Tipping the Catering and Service Staff

A service charge is not a tip 99% of the time, but you can ask your caterer to clarify if the contract isn't specific. If that's the case, yes, you should tip.

Grr. The time to ask is BEFORE you sign the contract. At this point, of course they are going to say not a tip. Unless you are in a state like NY that mandates that service fees be paid to servers.

I would just ask the venue. One of my daughters had a service fee and it was the tip. She still tipped the Coordinator above and beyond because the lady was amazing.

I asked my caterer about this probably four times just to be sure. Everything I had read on here and otherwise had said the service fee is not a tip. I was caught off guard when our caterer told me it was on her contract. I would just double check with your venue/caterer to make sure.