Tipping

Traditionally, yes, all of those vendors would be tipped. Along with your officiant, videographer, HMUA, caterer, waitstaff and bartender(s).

Tipping has gotten very out of hand where people expect a tip for simply showing up. Tips were created with the idea that it would guarantee top of the line service. “To insure prompt service” is the mythological acronym. Tips are handed out like water and a lot of time they are not deserved. Also, when they first came into being, society in general was much different and everyone was courteous to everyone. Nowadays courtesy is a rare animal and people in general expect a lot in exchange for little to no work going into it.


For that reason, a tip should not be given to anyone before the event. It is recommended that you wait until you come back from the honeymoon and you have an objective mindset where you are not on Cloud 9 and can assess the performance of every vendor and decide from there. If you are going by the historical traditional take on the tipping world, it should only be given after the fact for those who go above and beyond the call of duty. Not every vendor does that level of work. Those who have bad service and/or don’t bother to show up don’t get a tip, same with those who show up to do their job with nothing to show for it.
Also it is at your discretion if you decide to give them to business owners. In the past with how tips started, most who received the tips were business owners. So don’t let anyone pressure into something you are comfortable with that isn’t even a breach of etiquette.

I would ask your DOC, she should be able to point you in the direction of what is appropriate in each profession. For example, my DOC had a list with each duty and the typical range they are paid. I have heard those who own their own business typically don't need to be tipped as much since they pocket the cost of what you are paying, however if they did exceptional service I would still tip. My photographer owns her own business, so I'm tipping a flat $200 extra since I know she gets to keep her full cost. If she were part of a bigger company who might take a large percentage, I would tip 20-25% in cash at the end of the night. My DOC is also handling all the passing out of tips and paying vendors their final fees, so your DOC should be able to guide you on what is customary for the service. If you have an all inclusive venue or one that has mandatory in house caterers, they may state in their contract what they recommend or if it's built in to the fee.

Here's a site which might help, but also don't feel pressured. It's a nice gesture to tip, but it shouldn't be something that creates stress or financial pressure.

https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-vendor-tipping-cheat-sheet

Hi Colleen! Here's a helpful tipping guide you can check out that breaks down tipping by wedding service:

Exactly How Much To Tip Wedding Vendors: A Complete List

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What she said... I always thought it was best to give tips for the work you love, and that exceeded your expectations. But like Michelle said in today's day in age everybody expects a tip. I also personally felt like if this is their own business and the whole $1,200 goes in your pocket, why am I giving you an additional $50-$100? My cousin has her own party decor business and I know most of the expense is for labor and not so much to re-supply what she used, she also expects what she quoted you for and a nice review and shout-out on your instagram or facebook. I will have tips ready for after the wedding and only will give them out if I feel like they deserve it. Like if my driver was late to pick up me and my MOH and he drove like a bat out of hell, NO he won't be getting a tip or if I all my picture were blurry, No the photographer won't be getting a tip (he might be getting sued so i could get my money back).

IIRC, my mother-in-law took care of tipping our photographer, officiant, and DJ.