Knowing When And How Much To Tip Your Wedding Vendors
It’s your wedding; you’re emotional, teary-eyed and probably very jittery. In these circumstances everyone who so much as hands you a tissue is worthy of hero-like applause and a showering of currency notes.
Not only is unwarranted generosity very costly especially at a time like this, but you may also find your judgment is fairly compromised in most matters. This is why it helps to set yourself some guidelines about spending while bearing in mind what the etiquette is for tipping people in different industries.
How To Tip Wedding Vendors
Don’t Tip Owners
Owners of a salon or catering service are not to be tipped for obvious reasons and many of them do have regulations about clients tipping their staff. So while it may be odd tipping the owner, the particular member of staff that is appointed to you such as an assistant or stylist can be tipped somewhere in the $50 range.
Individual makeup artists especially if they are senior are not to be tipped and will usually incorporate the tipping cost in their lump sum payment.
Smaller, freelance makeup artists and hairstylists can also be tipped anywhere from $20 to where your budget allows. If you find the tip amount confusing, a quick calculation of what amounts for 10-15% of their total fee is usually helpful and courteous.
Cater Don’t Waver
Caterers and wait staff are a little trickier. It also depends on the type of catering service you have opted for, if you have gone for a more niche, artisanal service, you may be obliged to tip higher. A standard catering company, however, will include tips in their overall cost. If you’re feeling generous however you can tip wait staff individually with whatever you are comfortable with. Many people go for $10 a person too!
For best effects, as they say in shampoo commercials, it is helpful to prepare all these tips beforehand in small envelopes so that you are not hassled or confused at the actual event. If you are the bride, you would want to delegate this task to your mother or bridesmaids and they can hold on to the cash till it’s time to distribute.
Tipping Is Not An End-All
Many vendors are perfectly satisfied with a good review as well as some artistic license with your event photos (such as using them for their own professional portfolio) so they may not require tipping.
The Small Or Big People That Make It Happen
Officiants are not usually tipped but you can make donations to their house of worship and smaller helping hands such as people that set up tables or flowers can be given anywhere from $5 to $20 each.
Wherever possible choose to tip freelancers or self-employed people more than established larger businesses since the former could make more use out of good tips as it accounts for a larger part of their income.
Bartenders are a crucial feature and treat at a wedding party so unless your venue has arranged tips already in their cost; you will be obliged to tip them handsomely somewhere in the neighborhood of $100.
