quote with no tip jar and a different quote if they were allowed to put out a tip jar. Naturally, the quote with no tip jar on the bar was higher. Guests will likely tip anyway. If you don't want the tip jar, you will likely just have to pay a higher price for the bartending service.

Sorry totally venting now. While going through the contract line by line they also expect (not require but expect) $2 pp for a tip even with the tip jar. So they want $350 for services + $360 in tips from me PLUS a tip jar?!?! Not including the extra insurance they want me to get too? On top of the venue insurance?!

This is dumb. I'm already married this is an off peak day time vow renewal and it's beet wine and cider. And I supply cups and everything. They want $710 plus a tip jar? I'm beside myself. Clearly I'm in the wrong line of work.

I go to a lot of weddings, and I can tell you that virtually EVERYONE tips the bartenders, tip jar or not.

I hate seeing one, I think it's tacky and gross, and it should go. And if they are making even 2 bucks on top of every drink they serve? They are making far more than anyone else who is working at your wedding.

Unless the venue tells them that they have to refuse tips (ha ha....I've never seen that) then I'd say they are on their own.

Maybe you should have THAT conversation with the company. Let me know how that goes.

I'm fine if people are inclined to tip them but I think a tip jar isn't appropriate. It's a studio location and clearly not a professional bar setup and it's beet, wine, and cider. If people want to tip great but there shouldn't be a prompt when they expect their service fee essentially doubled from me.

Tip is included in our bar package at my venue. When I met with my venue coordinator two weeks ago I specifically asked about the tip jar, and they do not allow the bartenders to put them out. In fact, if someone pulls out cash and tries to tip, the bartenders have to refuse.

Our venue advised our bartenders that they were not to accept tips (and definitely no tip jar) since we took care of them. We only had beer and wine, and at the end of the night they actually gave $100 back to our coordinator because they said it was too much!

What? That's awesome @Mrs.T

I just can't understand why this company thinks they're worth $60 an hr pp ($120/hr for the company) and I have to insure them and a tip jar? I just can't accept that. Thanks ladies!

ETA: I guess more of my issue comes from the fact it wasn't laid out in the quote either but hidden in the contract. I'm having a day time off peak season party for a reason. I'm not looking to shell another $1000 on top of the alcohol that I'm buying so someone can pass a beer can.