How much do you plan on tipping your wedding vendors? It's one of the most overlooked and under-budgeted aspects of wedding planning, but including this "hidden" expense in your wedding budget from the start is your best bet to avoid running out of money at the end of the evening. It's also important to know when the tip should be given and who should do it. Most tips are paid by the host of the wedding (or whoever is paying for that aspect of the wedding) and are presented by the host, the wedding consultant or the appointed "go-to" person (usually the best man, the maid of honor or a parent) in an envelope the moment the job is done. Here are the guidelines:
Caterer, club manager, hotel banquet manager: 15 to 20 percent of the food and drink bill or 10 percent of the bill if there is also a maitre d'hotel. The tip is often calculated into the contract and paid in advance. If gratuities are not covered, the tip is given in an envelope during the reception.
Maitre d'hotel: 15 to 20 percent of the food and drink bill or $1.50-5.00 per guest, given near the end of the reception.
Waiters, waitresses, table captains: Be sure to find out whether the maitre d' will be dividing his tip with the staff. If not, the tip should be 15 to 20 percent of the food and drink bill and given near the end of the reception.
Bartenders: 15 to 20 percent of the total bar bill. If this tip is included in the catering bill, you may want to tip them an additional 10 percent near the end of the reception, but never let them display a "tip jar" for your guests to contribute to.
Powder-room attendants, coat-room attendants: $1-2 per guest, or arrange an appropriate sum with the hotel or club management. This tip is paid in advance, and a sign saying "Gratuities have been arranged by the host" should be displayed.
Parking attendants: $1-2 per car, or arrange an appropriate sum with the hotel or club management. Again, this tip is paid in advance so that guests will not be expected to pay.
Limousine or carriage driver(s) : 15 to 20 percent of the total bill, given at the reception site.
Delivery truck drivers (florist, baker, etc.) : $5-10 each, given at the delivery sites.
Musician(s), DJ: 15 to 20 percent of their total fee, given in envelopes at the end of the reception.
Beauty, hair and nails: 10 to 15 percent of your bill, unless your service is done by the owner of the salon.
Seamstresses: Optional: $15-25 per fitting.
When not to tip:
Officiant or clergy: Civil servants (judges, justices of the peace, etc.) are not permitted to accept tips. Clergy are generally paid a flat fee for their services, or they may ask that a donation be made to their house of worship instead.
Hair, beauty, nails: If your treatment is done by the owner of the salon, a tip is not appropriate.
Florists, photographers and bakers: Because these vendors are most-likely self-employed, it's not appropriate to tip them. However, if one of their staff does something remarkable to make your day that much more special, feel free to tip that person directly.
