BW Studio - Wedding Vendor Tipping Cheatsheet
This post is all about tipping… best practices and social norms as of 2024. I won’t bore you with the details of the history of tipping or why it’s valued… I’ll just get straight to the meat, but this is a question EVERYONE asks their wedding planner. And they absolutely should! This is a safe place to ask all those weird questions that feel awkward to ask in any other setting. So lets get on with it!
First and foremost, no wedding vendor EXPECTS a tip. Wedding vendors are primarily all small or local business owners and we have worked out our fees to include servicing you and your family for the day at a reasonable cost to ourselves... and still make a bit of profit. Exceptions would be typical service providers such as hair/makeup, valets, coat staff, wait staff, and bar tenders (think of it as - people that would be doing this exact same work if it was your wedding day or not!).
Generally speaking…Tips are “thank yous” to all of the vendors that worked on your special day!
I repeat… typically, a tip is a “thank you!” and not typically expected.
But if you really loved the services you’ve been rendered… a super nice way to say thank you is with a thoughtful tip at the end of the night. We have alphabetized them so you don’t think any of them as more important than the other!
Quick Side Note… Cash is always easiest! Especially if there is more than one vendor present for that category. But if you provide checks, make them out to the person’s name and not their business name. Sometimes that can make it hard for them to deposit it, especially if they are a contractor.
Alterations
They will not be expecting a tip, but $20-50 for a job well done will be very appreciated. I personally had yards and yards and yards of lace that needed bringing up on my gown… and bless that lady’s heart, she earned that tip and more!!
Bartenders
Often, the bartenders will put a tip jar on the bar (if you allow them, I would recommend yes) or even a QR code (which is a new thing I love). Wedding guests are usually pretty good about bringing a few dollars to give the bartenders. I still live by the $1 per drink rule anywhere I go. But as the hosts, I always recommend a small lump sum to each bartender for putting up with your wild family and friends, somewhere in the $50-100 per bartender is a super nice gesture!! But not an obligation if you let them put out the jar.
Cake Baker
The baker is not expecting a tip, but the two guys that carried your seven tiers of loveliness up that flight of stairs in the snow would truly appreciate $10-20 each. Cake moving is a stressful job! If your cake is being delivered via the venue… it honestly might arrive well before we get on site, and giving this person a tip is hard. If he’s not around, we will put it back in your card box.
Calligrapher
Again, definitely not expecting a tip… but a very nice review or shout out on social media would go a very long way with a person promoting their tangible goods. Typically, they aren’t present on your wedding day and can be hard to give a tip to on the day-of. So consider a virtual tip or nice review instead!
Catering & Wait Staff
If your contract with the catering company does not already include gratuity (which it certainly might, so double check your contract), you could tip 15 to 20 percent of the total food bill (not including the rentals and taxes and all that jazz). Another way to tip is offering $50 to $150 for each chef or catering lead, and $25 to $50 per server. Again, review your contract do you’re not doubling down on tips. A “service fee” is not always a gratuity, often that’s covering something else in your contract. Ask your catering manager!
Ceremony Staff & Officiant
Definitely not a requirement, and often times they won’t accept. But if it’s a church you attend frequently a $100-400 gift to the church is very thoughtful. If this person offered their services at a discount or for free, a $100+ tip is generally considered a kind gesture.
Coat Room Attendants
Estimate between $1-2 per coat, a 100 person wedding in the winter… you should tip them about $100. It’s a genuinely thankless job and they are usually sweethearts. Also check your contract, if you’re already paying for a coat room attendant, there may be gratuity included which will make your life easier and then you don’t have to guess. Coat room attendants are often included in your catering contract.
DJ, Band, or Other Entertainment
Offering 10 -15% is a nice gesture to your band or DJ, especially if they have to carry a lot of heavy equipment to your location or created very customized lineup for you. For live musicians, a $25 to $100 tip per band member is appropriate.
Florist
Your florist will definitely not expect a tip, but if they go above and beyond for your wedding day a 10-15% tip would be appreciated for their efforts. This is where a big shoutout on social media and a kind review would go a long way! And they would absolutely love to see the photos of your wedding day afterwards.
Hair and Make Up
A 15-20% tip is more or less excepted, just like any other trip to your local salon. Check your contract to see if it’s already included!
Parking Attendants
Estimate $1-2 per car and round up to a reasonable number… But don’t send them $57 when you get the bill. ; ) Round to a whole number. Also, this might be included in your contract with the company (double check your contract!!).
Photographer & Videographer
Don’t feel required if they own the studio, but $100-400 is a very nice gesture. If they are working for a larger studio or over-arching company $50-200 tip to each photographer or videographer is optional and a nice gesture.
Transportation
A 10-15% tip is entirely optional to your drivers for the day. Also check your contract, these are often already included in your bill.
Venue Coordinator
Often you will have been in near-daily contact with a venue coordinator, and no they are not expecting a tip at the end of the night, but $50-100 for their time and efforts is always appreciated.
Wedding Planner
As planners and coordinators, we definitely do not expect a tip, but if you feel we did an exceptional job on your wedding day or throughout the planning process and you’d like to say thank you… 10-20% is a generous way of saying thank you. Or a sweet gift and thoughtful reviews online.
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Yes, we all know the thought of shelling out a couple thousand dollars worth of tips at the end of the night is a little daunting after everything else you’ve been through… but be conscientious of the many wonderful people that made your day possible!
If you aren’t able to tip right away, consider a hand written thank you note or follow up email, and leave a great review online! If you have issues or problems during the event day, save those comments for a private phone call. Little gestures go a very long way in this industry, and vendors truly appreciate your thoughtfulness!
