Thoughts on Tipping????

anniemac1581

Okay....I am totally confused on how to budget tipping and gratuities.  I have my catering manager or maitre d figured out but the rest..well I have no idea.

The contract for my venue has a huge service fee but states it is not considered a gratuity and Ive beent old that the bartenders and waitstaff are not allowed to accept tips?  I was told to only compenstate the event manager.  I waitressed weddings at a Long Island catering facility for nearly five years and can count the times on one hand we (the waitstaff) were tipped, which was FINE because we were paid welll so it was never expected.

What about DJ and photographer?  If they exclusively own the business and are working solo?  The limo driver if gratuity is included per the contract?  I dont want to be cheap and want to make sure I budget correctly if I am expected to shell out a lot of tips...but also dont want to overcompenstate either....

Any info or help from past brides and what you have done would be great!

chelseamb11

I would ask the venue directly about how you can tip the waitstaff/bartenders.  Ask them if the tip you give to the event manager is split or if it's just given to the manager.

Usually with any other vendor, if they own their own business as that vendor, you don't need to tip.  If they are an employee of that business, then it's usually customary to tip if they did a good job (unless it's already specified like with the limo)

mcskatcat

In addition to what the PP said, I would also be asking the venue what that service fee entails if it isn't gratuity.  If the service is fee is large, I would be asking for a line by line report showing what that charge covers.