Tipping Catering Servers

Yes

Yes. Our tab includes a 20% tip.

I don't know, man. Almost $20/hour + a 20% tip? That's a little bit overkill. It's not like they are restaurant servers who make minimum or less.

@Amber Erin Your 20% that was included, was that based off the cost of service & food, or off the cost of the entire contract?

Our contract includes it already.

No, they're not making less than minimum wage, but they are providing a service to you for your wedding. If a service is provided, it's customary to tip.

For weddings only - Where autograt is, obviously I have to. If it's not an autograt, then no. Lots of services don't get tipped - garbage men, mechanics, doctors. I'm not tipping random vendors just because it's a wedding.

That was based off of the entire contract, including food and service.

My amount has a service fee at attached, 20%.. is that the tip? I sure hope it is!

Following. We have an 18% service charge. I assumed but you know what they say...

Ask your catering company. Usually the 20% service fee is not a tip and does not go to the actual servers but to the company. And yes, tip, the servers are the people that are dealing with your guests sometimes unreasonable or drunken demands. And the $20.00 per server that you are being charged doesn't all go to the server as a wage, the company they work for takes a chunk.

We have 20% added on at the end, which is thousands of dollars essentially.

@Rachel - you should tip your DJ, florist, photographer, officiant, wedding planner, and possibly the bakery (if there isn't a delivery fee already). I'm probably forgetting other vendors too

Our service fee included tip,. i specifically asked that question. it's I think 24%....

Legally speaking, a "service fee" can go to many different individual, but a "gratuity" is for the servers.

I've worked for a number of caterers, and the service charge was divided equally amongst everyone, from the coordinator through the kitchen through the front of house.

Ask your vendor because it will vary from business to business.

Either way, a 20% tip using necessary for a banquet server who does make a good hourly wage, but a tip is still customary and always appreciated. Can be a flat per head instead of a percentage.

A service charge is not a tip, and if you're being billed 20. per server per hour, they are not getting that. There are workmans comp charges, admin fees, ...

If you want to tip them, then 20-40.00 per person is the norm where I am. Captains more.

It is just that we are spending 120.00 pp with this service fee. It is going to be crazy to tip on top of that. What do you all tip DJ, florist, photographer? Not going to tip the officiant he is already getting 460.00. Why do we tip the florist??? I honestly don't understand all these tips.

Check your contract. Gratuity is included in mine (as is service charge, which is not the same thing).

I would check with the company your booking through. If gratitudity is already applied... I saw a nice idea on here to have some thank you cards and $20 bills to give out to staff that goes above and beyond.

@Kels I like that idea!

And thanks for the brainstorming everyone! I didn't think about the company taking a chunk of the $20/hour. I totally forgot about that.

Check your contract. We got a quote from one company that included a 20% tip to be split between all the servers. . . . but we ended up going with another company that doesn't include a tip. If it doesn't include tip then I would say yes you should tip them.