Valet-tipping

melb2013

Our venue provides valet service.  We've arranged to tip the valets separately.  But I'd like the guests to know that they don't need to tip.  Is it rude to put out a sign that says that people shouldn't tip?  Is that presumptuous?  Is we should include a sign, how should it be worded?

Summer2011Bride

I would probably put something in your invitations, maybe on an insert (if they haven't already gone out) that says valet parking will be complimentary or something to that effect. If guests still want to tip, they can. I know for our wedding, gratuity for the bartenders was paid by us, but some guests still chose to tip on their own (we had no tip jar, but they still gave the bartender a tip). You can't really stop them if they choose to.

If they have been sent out already and if you have a website, can you make a note of complimentary valet on there? If not, I think a sign at the valet stand saying "Complimentary valet parking for ______ wedding" or something would be OK, esp. if other non-guests may be using the valet. I wouldn't specifically mention anything about not tipping though.

STARMOON44

I would absolutely not mention this anywhere on your invitations I would find it really strange. Tell the head valet guy that you'll be taking care of the tip, and have him tell his guys to refuse tips. This shouldn't be an unusual request for your venue.

melb2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_valet-tipping?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:28c34464-178b-46da-98f3-8b1619c95a9bPost:fda56226-b0ce-4217-b0bb-9c6eea1c77d1">Re: Valet-tipping</a>:
[QUOTE]I would probably put something in your invitations, maybe on an insert (if they haven't already gone out) that says valet parking will be complimentary or something to that effect. If guests still want to tip, they can. I know for our wedding, gratuity for the bartenders was paid by us, but some guests still chose to tip on their own (we had no tip jar, but they still gave the bartender a tip). You can't really stop them if they choose to. If they have been sent out already and if you have a website, can you make a note of complimentary valet on there? If not, I think a sign at the valet stand saying<strong> "Complimentary valet parking for ______ wedding" </strong>or something would be OK, esp. if other non-guests may be using the valet. I wouldn't specifically mention anything about not tipping though.
Posted by Summer2011Bride[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>This is exactly the phrase I was looking for, but was blanking.  We don't have a website and already sent out our invites.  I think we'll put this out.</div><div>
</div><div>The valets do know that we are tipping them, but I'd still like to somehow indicate to our guests that they don't have to tip, that's all.  

</div>

jessicabessica

I have seen a sign when you walk in to some venues that says "all gratuities included" or something like that to signal to guests that bartenders, valets, etc. are all being tipped already.

Summer2011Bride

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_valet-tipping?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:28c34464-178b-46da-98f3-8b1619c95a9bPost:c61f2dc8-dcca-463a-a028-0c1df27d39c4">Re:Valettipping</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>I would absolutely not mention this anywhere on your invitations I would find it really strange. </strong>Tell the head valet guy that you'll be taking care of the tip, and have him tell his guys to refuse tips. This shouldn't be an unusual request for your venue.
Posted by STARMOON44[/QUOTE]

I didn't say on the actual invitation; I said in an insert. Many invitations come with inserts for the reception, accommodations, and possibly other info. It would not be weird at all to mention this on a reception insert. OP has already sent out her invitations, but for anyone else with the same issue, this would not be that weird at all.