Bar Tip Jars

Jay+Marissa

What do you think of this? At my wedding I noticed the (horrible) bartender (who later asked for the extra beer as payment--hello, we are paying you!) had commandeered one of my centerpiece vases to use as a tip jar. Forget that they couldn't even find said vases until about an hour before the reception started.

Are tip jars the normal when the bride/groom provide the alcohol and pay for the bartender? I think a lot of my guests felt like they had to tip every time they got a drink, and I didn't really want them to feel like they had to pay--we did a hosted bar for a reason!

Donnaaries

No! That's ridiculous, the tipping is taken care of in the service charges you're paying for.  And if they do an excellent job, and you feel the need to tip additional as the bride and groom, it's up to you guys.  The guests should not be pressured to tip!

Sorry to hear that, Marissa.

fallbride1109

Yikes, no.  Very tacky. 

I never saw our bar.  I sure hope we didn't have one!

ETA:  Of course I meant, very tacky of the bartender, not of you of course. 

melissaandjoel

We brought in our own alcohol, and hired outside bartenders. They did not ask my guest for tips and I would have been upset if they had.

bsn1752

Oh my lord... I can't believe the nerve!  I would definitely be saying something to your venue (or whoever hired him) about that... it was extremely tacky on his part.  I've never heard of a wedding bartender that requires tips as well.  Bartenders/servers are tipped when making 2.13/hour, which I'm sure you paid more than that, and his "gratuity" was more than likely included in your total fee.  How rude.

I'm sorry about that! 

Jeff and Deepthi

Sorry to hear that too... but I have seen it as the norm. The weddings I've been too even when the bride and groom host the bar the tip jar is there. I would have been annoyed if he took one of our centerpieces though and asked for the extra beer!! Really?? Can I just subtract that from the price I'm paying you?

Kris612

I never saw our bar either, I hope we didn't have one!
Tips should normally be included in the total fee when booking. I think it makes it even worse that he took one of your centerpiece vases!!

Jay+Marissa

So I'm not crazy then...we might just add it to the list of things to complain to the caterer about. Honestly, I don't even think the dude was certified. He had no idea what he was doing, the bar line got ridiculous and delayed dinner, and the actual bar area was a mess. He even asked me about buying (hinting to get some free) some of the half bottles of wine at the end of the night. HELLO--I'm the bride and I'm really not worried about that right now as I'm trying to leave!

melissaandjoel

Marissa did you only have one bartender? We had 2 bartenders and a bar back for my 225 wedding guests.

Jay+Marissa

We were supposed to have two. We ended up with one--and the lady who was supposed to be bartending was there (her daughter ended up in the hospital).

It was just another part of the catering disaster

melissaandjoel

Yea things would have probably run smoother with 2 bartenders for the amount of guest that you had. But he still sounds like a horrible bartender using your vase as a tip jar and asking for the leftover wine.

Tiffany618

I didn't see our bar, either.  Yikes!

We paid our bar fees plus 20% so there better not have been a tip jar! (and using your centerpiece vase? What nerve!) 

I would definitely add that to your complaint list.

amberpro

That is incredibly unprofessional.  The gratuity (probably a completely superfluous one- especially based in the service provided) was probably added into your bill.  His whole attitude seems tacky.  I'd write complaint letters to anyone who would listen- including the Better Business Bureau.    

llc2011

That is very unprofessional of your bartender.  I would definitely note that in your growing list of complaints.

serlace

Yeah - that's ridiculous.  They are already getting a tip from you. 

ewinkler1977

WOW that is really tacky of the bartendar. I mean its a wedding not an actual bar.  I can't believe he did that.

tnickel06

I didn't notice if we had one or not! Hopefully not! It sucks that you had a bad bartender.

Myles+Tami

Not excusing his behavior by any means.. he did several things that were incredibly unprofessional. But you did bring up a good point! Every wedding I have ever been to has had a tip jar. The Tribute, the Canyon Creek Country Club, and Capella Court being the most recent that I can remember.

I will definitely make sure that I go over that with the bartenders beforehand!!!!