Tip jar on bar???

That would be a deal breaker for me JMF, but even worse is the bartenders crass, classless behaviour.

Whether they have a tip jar or not, people will leave a tip. In the jar or on the bar itself, but your guests will still tip in addition to the tip you gave your bar staff.

Cat's out of the bag! no sense overwhelming yourself with it now

OMG...Overthemoon...what you just described is awful. I'm furious for you. Make sure to review whomever was responsible for that. The last thing the wedded couple needs is this type of embarrassment. All of it should have been handled prior to the wedding day.

I will send out a PSA to other couples. Get to your bar ASAP and make sure that you are getting what you paid for. As lovely as my son's wedding was last Saturday, we did have a bar issue. They paid for top shelf open. My daughter happened to be standing next to the bar when, prior to the ceremony, one of my cousin's ordered a mixed drink (made from the liquor that was prominently displayed on six shelves). The bartender said, "Beer and wine, only." My daughter, who is my partner and knows weddings, said, "Oh no...it's a completely open bar." The bartender came back at her and said, "No, it's beer and wine only." It wasn't, and the couple paid a premium for free flowing liquor of any type. Finally, the bartender got pissed off, walked away, came back, and said, "Sorry...you're right. It's top shelf open."

So make sure you're getting what you paid for (and that can be difficult during cocktail hour since the couple and the VIPs are off taking photos. After Saturday, I want to tell couples to designate someone to make sure that what is being served at cocktail hour is what the couple paid for).

All depends on the agreement. If you don't want a tip jar on the bar then technically you are charged extra for their time. So normally $35 an hour plus tip jar or tip out $1-$2 per guest on top. So 150 guest its $35 an hour plus $150 on top