Booking fee and tip?

Never heard of a booking fee. Is this the same as a deposit, which works how you describe: to reserve the date but isn’t included as the actual cost of services? Did you ask for clarification before you paid a deposit?

View Quoted Comment Thanks Michelle! I didn’t ask about it until after. When I filled out the contract it said deposit which is standard in our area (small suburban city) and usually comes off the total. When I emailed to tell her I paid it and signed the contract she said “I got the booking fee, thank you” and then that’s when I asked. I completely understand a non-refundable deposit incase something comes up.


I usually always tip at least 20% but feel like the fee was unnecessary. I am paying mileage for her to come and it’s just myself and my young daughter (who she’s charging for full makeup). Her prices are very reasonable and is in the same ball park as others that I inquired with. I just feel like an additional $50 tip would be extreme.
Thanks for your input! I greatly appreciate it!

As far as a tip, hold off on any of them until after the wedding is passed by a week. When tips were created, they were intended only for a vendor going above and beyond the call of duty. The percentage who still believe that is a minority, while most say that a vendor deserves a tip for existing, regardless of how they treat the customer or even do their own work. The wedding industry and online communities say tip before the wedding takes place or before you leave the reception but that is not a good time because you are in a rose colored happiness bubble with the day of coordinator and other vendors keeping snafus hush hush so you are not aware of them at any point, and thus not panicking when something does occur. After a few days or a week past the wedding, you can view the vendor performances and services objectively without being blindsided by the rose colored view of the wedding day. At that stage, you can say “this vendor didn’t show up or didn’t do what they agreed to, so they don’t get a tip” or “this vendor was amazing and deserve a large amount “

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much!!

Deposit and travel fees are common when booking a professional MUA. However, the contract and if applicable, App on which you made payment, should specify that there is an additional booking fee on top of a non-refundable deposit, if they are indeed separate. This is good business because you should know everything that you're paying for when you hire a vendor. So what is the timeframe for you to place your deposit?

You list reasons for which you want to hire her, but I would still express disappointment to her that additional charges were not discussed beforehand. If you want to take another step, I would consider the contract null because this line item is not disclosed. Per your original query, you could certainly just not tip additional. I hope it all works out for you and best wishes on your upcoming elopement.

I would double check with her to see if a booking fee and a deposit are the same thing. Sometimes the terms are used interchangeably