Tipping question regarding bartenders with tip jars

I wouldn't have them put out a tip jar. I'm sure some of our guests will slip the bartender a tip anyway, but we plan on covering tips ourselves.

View Quoted Comment Yeah that last part is the fundamental problem. I will tip my bartenders because I know what living from tips is like but I do thing there is a major flaw in the us that business owners are allowed to to get away with requieting their patrons to pay both for the product and the salary of the employee serving it

I forgot to have the bartender told not to put out a tip jar at our reception. I didn't want it, but It wasn't the end of the world. I know that when I'm at a wedding I tip the bartender whether there's a jar out or not so your bartender will get tips from guests no matter what. We tipped the bartender separately anyway. I assume whatever the guests give in tips is split with the other staff (that's what people I've known who worked events tell me anyway).