Tipping your vendors

ellentravis

Hi ladies,

I put a post on my local board asking how much people were planning to tip their vendors and got a response from only one person saying that she had no idea we were supposed to tip florists and DJs. So I'm wondering... Did I get it wrong? I thought it was understood that you tip vendors for a job well done -- since mine is a destination wedding I just wasn't certain how much.

What's your opinion? Tip vendors such as florist and DJ, or only tip hair and makeup and officiant? Take my poll and help, please!

LilMissScareAll

We tipped:

hair & makeup

DJ

photographer

Elvis impersonator 

photobooth attendant

bartender (above included amount)

banquet captain

(servers & bartender were  taken care of in the service charge to the venue)

We didn't tip the florist, we never saw them. They set up the reception tables and then the hotel brought the bouquets & bouts to my mom while we were out taking photos.

specialk84

We tipped the following:

Hair and makeup
Florist
Cake delivery crew
Caterer (we went beyond what was required, since they did a fabulous job)
Limo driver
Photographers
DJ

LittleMissCutiePie

Tipping is a courtesy, however it's not necessary for mediocre or unsatisfactory service. Many non-self-employed people in the wedding industry (ie. servers and officiants) don't make enough off of the regular fees alone. If they go above and beyond in any way, you should tip.

lyndausvi

We tipped:

Hair stylist (my SIL is a profession make artist so she did my makeup)

Transportation drivers

Bartenders

Waitstaff

Cooks/dishwashers  ** not necessary, but our venue was off property for these guys and there was a storm and they had to go above and beyond.  I didn't feel right tipping the bartenders/waitstaff and not these 3 guys who worked just as hard that night.

Coordinator/banquet manager

DJ

Photographer    ** note we tipped the assistant.   I didn't want to tip the photographer until I saw the final product so we thought  buying prints from him instead of somewhere else cheaper was a way to 'tip' him

2 tent company guys who had to give up their Saturday night to make sure our tent didn't collapse because of a strong tropical storm that blew through on the wedding day.

The officiant was independent so we didn't tip him.  Our florist charged a $50 delivery charge and I never saw them anyway, so no tip.  Cake was through the caterer.

ellentravis

Wow, thanks ladies. I really never considered not tipping -- especially independents. Thank you for the insight!

melntaitt

I'm leaving that job to my very capable Dad; he's got an eye and I think from one of the articles I read, it was one of his duties. Good luck!

krizzo17

I didn't answer the poll because I'm tipping different people than any of your options. We're not tipping the venue above what's included in the contract, because they verified that the entire tip goes directly to servers, waitstaff, etc.

I'm tipping the ceremony/cocktail hour musician for accomodating my special requests

I'm also tipping the dj and his assistant, the photographer, and the flower delivery person if we choose to have flowers delivered to the house, rather than straight to the venue. Also, my hairdresser, but I always tip them anyway.

ellentravis

Thank you! I realized my poll was rather limiting but couldn't edit after I created it. Thanks for your help!

dravecky4

im glad you asked this. someone told me about tipping vendors but im with you, how much? Did anyone use a certain percentage or just a standard amount?