Gifts for friends providing services

jaybug76

My best friend, also my man of honor will be doing the hair for me and the bridal party and a friend who is a professional photographer will be taking the photos at my wedding! My question is, what is a proper gift to give to these friends (as they have said they will not accept payment for their services). I do not want to insult them with a too small or too large gift! Any suggestions out there

Blue & White

Wow, for hair I would likely just make his man of honor gift a bit more than bridesmaids. But the general consensus is that you should shop like its his birthday.

For photos, he or she is giving up a potential weekend where he or she could make anywhere from $2000-5000+ shooting another wedding. I'd go over the top for this gift. I have multiple professional photographer friends and am paying the one whose work I like the best. I have a bit of a discount but I'm sure she will make that back in her tip.

Just my two cents. I'm sure others will have actual ideas

rkbo

How about gift cards to the companies they use for their business....The man of honor, how about salon supplies gift card? Professional photog a gift card for a place they either get printing done or get supplies at? 

itzMS

Do you know how much they normally would charge for services?

I would provide a cash tip or gift card equivalent (only you know your friends' preferences) equal to 20% of their normal "going rate".

Your friends are incredibly generous!

jcrmc

I am kind of in the same boat...lucky in that our friends and family are so incredibly generous and helpful, but I have no idea what to get them!!

Groomsman is a 4-star chef who works in resorts, and is not only doing all the bbq cooking/marinades what have you, but has also told us that his gift to us is that he is *supplying* the meat!! (rather than us pay back his rate from suppliers)

Next-door neighbour to my mom went to school with my (deceased) father, and is giving us 1 or 2 big spring salmon for the bbq (he is the manager of one of the fish plants near my moms house)

One of my best friends works at a banquet hall doing in-house catering, and is also a wedding cake baker - she is doing our cupcakes and will be helping me get all our platters done (we are buying food, she is helping get it cut/sliced/plated)

FIs dad is a professional photographer and is doing our photos.

We are sooooo eternally grateful, but have no idea how to properly thank them...dont want to UNDER gift and dont want to OVER gift,you know? Obviously gift to them on an individual basis, but yeah...OH and dad and groomsman are out of towners, so gift has to be portable.