TIPPING!

dietrying333

So I just got the proposal from my caterer, who will also be in charge or our rentals, but they will be outsourcing it through another company. She tacked on an 18% gratuity charge for the food, which was to be expected, but ALSO for the almost $2000 in rentals and $1800 in waitstaff fees. Does this seem right? The entire waitstaff is $25-30/ per hour per person, tipping on top of that seems excessive, and tipping 18% on rentals? Seems like an overkill.. am I being cheap?? Is this a normal charge?

crash2729

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tipping-57?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:39db4ceb-91d5-4778-af15-01f0921ebb61Post:59386907-5cbe-4677-9509-9c49e0d6e271">TIPPING!</a>:
[QUOTE]So I just got the proposal from my caterer, who will also be in charge or our rentals, but they will be outsourcing it through another company. She tacked on an 18% gratuity charge for the food, which was to be expected, but ALSO for the almost $2000 in rentals and $1800 in waitstaff fees. Does this seem right? The entire waitstaff is $25-30/ per hour per person, tipping on top of that seems excessive, and tipping 18% on rentals? Seems like an overkill.. am I being cheap?? Is this a normal charge?
Posted by dietrying333[/QUOTE]
I would say the charge it normal. Most of my vendors charged me gratuity or "service charges" on top of my bill. <div>Did it explicitly say "gratuity charge"? If so, I think you are fine not tipping additional money.</div>

dietrying333

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tipping-57?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:39db4ceb-91d5-4778-af15-01f0921ebb61Post:350e3f85-4104-4c4d-8105-7d78ca70b1db">Re: TIPPING!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to TIPPING! : I would say the charge it normal. Most of my vendors charged me gratuity or "service charges" on top of my bill.  Did it explicitly say "gratuity charge"? If so, I think you are fine not tipping additional money.
Posted by crash2729[/QUOTE]
     Thanks, I guess I just didn't expect all the extra fees for rentals... It definitely said "gratuity charge". 

melb2013

Gratuity charges from caterers is normal.  I wouldn't tip on top of the that.

andrea2473

I didn't think gratuity for rental fees is normal.   Gratuity is for services, not goods.  

lyndausvi

Our venue charged us $30 per hour per staff member for at least 8 hours, but there was no "service charge".  We tipped on top of that.    We also had to rent everything (to a tune of $8k) and were not charged any service charge on that.

I would have a problem paying gratuity on rentals.   That doesn't seem right. UNLESS the rental company charges the venue some sort of service charge.  If that is the case, then there is not much you can do.  The venue is not going to pay out money to another company for your rentals.

If the rental place isn't charging the venue a service charge, then I would fight that part.  Or at least get it reduced. I'm sure the the gratuity is their way of getting some sort of payment for the labor needed to arrange everything for you.

sbc2013

I would just ask what the charge is for and why it is so high. If we're talking about them having to unpack and repack 300 crystal glasses and they would be the ones stuck with the charge for any broken pieces, that sort of charge would be understandable, in my opinion. Otherwise I seriously don't understand why the "gratuity," and why it is so much. I'm assuming the $2000 is entirely separate from the rental charges you are paying, and without knowing what you are renting, that seems really excessive. 

nextrightthing

Are they doing set-up with the rentals?  That's the only reason I can think of for the gratuity.

Miss_2010

Our meals have the normal 13% taxes PLUS 15% grautity.  That is normal but nuts.  So our $28 per head chicken breast meals ia actually about $37 per head.  Our limo service tacks on a $100 mandatory tip for the driver which I am in complete disagreement with.