Wedding Etiquette Forum

Tips vs Gratuity etiquette

Okay, so I know at a restaurant, when you have a party of 6 or 8 or more, the gratuity is already on the ticket and that's your tip.  I usually tip more especially if the service is good but that's besides the point.

For our wedding, some of our vendors have the gratuity included in the price as a separate line item or priced out in the total.  Am I supposed to tip more than that?  Or is that actually the tip?  Or is it up to our discretion if we tip more based on how good of a job they do?

Example, (and this isn't a real example, just throwing it out there...)  the DJ costs $2,000 and inside that price, there's a gratuity of $200.  
Would I just leave it at the 10% tip?  If he does a phenomenal job, of course I would like to tip him more but am I kind of expected to tip him personally more than that?  Or no?

Example #2: (again, not a real example...) the caterer costs $4,500 and there's gratuity of $900 included in that price.  That's 20%.  Am I supposed to tip each person another something extra?  Or just leave it to their boss to delegate the gratuity?  Or do I give the boss a lump sum for an extra tip and ask him to distribute it?

And then some of our vendors (like the tent/tables/chairs rental company) does not include gratuity in their pricing.  They set up the main tent and one side tent but not tables or chairs or anything else.  As a general rule, do I tip them?  How much (% or $) is normal?


Thanks in advance...

Re: Tips vs Gratuity etiquette

  • For vendors where a gratuity was included, we only tipped extra if they did an excellent job - above and beyond.
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  • What's the standard rate for a company when they don't include gratuity?  Like the tent rental company
  • edited June 2015
  • If gratuity was included, we did not tip extra. Though I supposed if a 10% gratuity is included, but in your area gratuity is generally more, you could tip to make up the difference.

    15% is the norm around here. 
  • I asked my restaurant (where i'm having my reception) about this because I was afraid that they'd put out a tip jar on the bar. They responded that the service jar covers the tip and I (and my guests) are not expected to tip more.
  • Thanks everyone!
  • I asked my restaurant (where i'm having my reception) about this because I was afraid that they'd put out a tip jar on the bar. They responded that the service jar covers the tip and I (and my guests) are not expected to tip more.
    What's a service jar?
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