Tips for vendors?

Yes, tipping is definitely a thing in weddings just like you would tip any other time you receive a service.

View Quoted Comment Who exactly do you tip and how do you give it to them? Do you make “tip jars”? Add a little extra in the check? I have caterers (just making finger sandwiches and putting out fruit), a cake person, a photographer, and a DJ. It’s a 3 hour event. What is an appropriate amount? I just don’t know how any of this works, quite clueless actually lol.

We set aside extra cash to give to vendors at the end of the night, separate from the check for final payments. You can do a flat rate or percentage of the service cost. Whatever you feel comfortable with. There are articles online that give estimates, such as here: https://www.theknot.com/content/amphtml/wedding-vendor-tipping-cheat-sheet

You never tip before you receive the service. You wait until after the wedding has passed and you can analyze with a clear mind how the service was. Bad service or simply doing their job does not get a tip. Going above and beyond the call of duty does.

Definitely set aside tips for vendors

View Quoted Comment You should tip based on service, 20% typically for good service, just like when you get your hair done or go out to eat. Tip jars aren’t appropriate, it’s your job to tip, not your guests. Typically people set aside cash or a check in envelopes for each vendor and have a designated person hand them out at the end of the night. That could be a day or coordinator, parent, whoever. For your photographer, you would tip once you receive your photos.

BEFORE you sign any contracts, make certain you understand what is involved. Many contracts for venue or food will have service tacked on. BEFORE you sign, make certain you ask, is that a gratuity. If you wait till after you sign, they will say no, so you pay their people more, they pay less. If it does include tips, make certain it includes everyone, valets, ladies room attendant.

So the venue and food are the big dollar items. For flowers and hair/makeup you do not have to tip if you are dealing with someone in business for themselves.

View Quoted Comment Thank you for your help! I appreciate it. 😊😊

I definitely have strong feelings about this that doesn’t match with what you’ll hear wedding professionals tell you—but keep in mind they want you to overpay. A year and half into my wedding planning and I’m definitely jaded lol.


My feeling is you tip people who are performing a service or helping with the overall wedding but that are working for someone else, I.e servers,bartender,helpers, etc. if they contribute to the success of your wedding.
I don’t agree with tipping everyone who participated in your wedding (DJ, photographer, wedding planner) just because or someone who is simply delivering something (like a florist who doesn’t set up your flowers). I also don’t believe you should tip individuals who are providing a service themselves (self-employed, etc) because they price their services what they expect to be paid. And I 💯 disagree with the PP who said it’s 20% of the services. It doesn’t have to be.

I would wait until after the wedding to send your vendors tips. Our vendors were awful but we had given our MOH envelopes addressed to them to give out during the reception, and when we experienced all of the awful things they did, it was too late to not tip them. Hopefully you won’t have to deal with that, but definitely tip when you have had time to reflect.

View Quoted Comment I agree with this. I’m tipping hair and makeup 20% as that is standard (and it’ll be a lot!), but everyone else it’ll be flat amounts. I’m not tipping my florist over $1,000 (which is what 20% would be for me) - that is insane and not standard.

Tipping is definitely a thing for weddings. Basically, anyone who individually contributed to the success of the event should be tipped. And tip jars are never okay - it isn't the guests' job to tip your vendors.

I agree with other PPs though - 20% is standard minimum at restaurants, but not in this case. Give them a good tip, but it doesn't need to be 20%.