Can someone help me unscramble the tipping process?

esunada

So I've read some suggestions on here but they are all different so I figured I'd ask the Mpls/St. Paul people since that is where I am from and we probably have the same or similar vendor expectations. 

Going w/ Instant Request and they suggest $150 tip.

Do you tip the officiant (non-demominational)?

Photographer? Hhe owns the business so no? If you do, how much? 

Florist?  Again, owns the business so no?

I know we tip hairstlist and makeup. 

Catering has a surcharge which I believe is the tip.

Am I forgetting any other tips???

Thanks!

Steph0871

Going w/ Instant Request and they suggest $150 tip. Honestly? I'd be ticked if someone "suggested" any amount of a tip from me.  If you want to get paid more, raise your prices.  Our DJ was $250 and we tipped him $50, because he played a few extra dances (we originally said no dance.)

Do you tip the officiant (non-demominational)? We didn't, but we had a unique situation.  My aunt did most of the work, and he just said about 4 lines, total to make it legal.  I though $300 was more than fair.  If they do the whole ceremony, I would tip though depending on how much they help you.

Photographer? Hhe owns the business so no? If you do, how much?  How ever much you feel is appropriate, but none is required.  I would wait until you receive your proofs.  We booked our photogs cheap ($1k), and they now charge $2500?  They added things for us along the way, too.

Florist?  Again, owns the business so no? We didn't.  Again, if they want to get paid more, they can raise the rates, since they set their own fees.

I know we tip hairstlist and makeup.  Unless they own their business.

Catering has a surcharge which I believe is the tip. Definitely don't add a tip here.  It's more than likely factored in (ours was 20%)

Am I forgetting any other tips???

Are you going to have bartenders?  We tipped ours $30 from a $70 fee (we just gave them each $100 even.)  We did not have a cash bar, so they likely didn't get much in tips otherwise.  

blckwhtyllwgirl

Ugh, we used Instant Request as well and they did that to us. I received 4-5 emails from them reminding me that the suggested tip was $150. It completely turned me off, and once I got the 4th or 5th email I complained.

jentaberson

yeah, I got turned off by that too. They should just pay their DJ's more.

I agree, with the idea that if someone owns their business, they don't necessarily need to be tipped. However if someone goes out of their way/ above and beyond, then it would be ok.

shan87

Here is a link that I found helpful... Sorry if you are a Martha Stewart Hater LoL
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/tipping-wedding-vendors

When we booked my hometown Church they informed me the Church fee was $100 and Father didn't charge a fee. When I asked if Father would accept a tip they said no, but if we wanted we could make a donation to the Church. Since the church itself only cost us $100 we are going to make another $100 donation to the church in lieu of tip.

Our venue includes the staff's tip and the bartenders but we could also add a tip jar for them if we wanted. We are cosidering - no decision yet.

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_can-someone-unscramble-tipping-process?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:b6f425b9-777c-48c3-8005-a819931c1bfdPost:81d302bf-a9f4-48e9-be8d-05f4cbf826a1">Re: Can someone help me unscramble the tipping process?</a>:
[QUOTE]Here is a link that I found helpful... Sorry if you are a Martha Stewart Hater LoL <a href="http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/tipping-wedding-vendors" rel='nofollow'>http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/tipping-wedding-vendors</a> When we booked my hometown Church they informed me the Church fee was $100 and Father didn't charge a fee. When I asked if Father would accept a tip they said no, but if we wanted we could make a donation to the Church. Since the church itself only cost us $100 we are going to make another $100 donation to the church in lieu of tip. Our venue includes the staff's tip and the bartenders but we could also add a tip jar for them if we wanted. We are cosidering - no decision yet.
Posted by shan87[/QUOTE]


Wow your church was only $100??  What church?  All the ones I looked at were $700-$1000!!!

bellaxanthe

I tipped everyone despite the rules about owning ones own business. I did not tip 20%, heck not even 15%, but what felt reasonable on the overall bill and their time. I tipped the Officiant/judge (its a must from different sources). Then I tipped the dance instructors, the dj (own business), the florist (friend and owns own business). The caterer had an hourly fee for all their servers plus a huge service fee. I decided to pay one extra hour as their tip. The chefs and the bartenders I gave minimal  since they were $100 an hour. The day of coordinator I gave generously since she really helped me along the way. The photographer (own business) and her assistant I tipped, I think well, since I really wanted them to do a nice job. And they did and I had my pics back in 2 weeks!  I was actually really pleased with everyone and thought they went above and beyond since I didn't have to worry about a thing that day.

shan87

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_can-someone-unscramble-tipping-process?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:81Discussion:b6f425b9-777c-48c3-8005-a819931c1bfdPost:f56c7a5a-028c-40c3-91d7-c8a3f6ebd6bb">Re: Can someone help me unscramble the tipping process?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Can someone help me unscramble the tipping process? : Wow your church was only $100??  <strong>What church?</strong>  All the ones I looked at were $700-$1000!!!
Posted by kari_lynn222[/QUOTE]

St. Mary Help of Christians, St Augusta MN -- Small town outside of St. Cloud right off Hwy 94 where I went to elementary school and my mom's family grew up.