Wedding Etiquette Forum

Tip Bartender on What Scale?

We hired two bartenders for 200$/each + tip. Do we tip 20% on the $200 or on the value of the drinks or the value of all the liquor bought for the bar?

Re: Tip Bartender on What Scale?

  • itzMSitzMS member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary
    edited September 2013

    I don't know if there's a rule.

    I'm assuming you won't be allowing them to put out tip jars?

    I would probably tip them $2-$5/guest over 21. Most people tip $1 per drink out at a bar, so that's what I would use for logic.

  • I would tip based on the value of the beverages served.
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  • Just FYI because it has been mentioned, putting out a tip jar is rude. I would say tipping on the value of beverages served would be good.
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  • I'd tip based on 20% of 200. My venue told me how much to tip my bartenders based on how many guests I'm having. I'm having 200 guests and she said to give 60$ (it's their bartenders as well)
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  • As a person who bartended her way through college at a popular resort/wedding venue, I think you need to talk with your caterer and find out what percentage of that $200 is actually given to the bartender. Many companies, especially the more expensive resorts, collect that fee for themselves and rely on tips to pay the bartender. At my old work, the company would automatically charge 19% gratuity on any hosted bar, however that entire amount went straight back to the resort and was dispersed all around (including a nice little kickback to the catering manager). Unless a nice guest decided to slip us a few bucks in appreciation for all the free drinks, we would go home empty handed. By the time payday came around and the money had been dispersed, that 19% turned into about 3%. I hated working hosted bars for that reason. So please, tip your bartended well.

    /PSA 
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  • As a person who bartended her way through college at a popular resort/wedding venue, I think you need to talk with your caterer and find out what percentage of that $200 is actually given to the bartender. Many companies, especially the more expensive resorts, collect that fee for themselves and rely on tips to pay the bartender. At my old work, the company would automatically charge 19% gratuity on any hosted bar, however that entire amount went straight back to the resort and was dispersed all around (including a nice little kickback to the catering manager). Unless a nice guest decided to slip us a few bucks in appreciation for all the free drinks, we would go home empty handed. By the time payday came around and the money had been dispersed, that 19% turned into about 3%. I hated working hosted bars for that reason. So please, tip your bartended well.


    /PSA 
    These are two guys directly hired by me. Not thru any type of caterer or company. 100% of the tip will go straight to them
  • As a person who bartended her way through college at a popular resort/wedding venue, I think you need to talk with your caterer and find out what percentage of that $200 is actually given to the bartender. Many companies, especially the more expensive resorts, collect that fee for themselves and rely on tips to pay the bartender. At my old work, the company would automatically charge 19% gratuity on any hosted bar, however that entire amount went straight back to the resort and was dispersed all around (including a nice little kickback to the catering manager). Unless a nice guest decided to slip us a few bucks in appreciation for all the free drinks, we would go home empty handed. By the time payday came around and the money had been dispersed, that 19% turned into about 3%. I hated working hosted bars for that reason. So please, tip your bartended well.

    /PSA 
    I'm sorry you went home empty handed, but if my venue charges me an automatic 20% gratuity, and calls it a gratuity, I'm not going to tip extra. It sucks for you, but the line I got from my venue was that "our staff is paid well enough that you don't have to tip on top of the automatic service charge."
    Anniversary
  • These are two guys directly hired by me. Not thru any type of caterer or company. 100% of the tip will go straight to them
    Oh then you are completely fine! 
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