Wedding day tipping

A travel fee is not a tip. That's like not tipping your pizza delivery driver because they already charged a delivery fee. You should tip anyone performing a service on your wedding day; hair and/or makeup, photographer/videographer, DJ, bartender, servers, planner/DOC, florist or bakery if they are delivering...The only exception would be those that are already charging gratuity.

View Quoted Comment How much is customary to tip?

View Quoted Comment 15-20% is typical.

I tipped 20% for HMU. It was included in our contract but I would have done so anyway. I don't believe you have to tip every vendor a %. All of my vendors, other than inclusive venue and HMU, were self employed. They set their own prices. If they charged more, I would pay more. I gave my DJ a 50 dollar tip and a 50 dollar meal. Same for my photographer. Neither had a meal in their contract. That was their choice. I tipped the officiant 25 dollars and donated 50 dollars to an animal rescue, like he asked. I tipped the servers and bartenders $40 each. I did not tip my seamstresses and they didn't earn a tip. I did not tip my wedding coordinator through the venue, she made the entire process stressful, like beyond normal hiccups. We tipped 20% on the RD. Some people may think that's not enough but wedding prices are jacked all the way up as it is!

We will be tipping the following about 15-20%:

- Hair & Makeup

- DJ

- Officiant

- Photographer

- Limo driver for departure to hotel

- Cake Delivery

- Our venue caters so the tip is included in our cost

I'm not sure that a travel fee is a tip; more of an expense to cover gas, time, insurance, etc. to get to your venue(s).

I agree, travel fee is not tip. I would not tip anyone where gratuity is included (which should be clarifies before any contract signed) or someone who owns their own business.

Travel fee is not a tip. It's to cover their cost of gas/car maintenance to get to where they need to be. I will be tipping 15 to 20% for hair and makeup. About 50 to 75 bucks for DJ, same for photographer, and around 50 for our officiant. The venue includes gratuity in their contract for food.

As for owning their own business, they still deserve a tip, especially if they are the ones working your wedding! This whole just because they own the business they dont get a tip is bogus. They are still providing a service, and often when it comes to photographers and the like, they are the only employee! Yes, they set their own prices, but that cost include equipment, office/store front space, overhead, plus their time and energy. If you went to a mom and pop restaurant, and the owner was your server that night because they were short staffed, would you not give them a tip because they own the restaurant? You would still tip.