Service Charge vs Gratuity

Ask for a breakdown of your service charge.

As a server I receive a portion of the service charge. The amount is dependent on factors too lengthy to list.

The tip on thr other hand, I receive 90-100% depending on tip-off of SA'S and bartenders.

Tip out*

$1000 is $200 per person which seems enough to me... however, I'm not sure what is "proper."

The venue said a portion of the service charge will be given to the service & bar employees.

@Chelsea L- me either lol Most of my friends got married 8 years ago so they can't remember what they did, understandably so lol

Following

I would ask what percentage the service and bar employees get of the 22%. If you think about it, $2000 for 5 people is $400 each which is a LOT. But if half of the service charge went to employees, at $200 a person, I would think that's plenty.

I would honestly ask just ask them how it's being broken up. I know I have a 3k service charge with mine and it's literally the 25+/hourly pay for the servers and bartenders, then they're adding just a 12% gratuity. Which, working service industry myself, is plenty fair.

Sorry, but mindboggling to me that you did not ask BEFORE you signed contract. If you ask now, they will tell you it is not a tip.

Our contract has a 20% service charge. I just assumed it was gratuity & FH thought it didn't cover a tip at all. I ended emailing our event mgr & this was his response 'The 20% gratuity is money used for the banquet servers. I do believe it varies from place to place'.

ETA, since they specifically stated 'gratuity'....I'm taking that to mean a tip.

@karen k - I was fully away of the 22% service charge not being gratuity when I signed. I was simply asking advice so I tip them properly. I am not one that signs things without reading the fine print. I clearly stated in my discussion that I knew it was not counted towards gratuity and was seeking advice on how I should go about tipping them. But thanks anyways.

Thank you everyone. Your suggestions have been more than helpful!

Our service charge does not include gratuity-it's basically just the staff's hourly pay. Our catering manager told me people usually tip about $25-$50 per waiter.