Vendor gratuity

I forgot to mention we our providing a meal for our videographer, photographers, and DJ.

Commenting because I have the same question! We are providing dinner for all of our vendors, as well; and our catering also included gratuity. The problem is most of ours are self-owned businesses, so i'm not sure how that impacts it!

View Quoted Comment Same situation here. Our DJ is a company and that is who is providing videography and oh darn forgot the photo booth 🤦🏼‍♀️. Everyone else is small personal business

Also following because I have no clue!

Here is an article I found. Tipping vendors is a little confusing to me too.

https://www.bridalguide.com/blogs/the-budget-guru/how-to-tip-wedding-vendors

Ladies I'm glad I'm not alone on this dilemma.

View Quoted Comment Thank you Danielle for that information

I just started searching for funny sayings for a bartender tip jar. Here is a few I liked. My FH and I can both be sarcastic so these kind of fit us.

You can ask your caterer about the bartenders. You could even just start them off with a tip and let guests add to the jar. I always bring cash for tips when I go to weddings as a guest. My dj photographer are both self employed. I am going to tip them based on their service/pricing, keeping in mind that they did opt for a vendor meal. The meal is not a sandwich and not cheap. Their contracts did not specify food or breaks. I know a lot of people consider a vendor ENTITLED to a meal you serve. However, I was self employed for years and brought my own food haha. If people deliver your cake/flowers, you could tip the delivery person.

View Quoted Comment Thank you for suggestion Steph. That is good advice. My DJ, videographer, and photo booth is all the same company but it is a large chain that has independent licensed staff. I definetly feel like I need to tip DJ and photo booth attendant. The cake and florist is small business owned and delivery and set up will be done by the owners. Tge cupcake/cake person is charging us delivery fee. I like your advice and definitely appreciate it.

If this helps any, here is my breakdown of how I have my tips put away per my day of coordinator:

Makeup: Set $20 (only being charged $50)

Hair: 15%

DJ: 20%

Bartenders: 15% (Guests always tip, even if you don't want them to)

Photographer: $100 plus Starbucks giftcard since most photographers already have set prices and don't expect tips.

We are not tipping our baker and florist. They have already set their prices/taxes and a delivery fee.

Gratuity is usually included in catering.

I have put these funds in unsealed envelopes so if they do an exceptional job, I can add more or if they are horrendous I can pull from.

View Quoted Comment Thank you for your recommendations. I like the unsealed envelope idea. Well J hope you will not have to pull any money out. Blessings on your special day.

Usually, the rule of thumb is that if someone owns their own company / is self employed, you don't tip. They have set their prices to include a living wage so a tip is not needed. If someone is employed by a service, the standard is 15-20% and best to have cash on hand for that. #1 because with cash, they can choose how they report those tips, and #2 should their service be appalling, you can reduce the tip or increase it if they have gone above standard expectations.

And if you see that gratuity has been included, you don't need to tip extra unless you want to. Bartending services will always tell you if a tip jar is required or they will have the gratuity included.

And just an FYI, tipping was created for people like servers who's employers pay them less than a living wage, it's a dumb system and most other countries don't do this.

I am wondering the same. Our venue is providing food so we don’t have a caterer our bartenders are allowed a tip jar. Do I have to give tips to my photographer, planner, hair/makeup artist, Dj, florist or cake baker? I’m double checking all fine print but not sure where to look or how to know who to tip? Help!

My wedding is in 3 months and this is what I decided. We are having a tip jar at the bar for the bartenders. I'm tipping hair and makeup 15-20% at the wedding after the service. I'm not tipping photographer, cake lady, or florist. They all own their own business and work for themselves. I will be tipping our DJ depending on service 100-150. Tipping our officiant 50. We dont have any other vendors.