Are you wondering how to tip wedding vendors? Which vendors are you supposed to tip? And how much?! Not to worry, we’ll cover it all in this blog post. Save it, bookmark it, or Pin it for later! :) And be sure to subscribe here!
Wedding Vendor Tipping List
Firstly, let’s answer some common questions about tipping wedding vendors.
Do you tip wedding vendors?
Yes, but not all wedding vendors expect a tip. It may feel like you’re paying out so much money, but you should definitely plan ahead for your budget. The cost of gratuities can easily add up to a few hundred or a thousand dollars.
Here are some tips in our latest wedding vlog:
How Are Wedding Tips Factored In?
While tips are not required, they are expected and are based on standard guidelines including:
• size of your wedding/number of guests
More guests = more work required
• location of your wedding + type of venue
A luxury ballroom may require a higher gratuity vs. a more affordable venue space; gratuities also vary depending on the location
• type of service
You don’t tip every single wedding vendor, as some already have gratuity worked into their price. We’ll cover that in the headings below.
• quality of service
If a vendor went above and beyond, for instance, feel free to tip accordingly.
When to Tip at Your Wedding
The best time to tip anyone is after services are rendered, e.g. at the end of the reception. If you’re tipping the officiant, you should tip at the end of the ceremony.
This is usually on your wedding day and can be prearranged in envelopes marked with the vendors’ names on the front. Many couples opt to give the vendor envelopes to the Maid of Honor or Best Man to handle at the wedding so there’s one less thing to think about. :)
These envelopes by GrayPaperieCo are amazing for your wedding! Get them here.
Here is your complete guide to wedding tipping, along with how much to tip wedding vendors.
Do you tip wedding photographer / videographer?
You can, but it is not required. Many photographers work it into their price, but if they offered great service then a tip is appreciated.
How much should you tip? Approximately $50 to $100 per photographer or videographer
Wedding Coordinator
You do not have to tip your wedding planner, but you can if they offered a great service.
How Much to Tip Your Wedding Planner: 15%-20% of their total cost
Wedding Florist
It is optional. If they provided exceptional service, a typical tip is 10-15% of the total bill.
Wedding Cake Baker / Designer
Tipping is optional. However, cakes are delivered very carefully and it’s nice to tip $10 to $20 on delivery if you’d like.
Hairstylist and Makeup Artist
Yes! Always tip your wedding hairstylist and makeup artist.
How Much to Tip: Tip 18% to 25% of your total bill.
Caterer
The gratuity for the caterer is usually built into your overall bill.
How Much to Tip: It is usually pre-billed at 20% of your total bill.
Transporation
Renting a limo, limo bus, or other transportation for your wedding? Be sure to tip!
Total Tip Amount: It is usually 15% to 20% of the total bill.
Bartender
If you plan to give a tip, make sure it’s not already worked into your caterer’s contract AND you don’t have a separate tipping jar on the bar. If you wish to tip ahead for guest drinks, you can get one of these signs to display instead.
How Much to Tip: 10% of the total bill on drinks/alcohol.
Wedding DJ or Band
Yes! You should always tip your wedding DJ or band. The disc jockey or emcee is the person who keeps the wedding flowing, the music pumping, and gets your guests out on the dance floor. Be sure to tip generously.
How Much: $100-$150 is the standard for a DJ; for tipping a band, the standard is $20 per musician.
Ceremony Musician
Yes! You should give a nice tip to your musicians at your wedding.
Amount to Tip: $15 to $20 per musician.
Officiant
Do you tip your wedding officiant? Yes!
How Much to Tip: The typical amount to tip your officiant is anywhere from 15% to 20% of the overall service fee.
If you are getting married at a church or other place of worship, there is typically a donation given (and this amount may be increased if you wish to donate more). A typical amount to tip your wedding officiant is $75 to $100.
Wedding Reception Attendants
Is a tip expected for your attendants? Absolutely: they do a lot of heavy lifting to ensure the wedding goes off without a hitch including but not limited to set up, take down, linens, preparing and serving food, drinks, and more. It may already be worked into your contract, so check first.
How Much to Tip: A typical tip for wedding vendors at your venue is around 15% of the total bill.
And here’s a fun pro tip: after the wedding, send a thank you note and write a nice recommendation or review on their website or Facebook page. It goes a long way to earning future referrals and they’ll be sure to appreciate it.
You can get these cards, shown below, from CCPaperDesigns.
P.S. If you’re a vendor that can display a tip jar, e.g. a bartender or a DJ, be sure to use these virtual tip jar stickers with a QR code! Guests love the convenience of Venmo, PayPal, or other online payment processes for tipping. You can get them here from HeartsOfPrints.
Happy Planning!
xo
Emma
