In trying to get an accurate wedding budget, I remembered there are some people I need to tip. What I can't find is tipping for a bartender or "help only."
There's a company I'm probably going to use for catering but may only use their bartender and their "help only." I don't know what their non-alcoholic drink package costs (I haven't met with them yet for that price) but I have to supply all the alcohol and I have the option to provide the non-alcoholic drinks as well. 20% of the bartender price is only $27. Having worked in a restaurant, I don't feel comfortable tipping less than 20% BUT our reception will be around 4 hours long so $27 is only $6.75 an hour, which I feel is ridiculously low for having to serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. I haven't decided yet if we're going to have mixed drinks, but the soda, beer, and wine will just be open and pour so there's not extra work going into that. Any helpful hints on how I should tip the bartender?
Also, we're thinking about making the food ourself and hiring this company for Help Only (basically put the food on the buffet table and tossing the trash for us). For such minimal work, but having to be there for a few hours, should a general tip be based off of the Help Only price? If they kind of go above and beyond I would definitely tip generously but in trying to get a budget, what do you all think?