Tipping

mariantheb

Hi Everyone!

My wedding is a week and a half away so FI are starting to talk about envelopes for tipping...can you guys give some advice on what to tip? You don't have to give an amount, even a percentage or an idea would be great...one of my girlfriends said to tip 10 percent of total wedding cost to the maitred but that is like 4K...is that true?? Even when I said gratuity is included in our price per head, she said I should still give 10 percent of total wedding cost..is that true? that seems like an awful lot when a 20 percent gratuity is already included in the price. I  have no idea about this stuff..

Also, any help of how much to tip photographer, videographer, Dj, etc would be helpful...I hope I am not being too bold my asking...I would love a PM if you do not want to post an amount on the board...thanks so much in advance

Rangergirl

4k?? That is um, a lot... When FI and I originally had a different venue booked, total cost of wedding for guests was $16,000 and we were told by the hall that a good tip for that would be $400 for maitre'd. They included the gratuity in our plate price however they said the maitre'd wasn't part of that. I'd go somewhere in that range if that's the number that came directly from the hall.

Vendors such as DJ, photographer, etc, I would do the 10-15%, that is what we plan on doing. We'll round up to a nice even number should it be close (i.e. round an $80 tip up to $100 or something).

mariantheb

Thanks! Yeah I am working with Cathy at the Merioand she is fantastic and I want to show her that we appreciate her work but I doubt we can swing 4k...

LiaAli

Yea I am confused about the tipping as well. Who do you tip and how much is appropriate?

mp375

I asked our event coordinator so that we did the right thing when it came to tipping.  She recommended tipping:

DOC-because she is ours she didn't give an amount

personal waitress-100$

DJ-$50-100

photographer 50-100

videographer-50-100

photobooth attendant-$50

hair/makeup-20% of total

I hope this helps!

mariantheb

Thank you!

LiaAli

that does help, thanks so much!

LisaLPharmD

Marian, in our case, is the maitre d our coordinator? What are you giving yours? I didn't even think about that

Rangergirl

From what Stephanie told me, we have a seperate Maitre'd (but they are called Captains - if you met Dee at any of the tastings, she is one of them) the night of the wedding. Our coordinators are there as well but they are two seperate people at the Merion.

LiaAli

Rangergirl I am a Merion bride too! What room are you having your reception in? Isnt Stephanie the best?!

mariantheb

Okay so I remembered  a friend of mine got married at the Merion last year and this is how she broke it down for me (what she did at least-she had 160 people so less than I am having but a good guide:

Organizer/Coordinatior: 200-300 dollars. She said they do not stay the whole time so give this to the coordinator early on in the evening

Captain/Head Waiter: 100-200 dollars

Maitre'D of the evening: She originally had 200 but her maitre'd, who she thinks his name was Jim, was awsome so they threw in another 50 or 75

What are your guys' thoughts? We may give a smidge more b/c it is a pretty large wedding but I found this to be a great guide

LisaLPharmD

Oh geez, I'm glad I saw this bc I had no idea these extra people even existed and I wouldn't have known to give that much! I would have been embarrased if I was unprepared!

Rangergirl

Lia, I'm in the Skylight Ballroom I was just there today actually, it makes me so happy to be in there, lol. I LOVE Stephanie, she had made everything happen that we have wanted or needed and helped me make the decisions I had no clue about. She is an absolute lifesaver and has laid out the timeline of this wedding so well considering how neurotic I am about the whole thing! I thought I was the only Merion girl on here with Stephanie! What room are you in?

LiaAli

Aww that makes me feel so good! We still have 11 months to go until our wedding but so far Stephanie has been amazing. I feel so comfortable with her. I am in the Palazzo Ballroom, thats the one down that beautiful hallway! I really fell in love with the Merion. And I know what you mean about being in there makes you so happy, I feel the same way when I go! Your wedding is so soon, are you excited?! We still have to do the food tastings and all that ...but i hear that the food is amazing. I'm really glad to hear that everything is running smoothly for you though. I am a bit neurotic myself so thats definitely comforting!

piscesbitz

What about the bar tenders???  We have an open bar, but I heard that it was customary to tip so that the guests do not have too...  Any ideas??