tipping at liberty house

Knottie25099668

Hello Everyone!

I'm having my ceremony, cocktail hour and buffet style reception wedding at Liberty House. I'd like to know how the tipping works. For those of you who have had your wedding there: did you tip everyone? Meaning the day of staff, coat check attendant, ladies room attendant, valet parkers, maitre D, bridal attendant, and your planner??? If so how much did you give??

JoanE2012

Did you ask them?  Most venues have a mandatory service/gratuity charge that they disperse to the staff.  The only tip that was not included for our venue was the maitre d.  And we also gave something extra to the on site coordinator/planner.

Knottie25099668

i haven't asked, but i will double check with them! thanks for your help.

JoanE2012

Another thing to keep in mind.....if you have an open bar, make sure they don't leave a tip jar out for the guests!  You'll already have paid the tip in the gratuity/service charge, don't let them try and double dip for tips!

Jenn7778

Totally agree with @JoanE2012.  I specifically told both the venue general manager and our Maitre'D that we do not want any tip jars on the bar or them putting any money on the bars to solicit tips.  I told them if we (or my DOC) sees this at any point through out the night we will be deducting gratuity from the bar tenders tips as well as the Maitre'd.  Nothing irks me more at a wedding then when there are tip jars out. 

Knottie1424696124

I have to disagree. I am newly engaged and booking at Liberty House and will have no problem with the bartenders or waitstaff being tipped. If my guests feel they provided good service or that the staff went above and beyond and want to tip them then they are welcome to.
I bartender weddings when I was younger and it was a long day and you didn't see the $ from the service fee (although the venue will insist that they do).

Cookie Pusher

Knottie74521204 said:

I have to disagree. I am newly engaged and booking at Liberty House and will have no problem with the bartenders or waitstaff being tipped. If my guests feel they provided good service or that the staff went above and beyond and want to tip them then they are welcome to.
I bartender weddings when I was younger and it was a long day and you didn't see the $ from the service fee (although the venue will insist that they do).

It's up to whoever is hosting the event to tip their vendors. Guests should never have to open their wallets while attending a function being hosted as a thank you to them for witnessing a couple getting married. Just... no.

I mean, by your thinking, should guests tip the photographer for taking a picture of them at their table? Should they also each tip their server? Should they tip the officiant if they make the ceremony especially poignant and touching? No. These costs should be paid by whoever is hosting the event.

Knottie1424696124

Whether there is a tip cup or not I will always hand something to a bartender and the person handling my table at a wedding if the service they provided warrants it. Could just be the way that I was brought up and the fact that I both bartended and was a waitress at one point. Now that I have the means to do so, I'll always tip. Personal preference, I guess.

The others you mentioned really don't make sense as they aren't the same in service provided to a guest, sorry. This is just my thought but I do have a number of friends and family members who feel the same. Again, personal preference.

Jenn7778

@Knottie74521204 If you choose to tip due to good service that is 1 thing and would be your decision.  Our issue is with the venue or bartenders asking for tips via a tip jar on the bar which is rude.  I would not want my guests to feel pressured to give a tip especially when I will be tipping the bartenders (as well as valet and coat check) myself as the host of the party.

If 1 of my guests WANTS to tip even though there is not a visible tip jar that is totally acceptable and up to them.  I just feel like the bartenders should not be soliciting tips from my guests, they should be soliciting tips from me!

JoanE2012

Knottie74521204 said:

I have to disagree. I am newly engaged and booking at Liberty House and will have no problem with the bartenders or waitstaff being tipped. If my guests feel they provided good service or that the staff went above and beyond and want to tip them then they are welcome to.
I bartender weddings when I was younger and it was a long day and you didn't see the $ from the service fee (although the venue will insist that they do).

If I was a bartender and the venue wasn't giving me tips, I'd find a new venue to work for!

It is not appropriate for a venue to put out a tip jar when the couple pays a gratuity/service charge.  If a guest insists on tipping without a tip jar, I think that's fine.