Wedding Etiquette Forum

vendor gratuities?

Do you HAVE to give tips to vendors? I didn't even consider this & just read about it recently. Is it absolutely a must? I just cannot afford it. I figure with the amount of money we are already paying them, is a tip really necessary?? If I could afford to, I would tip, but I just can't afford it. We are paying for the wedding ourselves & I am so stressed out. Thanks ladies.

Re: vendor gratuities?

  • Here are the rules on tipping.

    1) check your contracts, tips may have already been included in the total price, if so, no extra tip  needed.  

    2) is the vendor performing the task the owner of the company?  If so you do not need to tip  (typically people like florist, cake baker, DJ and photographer own their own business, but they might have an assistant, who should be tipped)

    3) if the person performing the task is NOT the owner of the company and it does NOT state in the contract that gratuity was added you NEED to tip them 15-20%.  Figure out a way to make that happen, otherwise, that's pretty low.  
  • Thank you. Didn't even think about that part if they are the owner, so that DEFINITELY helps! I will also reread the venue contract to check if tips for the waitstaff, bartender etc are included. If my contract states that there are 2 photographers w/the pkg I selected & only one of them is the owner, do we still tip the other photographer? Lastly, we are getting married outside by a JP. I assume we tip him? Thanks again!
  • If your contract states that you will have two photographers, then yes, you should give a tip to the assistant (non-owner) photographer.

    Is the JP a self-contractor, or is he an employee of a service?
  • Ok. Thank you for clarification on the photographer situation. Now I just have to figure out what dollar amt to calculate & base the tip on. :) The JP is a self contractor.
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