Leaving the bartenders tips??

ericatowey · October 2009

Hello! My fiance and I are having an open bar and I am wondering if it is tacky or thoughtful to make baskets for tips for the bartenders during the cocktail hour and reception.... thoughts ladies?? Thanks!! Erica

kdcwedding · October 2009

Typically, if you are paying for the bar, you should cover the tip as well. Some people might tip anyway, but they would feel obligated to tip if there was a tip jar out.

kmmssg · October 2009

Tacky. It is YOUR and FI's responsibility to make sure they receive their proper gratuity. At DD's wedding last Spring her FI hired the bartender, agreed to the contract, signed, etc. During the reception I saw they had a tip jar and asked the coordinator to have them take it down. My SIL didn't realize how inappropriate it was to allow them to have the tip jar and allowed it as part of the contract. I could have died.

danieliza1127 · October 2009

Tacky. You are paying for the bar and the gratuity is your responsibility as well. Usually it's built into the venue cost, they'll call it a service charge.

MeaghanandMichael · October 2009

Personally, I understand the logic of not making a tip jar for the bartenders because you don't want your guests to be encouraged to open their wallet for anything as a good hostess. The reality of the situation is, people will tip.At my wedding, after tons of money had piled up on the bar by time we got to cocktail hour, H just went over and told them to pocket the money as it came in just to get it out of sight. They put out a discreet wicked basket to the side that they kept tidy after that. The bartender thanked Mike as well for telling them what they should do.

stina93446 · October 2009

If you're paying, you're also taking on the tips. Tacky!

tenofcups4me · October 2009

Tacky. If people want to tip, they will, whether there's a tip jar or not. Having it out makes it seem that it's *expected* that they will tip, which your guests should not have to do.

lyndausvi · October 2009

I think they are tacky and it's your responsiblity to tip the bartenders.

KitteeBride2Be · October 2009

Tacky. Tip well and make sure they don't put a tip jar out.We tipped the bartender quite well and she STILL put a tip jar out on the bar. I didn't know this until AFTER the reception was over bc I didn't go to the bar at all. H said he didn't even notice until the night was over and it was overflowing with cash. Good for her, but yuck for us. I always side eye a tip jar at a wedding and I'm annoyed one was out at mine.

buttaflai · October 2009

I hate tip jars anywhere.

*BeachBride0410* · October 2009

Make sure you don't already have a service charge gratuity already on your contract....then you don't even have to tip on top of that, unless you want to.

jamm2019 · October 2009

I wouldn't do it...If your guests see a tip jar they will feel obligated to tip. I would not want my guests to feel that way at a party that I invited them to...