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Gratuity? Service Fee?

bride2012tobebride2012tobe member
Second Anniversary 10 Comments
in Connecticut

The venue I am looking at has a 20% Service Charge and Tax on top of their price per person package which includes open bar. Do most people tip on top of this? Tip their wedding cordinator? Do I tip the bartenders. Most weddings that I went to that had open bar had tip jars. I am trying to fiqure out the budget and it is adding up quickly

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Re: Gratuity? Service Fee?

  • Ddiva5Ddiva5
    100 Comments
    I would not tip the venue or the bartenders if they have a tip jar but I will tip everyone else
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  • calindicalindi member
    5000 Comments Second Anniversary Combo Breaker
    I'd actually ask them to NOT put out a tip jar - it makes your guests feel like they should be giving the bartenders money when in fact you are the one who should be paying the tips (or your parents, or whoever is hosting) since it's hosted.  Just a small etiquette thing!

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  • Vanessa630Vanessa630 member
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary
    I tipped the coordinator and the waitress/bridal assistant that helped us during the First Look and throughout the reception.
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  • Csam1983Csam1983
    10 Comments
    I have been to several weddings where I know that the bride's parents paid for the wedding which included either an 18 or 20% gratuity charge. Almost every bar had a tip jar which I personally didn't mind. I have also been to weddings where there was no tip jar, but people were still tipping the bartender regardless.
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  • wrdgirlwrdgirl member
    500 Comments
    Regarding the venue, make sure to ask.  My venue specifically told me that we do not need to tip at all because the employees get paid higher than minimum wage.   I had limited open bar so the bartender was also taken care of by the venue. So make sure you ask that question whenever you go venue-hunting - it doesn't hurt and is not wrong to because you want to make sure you get the best service.  

    If tipping is required at the reception site then there are plenty of online guides that you can use (TheKnot has one too).
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  • PeachesKFGPeachesKFG
    100 Comments

    I agree with the PPs, I think the tax and service charge are common among most venues - especially the ones that include just about everything (the food, the bar, etc). For those of you who have tipped the bartenders, I'm curious...how much did you tip them? Did you do it before or after the reception?

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  • reckert7reckert7 member
    10 Comments
    i thought the 20% service charge was for everyone working at the venues tips?
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  • HeatherR45HeatherR45 member
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Comments
    I've seen a few places say that the service charge is NOT a gratuity so I would make sure to check what the service charge is for. I never thought about it, but it doesn't make sense at all to have tip jars for the bartenders if you have an open bar and you're paying gratuity.
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  • bride2012tobebride2012tobe member
    Second Anniversary 10 Comments
    edited January 2012

    Vanessa630: This is what I have heard too.

     

    Csam1983: I have also been to both weddings. I have always left a tip regardless of a tip jar or not. I actually felt like the bartenders expected a tip.

     

    I did ask my potential venue. Tipping is not required and their employees are well taken care of. However, a small token of appreciation to the wedding coordinator/attendants are okay and appreciated but not necessary.

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  • wrdgirlwrdgirl member
    500 Comments
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_gratuity-service-fee?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:65Discussion:6af0abb4-0277-4af7-9c51-b5b52a14e673Post:13b44d86-b04e-45c7-a717-cf8524541893">Re: Gratuity? Service Fee?</a>:
    [QUOTE]Vanessa630: This is what I have heard too.   Csam1983: I have also been to both weddings. I have always left a tip regardless of a tip jar or not. I actually felt like the bartenders expected a tip.   I did ask my potential venue. Tipping is not required and their employees are well taken care of. However, a small token of appreciation to the wedding coordinator/attendants are okay and appreciated but not necessary.
    Posted by bride2012tobe[/QUOTE]

    <div>Make sure that tipping is not required and not expected either.  A lot of places I've looked all said tipping is not required but is expected (which the way it's worded doesn't make sense lol), whereas my venue had specifically told me we didn't need to.</div>
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