Tips?

NO2012 · February 2012

I'm trying to total up all of the many smaller expenses in my budget and am a little stumped on tips (who to tip and how much). Can you all give me your thoughts on these vendors: hair (on location- I am paying a travel fee); make-up (on location- I am paying a travel fee); DJ (owns his own company...is this merit based at the end of the night?); Second Line Band; limos (gratuity is included in the price...give a little extra anyways?); and carriage. Am I missing any? We haven't decided on a caterer yet, so I am not sure what the gratuity arrangement will be for that. Bartenders? TIA.

raven541 · February 2012

I would love to get an idea about this too. Are you suppose to tip all vendors? I have a problem tipping some vendors on top of the small fortune I am already paying them.

MarcusandMelissa · February 2012

This is such a good question. I, too, am curious.

Our vendors are: florist, videographer, photographer, reception band, 2nd line band (same as reception), transportation (passenger buses), ceremony musicians, DJ, officiant. Who to tip and how much?

Our venue/caterer already charges a whopping 20% for a service fee so we will definitely not be adding to that gratuity, but I'm so curious as to the others.

louisianablue · February 2012

I'm planning to tip the following:

hair, makeup, limo driver, coordinator, dj, ceremony musician, second line and sushi chef. I think that covers everything.

I just don't really feel like it's necessary to tip the photographer, but maybe I'm wrong. Should I tip the photobooth attendant?

NO2012 · February 2012

Oh man, I didn't even think about the photobooth attendant!

Supernova985 · February 2012

read this about the service charge!

http://amberevents.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-is-catering-service-charge.html

louisianablue · February 2012

My caterer specifically states that the cost includes tax and gratuity, so I don't plan to give an additional tip.

NO2012 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_louisiana-new-orleans_tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:84Discussion:fb380a37-16c4-4d79-b814-4a1ee001c6a3Post:60bcec53-b07d-4157-a4f7-e096f00b2b9e">Re: Tips?</a>:
[QUOTE] I have a problem tipping some vendors on top of the small fortune I am already paying them.
Posted by raven541[/QUOTE]

I am not cheap, and this is not the time to cheap out, but I hear ya! Maybe *QueenJane,* *LOLWays* or *Kate504* can chime in on what they did since they have already been there and done that. ;)

mnols · February 2012

I would love to hear thoughts on this as well!

lmitche · February 2012

I asked my wedding planner this question the other day and she said that tips should be given if someone went completely above and beyond - otherwise, everyone was getting paid to do a good job.

The exceptions:
Carriage driver (we're not doing limo but I imagine same would apply)
Bridal Attendant at reception site (this one I hadn't thought about until she said it so I was glad I asked!)

I think for us gratuity is included with the reception/catering costs and maybe even with the florist for delivery but I'm not sure about that one.

Aside from what she said, I'm sure we'll still tip the hair/makeup people and then I haven't decided about the photographer/music yet.

joycemacek · February 2012

my wedding planner told me that you tip people who are employed by someone else, for the most part, unless they've gone totally above and beyond. My florist (erin steen) and photgrapher are self employed, so I didn't tip them, same goes with the caterer and wedding venue owner/manager, but I did tip bartenders, sound guy, wedding coordinators, band, hair/make-up lady, limo driver, (catering included gratuity). Didn't tip the passenger van guy because he worked for like 25 mins total (just picked up guests from hotel, navigated mardi gras parade and dropped them off at the venue.

NO2012 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_louisiana-new-orleans_tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:84Discussion:fb380a37-16c4-4d79-b814-4a1ee001c6a3Post:69e231d3-807f-467f-8f1f-e21374ed5028">Re: Tips?</a>:
[QUOTE]I asked my wedding planner this question the other day and she said that tips should be given if someone went completely above and beyond - otherwise, everyone was getting paid to do a good job. The exceptions: Carriage driver (we're not doing limo but I imagine same would apply) Bridal Attendant at reception site (this one I hadn't thought about until she said it so I was glad I asked!) I think for us gratuity is included with the reception/catering costs and maybe even with the florist for delivery but I'm not sure about that one. Aside from what she said, I'm sure we'll still tip the hair/makeup people and then I haven't decided about the photographer/music yet.
Posted by lmitche[/QUOTE]

This was helpful. Thanks.

RYLZ · February 2012

I know there are lot of "rules" out there but based on my recent experience (we got married Feb 11), I would say, some of this will be decided on the day of. We had all our little tip envelopes lined up ahead of time but the reality is our actual experience with each vendor really drove our final decision about tipping.

In general you might not be expected to tip an owner but our photographer, for instance, took on the role of almost a secondary wedding day coordinator, going so above and beyond what she was expected to do, that I couldn't imagine not tipping her. Some other vendors were adequate but did nothing special-- ripped open one envelope, moved the tip to another :-)

One of the limo drivers was surly and unhelpful-- kept that tip envelope in my purse :-)

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