Bartender with No Tip Jar ...how much??

Hey Michelle,

Would you prefer we automatically include tips in all of our fees so that our staff can be paid a living wage? Or would you rather have the option for your guests to pay a small price of a few bucks in a $20,000 wedding that you otherwise have paid for? It's absolutely fine to pay for the gratuity and I am all for it, but you got to make sure you're comparing apples to apples (hence full-service bartenders vs. service alone).

As a couple planning a wedding, those are just some of the things to be aware of beforehand and most vendors and event planners will tell you the same. And again, it's absolutely fine not to know this, but consider that bartenders for a wedding are a luxury product/service! If you prefer not to go through a licensed and insured company that makes sure their staff are paid fairly, Craigslist or independent bartenders are a great option as well!

Tip jars at a hosted event most assuredly are tacky and are inappropriate. It is the responsibility of the host, not the guests, to tip for service provided to guests.

Not Michelle, but yes, if the choice is automatic gratuity or hitting my guests up for cash, definitely automatic gratuity.

Given the options presented, an automatic tip included is always preferable over asking guests to pay the bill for anything. As the owner (assuming based on your language) why are you unable/unwilling to pay your employees a liveable wage to begin with? Why does the scenario you presented have to be one extreme or another without a middle ground compromise? I don’t understand why you want/demand/expect the guests to pay something that is not their responsibility to finance in the first place? The guests did not hire the bartenders, the bride and groom did, therefore it is the bride and groom’s responsibility only to pay an *optional* tip at their discretion. Tips are for vendors who go above and beyond the call of duty, not bad service, not no shows, and especially not those showing up to do their job with no service above and beyond that.

A licensed insured bartender is required by all venues except backyard parties. There are many bartenders out there, whether independent companies or employed by catering companies. Very few of them demand a tip from anyone. You aren’t doing yourself any favors by coming across with “you should feel privileged to use my company or any professional licensed bartender for that matter”. There are many vendors who do not have the diva attitude you are presenting. Do your customers know you are that pretentious?

Tip jars at weddings are extremely tacky and inappropriate because it's the responsibility of the hosts, not the guests, to tip. Automatically including the tip in the total bill is always the way to go.