working a wedding... gift?

irisanne123

I'm bartending my friend's upcoming wedding.  She technically hired me (I'm an experienced bartender and she's paying me), but we're still friends.  Just wondering what peoples' opinions are on buying a gift if you are working a wedding.

My wedding photographer friend says she generally just gives a card.  I see nothing wrong with that, especially when she gives our friends a discount. 

irisanne123

Also, I wouldn't have been invited had I not been hired to be the bartender. 

And, I did buy a small gift, so I'm really just interested in what people think, in the even this comes up again.

tidetravel

You do not need an invitation to give a gift.  If she's a friend, you're happy for her, and you want to send her a gift, then by all means, go ahead.  But, you're absolutely not required to.

Catwoman708

I would also go with a small token gift. 

Wrkn925

I bartended a wedding, paid, as a favor to family of a friend.
I did not give her a gift.
She asked me to put out a tip jar, and I refused.
My gift was not making her guests feel uncomfortable.
I don't think you NEED to give a gift to a wedding you are working.

Consider what you would do if you weren't invited, and you weren't working.  Do that.

kimp67

Since you're a vendor & wouldn't be invited otherwise, not required at all.  It's very nice of you to do so though.