Complimentary or Complementary Valet Parking

MargaretHS

I posted this on the etiquette board, but have not received an answer. We are offering free valet parking at the reception. I would have thought the spelling would be complimentary valet parking, but someone mentioned it should be complementary.

Would the spelling be complimentary or complementary and why?

doublenn

You should use complimentary.

com·pli·men·ta·ry 

adjective

1. of the nature of, conveying, or expressing a compliment, often one that is politely flattering: a complimentary remark.

2. given free as a gift or courtesy: a complimentary ticket

com·ple·men·ta·ry 

adjective

1. forming a complement;  completing.

2. complementing  each other.

LeiselEB

Complimentary. 

Complementary (with the E rather than I) refers to things completing or complementing each other. Complimentary means free of charge.

aragx6

Complimentary means free of charge. Complementary means it goes well together. You're right.

MargaretHS

Thanks ladies! I thought I was correct, but of course had to make sure!

Lisa50

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_complimentary-or-complementary-valet-parking?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:fcb99c59-3190-4daa-b207-ac630828aca1Post:36baa64c-6eb4-49a3-b11b-a306387804d4">Complimentary or Complementary Valet Parking</a>:
[QUOTE]I posted this on the etiquette board, but have not received an answer. We are offering free valet parking at the reception. I would have thought the spelling would be complimentary valet parking, but someone mentioned it should be complementary. Would the spelling be <strong><font color="#ff0000">complimentary</font></strong> or complementary and why?
Posted by MargaretHS[/QUOTE]

From dictionary.com (see #2):<div class="header"><h2 class="me">com·pli·men·ta·ry</h2>  <span class="pronset"><span class="speaker"><a onmousedown="spk(this,{lk:'nx1fkx',en:'wotdau',io:'0',b:'wotd',tp:'lrl',m:'wotdau'})" href="#"></a><a target="_blank" href="<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/audio.html/lunaWAV/C07/C0704800">http://dictionary.reference.com/audio.html/lunaWAV/C07/C0704800"><img</a> border="0" src="<a href="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/speaker.gif"> /></a></a></span> <span style="display:none;" class="show_ipapr"><span class="prondelim">/</span><span class="pron">ˌkɒmpləˈmɛntəri</span><span class="pron">,</span> <span class="pron">-tri</span><span class="prondelim">/</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/IPA_pron_key.html" target="_blank" class="questionmark" rel="nofollow"></a> <span style="display:inline;" class="pron_toggle"><a title="Click to show spelled" class="pronlink">Show Spelled</a> </span></span><span style="display:inline;" class="show_spellpr"><span class="prondelim">[</span><span class="pron">kom-pl<span class="ital-inline">uh</span>-<span class="boldface">men</span>-t<span class="ital-inline">uh</span>-ree</span><span class="pron">,</span> <span class="pron">-tree</span><span class="prondelim">]</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html" target="_blank" class="questionmark" rel="nofollow"></a> <span style="display:inline;" class="pron_toggle"><a title="Click to show IPA" class="pronlink">Show IPA</a> </span></span></span><span class="pg"><span><span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">adjective,</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">noun,</span> </span></span><span class="pg"><span><span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">plural</span> </span></span><span class="secondary-bf"><span><span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">com·pli·men·ta·ries.</span> </span></span> </div><div class="body"><div class="pbk"><span class="pg"><span><span>adjective</span> </span></span><div class="luna-Ent"><span class="dnindex"><span><span>1.</span> </span></span><span><span>of</span> <span>the</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nature" rel="nofollow"><u><font color="#0066cc">nature</font></u></a><span> <span>of,</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">conveying,</span> <span>or</span> <span>expressing</span> <span>a</span> </span><span><a style="font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;" href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/compliment" rel="nofollow"><u><font color="#0066cc">compliment</font></u></a><span>, </span></span><span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">often</span> <span>one</span> <span>that</span> <span>is</span> <span>politely</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">flattering:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span><span>a</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">complimentary</span> <span>remark.</span> </span></span></div><div class="luna-Ent"><span class="dnindex"><span><span>2.</span> </span></span><span><span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">given</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">free</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">as</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">a</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">gift</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">or</span> <span>courtesy:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span><span>a</span> <span>complimentary</span> <span style="color:#333333;cursor:default;">ticket.</span> </span></span></div></div></div>