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Gratuity Question (Caterer)

jpvacajpvaca member
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in Wedding Etiquette Forum
Our caterer owns his own business and we are paying him for food, service and rentals. Each workers (including him) costs us $150 and he divides it all up, so we tip him for the entire thing. The gratuity is at our discretion...but do I base the tip on...a.) just the food ($1,440)b.) food and service ($1732)c.) food, service and rentals ($1950)d.) food, service, rentals and tax ($2100)*e.) other*this makes the tip per guest 40% of the food cost.(The difference between a. and d. if $600 which is, ps., half the cost of my entire ensemble.)
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Re: Gratuity Question (Caterer)

  • ootmother2ootmother2 member
    Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer
    Food and service
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  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its
    just food.  I'm assuming they are not providing the beverages.  If they are, then it would be food and beverages.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
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  • jamm2019jamm2019 member
    Knottie Warrior 500 Comments
    Food and service. With my caterer in the end she added and 18% gratuity automatically to cover tips for the workers.
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  • tidetraveltidetravel member
    Ninth Anniversary 5000 Comments
    I would just tip on the food/drink cost.  I personally wouldn't tip on top of a service charge.
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  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its
    I'm suprised that people think food and service.  Where I work tip is only on food and beverage only.  We would never add tip to rentals.   I'm not even sure what 'service' even means.  But if it's fee for the service staff, why would tip on that amount?For example in addtion to f&b, at our venue we had to pay $30 per staff per hour for a 8 hours.  We did not include that when we figured out the tip.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
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  • TurtlesAllTheWayDownTurtlesAllTheWayDown member
    10000 Comments Sixth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Is the service charge a flat rate to pay for staffing? Or is it an 18-20% charge for service on top of food? If it's the latter, I don't know that tipping is necessary. Perhaps just $20 or so in an envelope for each of the servers? The latter usually means the servers already work for the catering company, making an hourly rate, and that "service charge" is for them, much like automatic gratuity at restaurants when you walk in with a large party. If it's the former ($30 per server per hour), the venue is hiring what basically amounts to independent contractors and paying them x amount per job. Take that how you will.No matter what, you never have to factor in the tax when you tip.
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