Tipping your Wedding Vendors | The Weducation Series

Is a post about tipping your wedding vendors a little weird coming from a wedding photographer? Maybe. But we get asked this question a lot.

Several of our couples don’t have a coordinator/planner, or if they do, they’re technically a “venue coordinator” and don’t field these types of questions for them.

Tips are not expected in many service based professions, but the couples that do tip businesses like coordinators, photographers, DJs, and the like are the ones that feel as though they went above and beyond to let us know we’re appreciated.

If you’re in any wedding planning groups, you’ll see a lot of “a review is the best tip we can get” responses from vendors… and yes, while we love reviews, no one is ever going to turn down a tip (or even making a donation to a worthy cause they support).

A general rule of thumb for any vendor is 10-20% of the total bill, but we will break it down for you by vendor type. Always check your contracts for already included gratuity – you won’t need to tip those vendors again. Just a note: service charges are NOT gratuity, and we know that this wording can often be confusing.

You’ll also find articles all over the web saying that you shouldn’t tip certain vendors – but we are no longer in the era of big businesses in the wedding industry, and small businesses do fall under the category of “nice to tip”.

Tipping is never mandatory, of course, but there are some vendor categories where it’s definitely considered “expected”. We’ll also talk below about what to do if tipping isn’t in the budget.

TIPPING TIPS

Budget for and prepare your tips before your wedding day, marked envelopes work best.

Tipping in cash is recommended. If you’d rather tip digitally,
collect your vendors information before the wedding.

Designate someone else to give the tips to your vendors.

Tip when you’ve received fantastic service – even if that means you’re sending the tip after your event with a thank you note.

What to tip (and when) by Vendor Type

* indicates tip is generally expected. Always check your contract for pre-included gratuity.

Wedding Planner/Coordinator
10-20% of their total, up to $500.
Planners assistant: $50
When: End of reception, or sent with a thank you note within 2 weeks of the wedding.

Hairstylist *
15-25% of the service total based on quality and/or difficulty
When: At the end of the service

Makeup Artist *
15-25% of the service total based on quality and/or difficulty
When: At the end of the service

Delivery & Set Up Staff *
$5-15 per person. You’ll need to confirm this total before your wedding day.
When: Upon delivery of your items for your wedding (this can be before you arrive, so make sure you plan ahead)

Officiant *
$50-100 depending on the amount of time they’ve spent working with you on your event (sometimes a donation is expected in lieu of tip or in addition to a tip, if they’re connected to a house of worship).
When: Upon their arrival to the wedding or at the marriage license signing

Musicians (ceremony or reception) *
$15-20 per person for ceremony; $25-35 per person for reception.
When: Upon completion of their performance

Videographer
$50-200 per person on the team
When: Upon completion of their day

Photographer
$50-200 per person on the team
When: Upon completion of their day

Event Staff (servers, catering, bartenders, attendants etc) *
10-20% of the total bill OR
Catering and Banquet Manager $100-300/ea
Head Chef and Head Bartender: $50-100/ea
Waitstaff and Kitchen Staff: $20/pp
Valets/Coat Staff: $1-2/guest (or car for valets)
When: Sometimes this is written into your bill and paid prior to your event. If not, this can be done at the beginning or end of your event.

DJ
$50-150 per person on the team
When: Upon completion of the reception

Transportation *
15-20% of the total bill
When: This is often included in your total bill and paid in advance of your event. If it is not, this should be paid at the end of the last ride.

Florist
10-15% of the total bill up to $300
When: If they deliver, upon delivery. If you’re picking up, tip them then.

Photo Booth Attendant
$50-100 depending on the length of your photo booth or guest count
When: Upon completion of their service

Baker
$50-100
When: If they deliver, upon delivery. If you’re picking up, tip them then.

Stationer
$50-100
When: When you receive your product

Alterations
$25-50
When: Upon completion of their services

What if tipping isn’t really in the budget?

There are so many ways to say thank you – from a Starbucks gift card, a small thoughtful gift that reminds you of your vendor, a thank you note, a review (please, please always review the vendors you love), or a donation to one of their favorite causes, there are budget friendly options (and some of these are even free!) to show your vendors love.

We’ve received everything from Wine to Starbucks and Costco and Amazon gift cards (always a win), to tickets to a movie theater to cuff bracelets (Kate is obsessed), boutonnieres and corsages to wear for the day, or even sometimes the same gift given to the wedding party members.

Vendors should never make you feel obliged to tip them (keep in mind, there are a few standard “expected” tip categories like wait staff, catering, bartending, musicians, hair and makeup and officiant).