How Much Should You Tip Wedding Vendors?

How Much Should You Tip Wedding Vendors

Tipping has become a customary practice within the wedding industry, serving as a means to show appreciation to the various vendors who work tirelessly to bring a couple’s dream wedding to life. However, the tipping system can be confusing! Some services in the wedding industry are standard to tip for, while others tips are completely optional. If you’ve been researching how much you should tip your wedding vendors and are utterly confused, you are not alone!

Couples often find themselves navigating questions such as who to tip, how much to tip, and when to offer the gratuity. Many wedding vendors explicitly include a service charge or gratuity fee in their contracts, which can alleviate some uncertainty. Yet, it’s not uncommon for couples to also want to recognize the outstanding performance of individuals who went above and beyond their expected duties. In such cases, tipping becomes a personal decision influenced by factors like budget, overall satisfaction, and the extent to which the vendor exceeded expectations.

Below, we’ve created the ultimate guide to how much you should tip wedding vendors in 2024. This covers all services, from wedding planning (optional) to transportation (15%-20%). 20% is the highest tipping percentage couples should expect to pay for any service.

The guideline also details when to tip, as some services can wait until after your wedding/honeymoon, while others are best to tip at the time of service.

We hope you find this tipping guide helpful and alleviate any questions surrounding tipping wedding vendors!

What Wedding Vendors Do You NEED Need to Tip?

1. Officiant: While not always expected, especially if they’re affiliated with a religious institution, consider giving a donation to the church or a tip if they perform a personalized ceremony.
2. Photographer/Videographer: If they own their business and are not part of a larger company, tipping is optional but appreciated, especially if they go above and beyond.
3. Band/DJ: Tipping is customary for musicians and DJs, typically around $50-$100 per member for bands or 10-15% of the total fee for DJs.
4. Hair and makeup artists: If they’re not the owners of the business, consider tipping 15-20% of the service cost, similar to how you would in a salon.
5. Transportation: If you’ve hired a limousine or shuttle service, consider tipping the driver 15-20% of the total bill, especially if they provide exceptional service.
6. Catering staff: This includes servers, bartenders, and chefs. If gratuity is NOT included in the contract, consider tipping 15-20% of the total catering bill.
8. Wedding planner/coordinator: While not mandatory, tipping your planner/coordinator is a gesture of appreciation, typically around 10-20% of their fee or a flat amount if you’ve paid a flat fee for their services.
9. Delivery and setup crew: If you’re renting items such as chairs, tables, or linens, consider tipping the delivery and setup crew $5-$20 per person, depending on the size of the job and the level of service provided.

How Much Should You Tip Wedding Vendors in 2024?

What Wedding Vendors Do You NOT Need to Tip?

Use our guide above for when to tip weddings vendors and how much to tip them. We’ve also compiled a list of wedding vendors you do NOT need to tip – so check these off your wedding tipping list!

1. Venue: If the venue has a service charge or gratuity included in the contract, additional tipping may not be necessary. Always check the contract to confirm whether a service charge is already included.
2. Catering staff: Most catering companies include gratuity in the contract as part of their service charge – so tipping is already included! Check your contract to see if this is the case. If a service charge is included, additional tipping may not be expected.
3. Transportation: If you’ve hired a transportation service (limousine, shuttle, etc.), gratuity may already be included in the contract. Check to see if this is the case before tipping additional amounts.
4. Cake baker: While not customary, if you feel the service was exceptional, a small token of appreciation may be given.
5. Florist: Tipping is not customary for florists, especially if they own the business. However, if the florist provides exceptional service or goes above and beyond, a small token of appreciation may be given.
6. Wedding dress/tuxedo boutique: Tipping is generally not expected at bridal or tuxedo shops. However, if a consultant provides exceptional service, a handwritten thank-you note or a small gift may be appropriate.
7. Rental companies (e.g., for chairs, tables, linens): Tipping rental companies is not customary, as they typically charge a flat fee for their services. However, if the delivery or setup crew goes above and beyond, a small tip may be appreciated.
8. Stationery/Invitations: Tipping is generally not expected for stationery or invitation vendors. However, if they provide exceptional service or assistance, a thank-you note or small gift may be appropriate.

Remember, while tipping is a common practice to show appreciation for good service, it’s not always mandatory. Always review contracts and agreements to see if gratuity is already included before deciding whether to tip additional amounts.

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