Tips

blondii428

I apologize in advance if this has already come up a million times! Who and how much do I tip for:

Officiant
Videographer
Photographer
Caterer
Hair and make up stylists
Florist
DJ

Ironically all of our vendors own their own business, is it still necessary to tip??

staar987

I agree with Stage. I generally tip between 15 and 20 percent based on service.

Our caterer couldn't accept tips but that was because they were through our venue which was on a university campus. I felt bad that I couldn't tip the people working the buffet and helping with everything. They couldn't even accept candy from our candy buffet!

Everyone else we tipped about 20 percent except our florist who showed up late and with less than what we ordered.

libby2483

Etiquette does dictate that you aren't *required* to tip business owners.  However, I still did tip wedding vendors who were business owners when I felt that they provided quality service.  

Here is what we tipped the following people you asked about:

Officiant  -- my uncle, so we just gave him a nice bottle of wine and gift card to his favorite restaurant
Videographer -- didn't have one
Photographer -- was the owner of his business, but I know my dad just slipped him some extra cash at the end of the night (not sure of the percent)
Caterer  -- already included a 20 percent service charge, which we confirmed actually did go to towards tips for servers and bartenders
Hair and make up stylists  -- was the owner of her business, but we still tipped 20 percent
Florist -- was the owner of her business, did not tip extra
DJ -- was the owner of his business, but I know my dad just slipped him some extra cash at the end of the night (not sure of the percent)

I'm a firm believer in tipping based on the quality of the service received. I won't tip well if the service was really crappy or not done well, but I tip generously when the service is of great quality.

misssunshine17

I tip based on what I think they deserve. Like I won't tip my photographer until I get my pictures.

I also hate how tips seemed to be required these days. Maybe I'm just a jerk, but other that waitresses, I only tip well if I feel like people go above and beyond. But to expect 20% just because pisses me off.

AJuliaNJ

So, if you have a vendor who charges $10,000 (not food-related), you should tip them $1500-$2000? Even if they are a business owner? 

AJuliaNJ

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tips-15?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:879e5515-8f63-459e-a0ae-2e90a670cd8dPost:45c282e5-b41d-4815-8c28-7a670fc2f97c">Re:Tips</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Tips: Theoretically yea. But i would love to know what service vendor would you likely encounter that would charge that much, Andrea? You tip photogs and stylists based on the total bill. You tip servers based on food charges only, bartenders on alcohol charges, DJs based on their base charge, but don't include any rental fees for extras, etc.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

<div>Haha...remember I'm a NJ bride, Stage. There are plenty of vendors around here that charge that or more easily...DJ's, florists, photographers, videographers. </div><div>
</div><div>Thanks for the guidance on tipping. I'm sure I would have been posting this same thing in a couple months. We'll be prepared.</div>

AJuliaNJ

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tips-15?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:879e5515-8f63-459e-a0ae-2e90a670cd8dPost:dd21e93c-6e75-4a37-9c67-721f625dce0e">Re:Tips</a>:
[QUOTE]Well, you don't need to tip florists, and I don't care where you live, if a DJ is charging you 10k to bring his laptop and mic and hook into an existing sound system, you're getting screwed.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

$10,000 is probably too much for anything related to one night, but there's always someone who will charge it.

PrettyGirlLost

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tips-15?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:879e5515-8f63-459e-a0ae-2e90a670cd8dPost:3194e2d3-d614-4810-bc62-099999af7e0f">Re:Tips</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Tips : $10,000 is probably too much for anything related to one night, but there's always someone who will charge it.
Posted by AndreaJulia[/QUOTE]

You mean always someone who will pay it.

AJuliaNJ

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tips-15?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:879e5515-8f63-459e-a0ae-2e90a670cd8dPost:77d47320-d1a3-40c0-b513-ae2c602fabe6">Re:Tips</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Tips : You mean always someone who will pay it.
Posted by cmsciulli[/QUOTE]

<div>Yes, they go hand-in-hand really. They couldn't charge it if people wouldn't pay it.</div>

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tips-15?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:879e5515-8f63-459e-a0ae-2e90a670cd8dPost:3194e2d3-d614-4810-bc62-099999af7e0f">Re:Tips</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Tips : $10,000 is probably too much for anything related to one night, but there's always someone who will charge it.
Posted by AndreaJulia[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>I priced some photographers that charged $8,000. And I'm in an area with a very, very low cost of living, so I'm sure there are photographers that could cost that, although I think you were meaning more food-related, like the entire cost of the food for the night.</div><div>
</div><div>And Stage saying there shouldn't be any DJ charging that--I agree. Hell, I priced one for $3,000 and thought he was crazy pants.

</div>

AJuliaNJ

All the DJs we met with also quoted us audio visuals, lighting, piping and draping, guest photo shoots,and probably some other stuff. So I was not accurate in saying DJ; entertainment vendor might be more appropriate. The DJ part is closer to what you're saying. Would I tip this vendor on the total amount which includes equipment rentals or just the service part? I'm so confused and don't want to unintentionally stiff a vendor. Btw, 10,000 isn't the price were paying. It was just a nice even number for the example in my question.

AmandaKess

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tips-15?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:879e5515-8f63-459e-a0ae-2e90a670cd8dPost:70bff3c2-a86f-4855-8b9e-ddfca5c38f0f">Re:Tips</a>:
[QUOTE]Plan to tip between 15 and 20 percent, based on how much you like their work on your wedding day, not on whether or not they "own" the business.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

This. 15-20 is pretty much standard for tipping period, make the call based on how well you worked together and how they performed on the wedding day.

CALEO

I'm pretty sure we won't be following the 20% rule.

Those tips would be insane. 

My guess is that we'll give each waitstaff/bar person $100, the day of coordinator 150-200, the site coordinator $100, etc., the dj 1-200,  the flower person and her 3 helpers 100 each, etc.

I think it would be CRAZY to tip the florist $1,200, or to tip the dj $1,000, or the DOC $400, or the site coordinator $2,400.   Those are what 20% tips would look like.

Our caterer already includes the 20% service charge (which is a tip - we asked) but I think it's fair to give everyone $100 for the night on top of that since there are so many people splitting that 20%.