When you eat out at a restaurant, you expect to leave a tip for the service you’ve received. Depending on where you are in the world, tips may not be expected at all, but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t grateful for the service. So, you leave a percentage and the waiter is happy they were recognized for their effort. When it comes to your wedding, it can be tricky to figure out how much you should tip your vendors.
You don’t want to spend time scrambling for cash on your wedding day, so you need to make a list of vendors you plan to tip in advance and have envelopes ready with those tips. You can hand the task of giving out the tips to the groom, but you should consider that you are going to be so busy on your day. Getting your tips right is important if you want to make sure that you can show your appreciation for your day going smoothly. So, who do you tip?
Hair and makeup
If you are fortunate enough to have a professional come in and sort the hair and makeup for you and your bridal party, you should offer a tip. You should consider 15-20% of the fee as the tip, and this will help you to plan your costs. Most of the time, hairstylists and makeup artists will come in from elsewhere and travel to get to your venue very early in the morning. This is a service that works around you, so a tip is a nice touch.
Caterers
Your wedding catering may have taken months to figure out, from the wedding breakfast to the evening buffet. It’s important that you and your group look your absolute best and caterers should be at the top of your list. Some caterers include the tip in their bill, but if yours hasn’t, add a 20% fee on top as a tip for their hard work. A lot of catering companies will provide wait staff and serving staff, so a tip is a nice way to thank them for the work they do managing guests and keeping a smile on their faces all day.
Waiting Staff
We just mentioned that catering companies often provide waiting staff. So, add your tip outside of the catering fee. A token of $20 or more for each waiter will be an acknowledgment of their hard work on your biggest day.
Bar Staff
Bar staff keeps your guests happy all night. They spot the empty glasses and fill them up, they create beautiful cocktails and they ensure that the drinks flow throughout. A tip should be 10% or more above the bar tab that you set for your wedding day.
Wedding Planning Team
If you have a wedding planner, the tip here is optional, but some brides like to tip as a thank you for all the stress they put onto their planner throughout. Wedding planners do not typically receive tips, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot give one! Use your discretion here!
Tips are not a must, but they are a wonderful way to show gratitude!
