Tipping Advice

melissamerchant

Hi there,

Longtime lurker, first time poster. Let me start by thanking everyone on here for the wonderful advice and reviews that have been posted, they have been invaluable in helping me make decisions.

Now onto my question I'm an Australian and the whole idea of tipping is a little foreign to us. I know that it's standard to tip 20% and that we should be tipping anyone in a service industry . . . but what counts as a service industry? Who should we be tipping? Here's my list so far, have I missed anyone (or included someone I shouldn't have)?:

Hair and makeup

Limo drivers

Cake

Bartender

Caterer

Minister

Florist

Photographer (I have 2, 1 is Cashman's and part of the package, do I need to tip them?)

We are having the ceremony at Chapel in the Clouds followed by a photo tour for the bridal party (with Bentley and Wilson doing the photos and Presidential supplying the limos). We are then having a reception at the Vista Suites (Mandalay Bay), catered by Masterpiece (who are also providing a bartender, but we are supplying the alcohol). Flowers will be by Flowers in the Field and cake by Drago's. 

Thank you again

Melissa

hmgiffor

Are you having a DJ? I also wouldn't tip Cashman unless the pictures turn out really well since you are kind of forced to use them. 

Also, I wouldn't necessarily do 20%. Google "wedding tipping" and I have found some great numbers to use...I think VegasGroom also has something on his website. 

tcnoble

General rule is you don't tip someone who OWNS the business providing the service - for us, our photographer owns the business entirely, but we will probably still tip her based on how our photos turn out.

The 20% rule won't always hold true for these services - look at the amount you are paying, and often 20% will be too much. We won't tip our DJ 20% of the contracted price - but he will get a tip based on his performance. 

Tipping is tricky - I typically tip based on the service and don't stick to a hard and fast 20% rule.

vegasgroom

I can't see myself tipping the cake or florist vendors; we didn't tip ours as they both included a delivery fee.  The other industries all tend to employ people at a service wage who expect the tip.  I would not tip cashman; when you see their prices for prints and things the next day, you'll want to give them a four letter word as a tip.

melissamerchant

Thanks for that guys (and for the literal laugh out loud Vegasgroom). Obviously we want to keep costs down where possible, but also reward hard work (and make sure that people get an actual living wage). We also don't want to come off as ignorant tourists