When to tip vendors? Day of or after? Also, does event sales manager get tips?

Tips are completely discretionary, but should reward outstanding service. We probably tipped half of our vendors on the day of, and the other half afterward (mostly because they were not accessible during our reception). For most, we already had amounts in mind, because these were people we had already been working with for almost a year and a half, and barring any major disasters we already had a great sense of the service provided over the past 18 months. We did tip our venue director and another venue staff member even though they were already included in our 21% service charge because we felt they were outstanding and nailed every detail and we wanted to recognize them individually.

Wait until after the wedding is over when you are able to objectively assess their services. Only tip those who went above and beyond the call of duty. Don’t tip no shows, bad service or simply showing up to do their job, because you’re saying “thank you for treating us bad badly“. You would also give honest reviews on all platforms and deliver the tips or send them via Venmo.

The catering usually includes an automatic tip called the gratuity. Bartenders and servers are paid hourly. But again if they were out of this world exceptional then make sure to tip them. Many say do not tip business owners but in many cases that would mean no one gets a tip that people say is expected/required.

A sales manager works on commission so you wouldn’t tip them. All she is doing is selling you the space.

A venue coordinator employed by them is only concerned with making sure the doors are unlocked, lights turned on, everyone leaves at a specific time, etc. They do not perform tasks that an independent day of coordinator will do for you.

Make sure to tip all service and delivery people on the day of your wedding!! (Drivers, delivery / set-up crews, wait staff, bartenders, etc.) But for vendors like your photographer, you can wait until after your wedding to decide on your tip!

Here's a helpful tipping guide that goes into everything in more detail:

Exactly How Much To Tip Wedding Vendors: A Complete List

We're tipping the day of, as you would if you went to a restaurant or hair salon. The only exception may be the photographer since you'll be waiting for your pictures.
As Stacey mentioned, we've been working with these vendors for months and can gauge their services to know who has gone above and beyond and who we've had to pull teeth to communicate with. We have the tips separated in envelopes with a thank you card and will give them to one of the groomsmen to hand out after the vendor completes the service (do your job, then get your tip). In the event something goes wrong, we have no problem with asking the groomsman to reduce the amount and we'll have cash on hand to add if any vendors do an extraordinary job the day of.
I personally wouldn't give the sales manager a tip unless she has been critical in the process and earned something extra.

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I agree about the catering manager. I do believe those services should be covered in the cost of the venue, the service charge, etc. All the guides says to tip 15 to 20 percent if not included in the sales contract. I don't believe any large catering orders would NOT include a service/gratuity charge. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.