Your Complete Guide to Wedding Vendor Tips
Tips for wedding vendors are often a place couples get tripped up in the weeks leading up to their wedding day. Who should get a tip and how much? While tips for many vendors are not required, they are always greatly appreciated. Below, we outline who you should tip, how much, what to consider in tips, and answer one of the most frequently asked questions about vendor tipping culture.
Vendors You Should Almost Definitely Tip
Catering Staff:
If gratuity isn’t already included in your contract, you should be setting aside tip money for the catering and kitchen staff. We suggest a flat rate per person rather than a percentage of your total contract. You can ask your caterer before wedding day how many staff they will have on-site so you’re prepared.
Amount: $50-200pp
Beauty Services:
Treat your hair and makeup services for wedding day just like you would at a salon for a normal haircut or beauty treatment.
Amount: 15-20% of total cost
Transportation:
Lots of times, gratuity is already built in to the final cost of transportation. If it’s not included, we always recommend tipping the drivers for the day.
Amount: 15-20% of total cost
Deliveries:
If you’re having any deliveries made on wedding day, like furniture or late night food, we highly recommend tipping the delivery people.
Amount: $20-40pp
Photo by Chaz Cruz Photographers.
Vendors You Should Tip For Exceptional Service
Most wedding vendors don’t expect tips, but appreciate it as a token of your appreciation for their hard work and time. If you are blown away by your vendors’ service or found that certain vendors really went above and beyond to make your day special, a tip is a good way to thank them for that. This applies to any of the following vendors:
DJ, photographers, videographers, florist, bakery, planner, or officiant.
Amount: $100-300pp.
For musicians, such as a string quartet for the ceremony or a reception band, we recommend $50-100pp.
Photo by A Day of Bliss Photography.
What if the Vendor Owns Their Own Business?
Advice we consistently hear is that if a vendor owns their own business, you don’t need to tip them since they should build in all necessary costs into their pricing. While the owner’s pricing should reflect fair compensation for their work, tips are always appreciated as a “thank you” or additional gratitude for work that blew you away. While tips are never expected for the owners of small businesses, they are appreciated if you think they did an exceptional job.
It’s also important to remember that business owners typically have a team of staff helping them on the day-of. for example, your planner will have 2-3 additional team members working 10-12 hours on your wedding day. Your florist will enlist the help of multiple people for setup and breakdown. Your photographer will hire a second shooter or assistant. All these extra people don’t own the business and a tip goes a long way to express your gratitude for their hard work.
Photo by Tracy Jade Photography.
At the end of the day, tipping is a very personal choice for most vendors. If you were really impressed with your vendors, an extra tip at the end of the wedding day goes a long way. If you prefer, a handwritten note expressing your gratitude and appreciation is also a great way to thank your vendors.
