Tipping vendors

1.) We tipped 20%. You can still tip based on service the day of for hair and makeup and DJ, but you should wait to tip the videographer and photographer until you receive the final product. You don't want to tip someone hundreds of dollars and, Heaven forbid, not get your photos or not get quality video.

2.) I would tip based on the arrangements they put together and the delivery if applicable.

3.) You should ask them what the service charge includes. Sometimes, not often, gratuity is included. If not, you should tip before the service fee.

4.) You should still tip for delivery. Mail a check after the wedding if you'd prefer not to tip before receiving services.

Thank you so much, very helpful!

And that's a good thought for the video and photos. I don't want them to think I'm not planning to tip them. Is there a way to let them know I plan to tip them after the final product?

Hi Sutina! Here are a few tipping guides WeddingWire has put together with helpful info:

How Does Wedding Tipping Work in 2020?

Exactly How Much To Tip Wedding Vendors: A Complete List

I also think it's ok to take a day or two after the wedding to finish wrapping things up with your vendors and tipping them. I would just make sure that all service staff gets tipped on the wedding day (individual hair and make up stylists, drivers, bartenders, servers, etc.) so they aren't forgotten!

Also don't forget to write detailed reviews for all of your wedding vendors while everything is still fresh in your mind! While I know my wedding planner appreciated the tip, I'm sure my lengthy review praising her services has had much more business impact!

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We are leaving for the honeymoon right after the reception so would be hard to wrap things up after. But Thank you for the links! I will make sure to check out the check list and cover everyone.

We tipped our videographer and photographer flat rates — $300 each right after and an additional $200 once everything is delivered. If we had tipped 20%, that would mean about $3000 just for tips and my coordinator advised that since they own their own businesses, that appropriate tip would be anywhere between $200 - 500 for each. We did tip our photographer’s 2nd shooter $75 as well. (Our videographer was a husband and wife team.)


Makeup and hair was 20-25% each even though both artists owned their own businesses. I left it up to them how to divvy up the tip with their assistants. (They both brought their own assistants.)
DJ was 20% ($360) since he was an employee for a company and not the owner.
Delivery for rentals and cake, we gave our coordinator a bunch of $20s for the delivery guys and tip as she sees fit.
Our venue didn’t have a service charge and actually asked in lieu of tips to instead make a donation to the Safari Park so we didn’t have to worry about tipping the venue that day. However, our rehearsal dinner had a service charge (it was like 22-25% if I remember correctly) and when I asked if that helped cover their servers’ wages, they said it didn’t and it only covered admin fees so we tipped an additional 18%. Our rehearsal dinner was buffet so guests served themselves and water/non-alcoholic drinks were also self-served so I didn’t think a full 20% was necessary.

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Thank you for your breakdown!

You were very generous with your tipping 20-25% !!! I was thinking more 15%-20% given its a pretty small wedding

My photographer is around $1700 for the day so maybe a flat rate would be more appropriate when I get the photos back

View Quoted Comment Yeah, my makeup artist actually traveled to the venue with us and stayed an additional 5 hours (we paid for the additional hours) to do touch ups and in the process got super wet from the rain so she more than deserved her tip! Lol. But given how expensive weddings are, I think 15-20% is pretty generous!