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Weddings and Tipping: To Whom and How Much?
Weddings, Tipping, and the Reception...
Reception sites and/or caterers will include the gratuity (tip) in the cost of their services. Sometimes this fee can be as high as 20% or more. For that reason, you do not give a tip to wait-staff or bartenders. You've already given them one! Check your contract!
However, the person who is managing the affair on the wedding day, either the catering manager, or captain, or maitre D' must be tipped. While many people do so at the end of the reception, I advise that you tip them before the wedding reception begins for exemplary service.
A large wedding of 100 people or more at a catering facility, hotel or club, for example, would warrant a tip of $100.
The Other Wedding Vendors: Whom Do You Tip?
Other vendors who will service your wedding ceremony and reception include: The photographer; videographer; florist; DJ, band or orchestra; and baker (the wedding cake).
These vendors are not tipped, however, if you feel they've given you exemplary service then you may--but that's up to you. Give whatever you can afford and what you think they deserve. The tip is given to these vendors at the end of the reception.
Tips: The One Wedding Vendor Exception!
There's one person whom you must tip, and whose livelihood depends on your tips, and that person is the limousine driver, that guy or gal who transports you to the wedding and reception, and who carries you and your groom off into the sunset once the reception ends.
The normal tip is 15%-20%. So be sure you take enough cash with you to tip your limo driver adequately once the reception ends--and you are on your way to happily-ever-aftering!
Comments
This is a very useful hub. It is a subject that many people struggle with. Thank you.
The captain that is in charge of your function does not have to be tipped any more than the server would be. They both share that 20% service charge as both of them are commissioned employees at least this has been the case at places that I have worked at. The server works just as hard as the captain to make your wedding day or other occasion special if you tip one then why not the other? Great article though.
- Author
I disagree with you totally. While the servers and Captain and/or Maitre D' do split the tip, it's the Captain or Maitre D' who manage the affair. They are the supervisors of the event. Should something go amiss, the hosts of the wedding do not run to a server to solve the problem. They go to the Captain or Maitre D', who are responsible to see that the entire affair runs smoothly and is successful. That is a BIG responsibility and is well worth the extra tip. Thanks much for your comments; they're appreciated!