Tipping Suggestions

wellstern

The reception site that we booked includes the bartenders and catering staff in it, but what about the photographer, dj, limo driver, etc? Should you tip these people? What about if you have alterations done on your dress, even if you purchase an alteration package, should you tip the individual that specifically works on yours? 

Mary Susan and Chris

Yes, Yes, and Yes!!! They need to be tipped. They work hard to do a good job for you and some spend hours before hand like the DJ getting music ready for your day. My FI is a DJ for weddings and I know he spends a lot of his own money getting music from itunes and other sources for peoples weddings and at so many of the events he doesn't even get a Thanks from the Bride and Groom. Most of the time he has spoken to the bride or groom during the week in preparation for the event. It seems the "high Maintenance" brides are the ones who want everything and then there is not a word or anything in return. So, speaking for my FI and other vendors PLEASE tip.

NillaWafer10

Generally you tip everyone who provides a service. The exception to this rule is if the person owns the company.  However, you still need to tip any support staff they bring along.

Even though you have paid the venue for the service staff, you still need to provide each server with additional compensation.  However, you should check your contract, because sometimes they add in the gratuity before hand.

If your bartender puts out a tip jar (which many of them will regardless of your instructions not to), you do not need to double tip them. 

I'm not sure I would tip the seamstress though.  Maybe I'm wrong about this, but I've never heard that they require gratuity.

jemmini6

I'm personally not planning to tip any of our vendors, but only because it happened that our officiant, photographer and DJ own their companies.  It's also in our venue contract that a 20% gratuity is added to all food and beverage purchases, so obviously we will not be tipping extra.  If this is not the case for you, then yes, tipping is probably a good idea since it's likely that the company they work for gets at least 20% of the fee you are paying for the service.