Tipping...help!

jenmac628

so I know this topic has been discussed before and I searched older threads and googled this endlessly but I am still perplexed!!!
Here is the situation....We are being charged 20% gratuity on food/alcohol. I was told that on the day of our wedding, we will have a maitre d, event manager (we have met neither yet) and our event coordinator (new- she started about 3 months ago) will be there for half the event to run everything. I am not sure if I am supposed to tip all of three of them equally or separate or just give it to the maitre d to divide up. Also, not sure how much/what % of the bill to tip on. The websites that I have looked into suggest to tip 15-20% but I don't think that is appropriate or feasible given we already have that built into our contract.
Can anyone let me know if they have been in a similar situation or will be and what the did/are planning to do?
Sorry so long but I am stressing over it!

Teep

We're planning on bringing cash. $50 to everyone who serves at the reception, $100 for the DJ, photographer. Give them whatever you feel they deserve.

mandy122782

I had a similar situation. We were charged 20% gratuity plus a surcharge. We were debating on tipping extra. We were going to tip extra if we felt like they went above and beyond. We did not really feel like anyone in particular went above and beyond. My stepdad had some extra cash with him the day of the wedding in case we decided to tip extra, but we did not use it. I think it really depends, but in my opinion I don't think you are required to tip extra when there is already 20% that should be divided amongst the workers. I had a day of coordinator that was not linked to my venue as well. She did most of the work in my opinion.

I thought this list was helpful:

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-budget/articles/wedding-vendor-tipping-cheat-sheet.aspx

Sorry I couldn't get it to be clicky.

Hope that helps. GL

jenmac628

Thanks Ladies- it does help!

rluber

omg i didnt even think about this!!!!! we have a 21% gratutity charge....which i was told just went up for 2011 brides to 25%! when you say you are going to tip every , do you mean everyone whos serves like the bar tenders and wait staff?

Bean32

Our venue had a 21% gratuity built in. That is a buttload of money and giving the maitre'd and event coordinator an additional tip seemed ridiculous to us. 

We did give our waiter, who was awesome, an extra $50. I know both of our fathers tipped their tables' waiters too, but it was because they thought they deserved it, not because they felt like they had to tip on top of the already added-in 21%.

jenmac628

Thanks Bean- I am with you on giving more seems ridiculous! I was curious what others did. I guess its a "day of" call if anyone is exceptionally impressive!

WLevine75

I agree with Mandy.The 20% gets divided among the banquet staff. If you want to tip extra that is up to you. I was going to tip my wedding planner at my venue, because they do not get part of that 20%.