Tipping

[gwennebe]

Ok, I'm confused. I just got an estimate for our caterer. There is a 15% service charge included that is said to be for labor, gas, insurance, equipment, etc. It also states that gratuity is not included and is discretionary. So, how much should the tip be and to whom? Say like $20.00 a person that is there? More?? It's only going to cost us $1,165 with the amount of guests we have. I just don't want to look like an idiot.

[bichonlvr]

Hmmmm....I think I would tip the people delivering it only..sounds like they already put fees into it!!!

[SouthernQueenBride]

Hmmmm....I think I would tip the people delivering it only..sounds like they already put fees into it!!!

I agree... unless someone really goes out of their way and you want to make sure they get a little extra.

[WebLady]

Tips are always optional; it is good to consider tipping when someone goes above and beyond what is expected of them or does an expectional job.

It is especially nice to tip those that have done a service for you for little or no charge. In some cases vendors will include gratuity in there fees, so you might want to check the contract and/or ask if you are unsure before you over tip them ;)

The amount you tip is depenant on what you paid them to begin with, how long they were there and how good you think they were.

Here is a list of the vendors you should consider tipping and how much:

- Officiate: Anywhere from $25+ donation and/or invite them to the reception for a nice meal. (If he/she is not charging you for the service, consider giving more)

- Coordinator/Planner: $25 - $100 (Depending on their fee and what they end up doing for you)

- Limousine driver/chauffeur: about $10-$25 should suffice.

- DJ, Musician: $25-$50 (depends on how long they stay)

- Photographer, Videographer, etc: $25-50 and don't forget
assistants, though they usually would get about half.

- Servers, Maitre D' & Bartenders: 15% (or about $1-$2 per person, as in a seated service reception)

[RevMatty]

As I always say,
good service = good tip
Excellent service = excellent tiip
Poor service = poor tip


Tip only if you feel the need to tip.

[firespirit]

As I always say,
good service = good tip
Excellent service = excellent tiip
Poor service = poor tip


Tip only if you feel the need to tip.


I wish this were the case around here. My caterer is including gratuity is the price and that seems to be the norm. And we are having a buffet so it's not like they have to do much...

I get really annoyed with the automatic 18% gratuity on certain size groups, especially when the service is poor.

[RevMatty]

I wish this were the case around here. My caterer is including gratuity is the price and that seems to be the norm. And we are having a buffet so it's not like they have to do much...

I get really annoyed with the automatic 18% gratuity on certain size groups, especially when the service is poor.
I use to work in the restuarant field, I know what your talking about. I personally never cared for that. Cause I always knew I'd have one server that was poor, and they'd get an equal part of the tip.
And I've only tipped once at a buffet, that was cause the "server" went out of her way to give me excellent service. Or more like flirt with me. (Before I was married)

[cassiopeia]

Our caterer has a suggested gratuity of 18% of the total food cost listed on the estimate. I would assume they then split that amongst the staff as they see fit?

[shawnsgirl]

For our reception venue they included the 18% gratuity in our total costs. I would really prefer them to have us tip optionally with a minimum amount type instance. The staff at our venue was AMAZING, but if they did a poor job I would have been upset giving that 18% gratuity. It's like mandating tipping which should only ever be optional! Same thing occured with the limo driver. We paid the gratuity upfront because it was required. He was 5 minutes late. Drove like a bat out of you know where both to and from the hotel and ceremony location. I was upset. I did call the limosene business we rented from and complained about his insane driving and I'm upset about the size of the tip he received because he did a horrible job. Of course they didn't give me any money back, which isn't the reason why I was calling but I did find out they changed their policy! Now it is optional!

[hummingbird521]

Ok, I'm confused. I just got an estimate for our caterer. There is a 15% service charge included that is said to be for labor, gas, insurance, equipment, etc. It also states that gratuity is not included and is discretionary. So, how much should the tip be and to whom? Say like $20.00 a person that is there? More?? It's only going to cost us $1,165 with the amount of guests we have. I just don't want to look like an idiot.

I remembered this post and had a book here called "weddings for dummies", please don't be offended by the title. :bblol: Here is some excerts from the book on tipping and gratuities:

Catering party manager: $200 and up or a personal gift, depending on the complexity and size of the wedding.

Chef: $100 and up

Bartender (head): $50 and up

Cooks: $25. each

Maitre d' or head waiter: 1-3% of food and beverage fee, depending on the number of guests and amount of bill, or $150-200 for off premise, depending on number of guests.

Wait staff: $10-20 for off premises, $25 and up for waiters who wait on head table, on or off premises.

Hope this is a help.

[BrandyGibbons]

My cater told us up front that there was a tip fee of 15% added on to our food bill.

[spuls5]

- DJ, Musician: $25-$50 (depends on how long they stay)

- Photographer, Videographer, etc: $25-50 and don't forget
assistants, though they usually would get about half.


Can someone help me with this. Why would you need to tip people like the DJ and Photographer when this is their job and they have a set fee? I was a videographer for years for weddings and I NEVER got tipped.

I'm not being mean or trying to start something. I saw a special on TV once about 'tipping'. They were asking why we (as a society) tip some people like waitresses but not others, like the guy who changes the oil in your car. They are both providing a service to you, which you are paying for. So why must we tip them on top of the service fee?

Just wondering. That and geez I want the back tips I never got for the videos I did :D HA JK

[WebLady]

When tipping you should look at how good of a job you feel these people did for you and what you paid them. Whether or not or how much to tip is up to you; tips in general are meant to show appreciation.

In some cases tips are often expected and/or worked into the fees upfront (often with caterers, bartenders and such). In other cases it is just a thoughtful way to express to the vendor what a great job they did.

I have worked at weddings as a wedding photographer and a coordinator and have been tipped a few times doing both. Granted it is never expected nor was it added to my fees; but it was nice.

I have also gotten flowers or small gifts and the ever wonderful thank you note that can be used as a testimonial to get more clients ;)

Outside of the wedding industry, which can be another topic all in itself, the way I see it is that tipping is generally for those that make less than minimum wage (like servers) and/or those that work for someone else and only gets a small commission, and/or for those you feel went above and beyond for you.

[spuls5]

Weblady when you were photographer did they reserve a place for you at the reception to sit? That's one thing I will be making sure I have. Please everyone remember your photographer!!

I would get to the reception, haul my gear in and then not know anyone and have to find a place to sit. I usually hung out in the corner with the DJ during the 'down' time. :purplex: It would be nice to have a table or a few places reserved for people like the photographer so they can take a break and sit down as well. They have been running around all day. Don't forget them in food count as well, i was welcome to eat at all the weddings I did, just hard to find a place to sit when you get there last and seats are taken LOL.

[WebLady]

Weblady when you were photographer did they reserve a place for you at the reception to sit? That's one thing I will be making sure I have. Please everyone remember your photographer!!

I would get to the reception, haul my gear in and then not know anyone and have to find a place to sit. I usually hung out in the corner with the DJ during the 'down' time. :purplex: It would be nice to have a table or a few places reserved for people like the photographer so they can take a break and sit down as well. They have been running around all day. Don't forget them in food count as well, i was welcome to eat at all the weddings I did, just hard to find a place to sit when you get there last and seats are taken LOL.Sometimes there was a place to sit, sometimes they made sure to tell us there was food; but most of the time I hung out with the DJ and/or stashed my stuff (that I couldn't carry on me) in a corner somewhere.