Tipping vendors

Tips should be earned and not automatic - if there was bad service, no tip should be given. However, if you're pleased with the service you received, then you could tip your vendors! Photographers, videographers, and DJs could get anywhere from $25 to $200 as a tip (depending on what you feel is appropriate). Officiant could get $25 to $75 or a nice gift (if they're a family member or friend, you might know of a physical gift that they would like instead of cash). Delivery drivers (florist, cake, etc) could get $10 to $50 each depending on the distance they drove and the amount that they had to setup. Hair and makeup artists typically get around 20% of the service fee. Servers and bartenders usually have gratuity defined in the contract, but if not, 15-20% of the bill is typical.


Here is an article that details tipping for each vendor: https://www.brides.com/story/complete-list-wedding-vendors-gratuity-tip-how-much

Here is a tip guide that may make things easier

If you’re at an all-inclusive venue where many of the vendors are employed by the venue, you should also review your contract and make sure you know whether anything that’s a service fee goes to the tip or just to the venue and whether or not you’ll have access to them. Some venues are super insular, so it can quickly get confusing.

I was wondering this the other day as I was budgeting. My wedding planner told me he will be handling some info gathering on it. As he pointed out, not every vendor pays their workers in the same manner. So he considers part of his job to find out that information and tip accordingly (ie: a server who is already paid a great rate for the event may just need a flat "thank you" amount, vs a lesser paid server like at a restaurant might warrant a certain percentage). If you are working with a wedding planner or coordinator I would ask their advice and see if they can do this type of legwork for you.