Gratuity

Re: Gratuity

• hh581842 member

  

  March 2010 edited December 2011

  this was in Brides Magazine: Must-have tipping guide

  
  

  Ceremony musicians: $25-50 each.  This is a best man duty to be handled after the ceremony.

  
  

  Alter boys/girls: $5-10 each.  Best man duty

  
  

  Limo/bus driver: %15 percent of bill if not added into the contract.  Best man after service is rendered.

  
  

  Truck drivers: $5-10 each. Whoever is supervising (mom, planner...)

  
  

  Valet or parking attendants: $1.00-2.00 per car.  Arrange this amount with the supervisor based on the expected number of cars.

  
  

  coat check attendants: $0.50-1.00 per guest. Arrange this amount with the supervisor based on number of guests.

  
  

  Servers and bartenders: 15% of your total catering bill, split among servers (unless it's added to the contract ) 10% of bar bill, split among bartenders.  GIve the money, in advance, to the catering manager, or, at the end of the evening to the banquet manager.  *personal note:  I work in the restaurant and hospitality industry, and 15% is generally low.  If you felt service was good, I would give 18-20% of the general service bill.  Also, most restaurants or banquet departments at hotels will automatically charge a service fee for the bar and servers with the general bill so you prob won't have to worry about this one.*

  
  

  Restroom attendants: 0.50 to $1.00 per guest.  Arrange amount with supervisor, based on expected number of guests.

  
  

  Wedding planner: a personal gift.  You or mom deliver it at end of reception.

  
  

  Hairstylist and makeup artist: 15%-20% of the bill.  Tip after service is rendered in salon.  Brides says no need to tip if the stylist comes to you, but i don't really believe that.  I would prob still tip.

  
  

  Officiant: $50.00-75 for a judge or clerk, if allowed.  For a clergy member, the standard is a donation of 75-100.  This is another best man duty, to be dealt with post ceremony.

  
  

  Photographer/videographer: 15% if they don't own their own business.  Tip at the end of the evening, when you're saying goodbye.

  
  

  DJ or band: $25 per band member, up to $50 for a DJ.GIve tips to bandleader (or DJ) at the end of the evening. 

  
  

  this is in the November/Dec 2009 Brides issue btw.  Hope this helps!

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• watermelonseed33 member

  

  March 2010 edited December 2011

  Wow! That is honestly an insane amount of tipping! I had no idea that alter boys were supposed to be tipped. I think it's a little riduculous so many of those tips on the best man! Geez. I don't know I mean am I the only one that feels this way?
  
  

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• hh581842 member

  

  March 2010 edited December 2011

  I don't think it means it comes out of the best man's pocket--I think it means that it's the best man's duty to give such and such person your tip.  You're the one tipping for services rendered to you, but you and the groom are kinda busy lol so you need other people to do it.  If you have a planner the day of, you could prob just have her hand out all the tips. 

  
  

  And yes, it's a lot of tipping, but not all weddings have all these services, and we live in the US.  Ours is a tip based culture.  I think based on the fact that these people don't make a lot of money on the services themselves, tipping is not just fair but expected.  If you don't feel like you want to tip them then don't have them provide that service at the wedding. If you've traveled you probably noticed how much more expensive things are in some other countries, and it's because all service gratuities are included for everything.  We have lower prices, and are expected to tip. That's just how it is girl.  

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