Are you supposed to tip the officiant?

Miracle Cat

Hey folks,

My FI and I have been going over the vendor payments for our upcoming wedding since we plan on having all of the vendor's payments organized in envelopes with tips for the day of the wedding so that it's easy for us, the MOH, best man or a family member that we delegate to pay each of the vendors when something interesting came up. We know it's customary to tip the majority of vendors, but we were surprised to discover that we didn't know whether or not we're supposed to tip the officiant (whose fee is a whopping $300 by the way)....Does anyone know if it's expected or customary to tip the officiant that performs your wedding ceremony?

JenGin74

Yes, you should tip your officiant.

Ours was also $300 and I tipped her $100. We also invited her to the reception.

hcorr34

I was just coming here to look for a similar question.

I know my officient...very well.  I'm a teacher...he's my principal and like a father-figure to me.  We've been working together for 13 years. 

He's not charging me, and he and his wife are invited to the reception.  I kind of feel awkward tipping him so I'm not sure what I should do.  Any suggestions?

KentuckyKate

Is your wedding at a church?  If it is, I would suggest making a donation to the church.  If not, tip him.

Beachy730

OP- where does that $300 go?  Our ceremony fee was $300 but $200 of that went to the Parish and $100 went to the priest.  We did not tip him on top of that, but we invited him to the RD and the reception. 

Hcorrigan- If he isn't charging you I would give him something.  Maybe a gift card to a nice restaurant or his favorite restaurant or store.

iamsteph

Ours is $525 for the rehearsal and the wedding ceremony. All of it she pockets. I am wondering about tipping as well. 

Beachy730

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_supposed-tip-officiant?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:4da260c7-fe33-4ddc-93c7-cae8ec9172f5Post:a688d7c3-7a80-4c8a-aad3-e5c139bb91ea">Re: Are you supposed to tip the officiant?</a>:
[QUOTE]Ours is $525 for the rehearsal and the wedding ceremony. All of it she pockets. I am wondering about tipping as well. 
Posted by iamsteph[/QUOTE]

Wow that is a lot.  I definitely would not be tipping if she pockets all of that.

ariver2011

My FH great uncle will be officiating our wedding. He is not charging us, but we will be getting him a nice gift to thank him. 

vlizz

Our officiate is a pastor my has known for a few years and we are both very close to. And he is not charging us. So we are going to get a gift card for he and his wife's favorite restaurant, and I think a starbuks card as well.
But I don't think tipping is necessary if they are already being payed.
(I asked my momma and she says that it isn't required)

shoegal715

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_supposed-tip-officiant?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:4da260c7-fe33-4ddc-93c7-cae8ec9172f5Post:9eded2fd-c0d5-4996-a63a-313865d78035">Re: Are you supposed to tip the officiant?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Are you supposed to tip the officiant? : Wow that is a lot.  I definitely would not be tipping if she pockets all of that.
Posted by dnbeach12[/QUOTE]

<div>That's almost exactly what we're paying.  She's a one-woman show so we're not tipping her. </div>