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Wedding Vendor Tip Guide: To Tip or Not to Tip: Wedding Vendor Tip Guide
August 23, 2023
To tip or not to tip, that is the question. The short answer is yes!! However, the longer answer is it depends, if you feel your team has done an outstanding job. For the nuances of whether to tip, who to tip, and how much keep reading for our wedding vendor tip guide!
Money is an uncomfortable topic and can be difficult to address with every single vendor. I recommend if you are unsure about tipping ask your planner for advice. We are always here to answer any and all wedding questions you may have. Before you drop the ladies of Lemon Drop a line, consult our wedding vendor tip guide below!
Do you Tip Wedding Vendors:
It really depends. You by no means have to tip anyone outside of catering. You should absolutely tip the catering team if you tip no one else! They are the backbone of your wedding and deserve it, especially as the tip normally goes to the on the ground service team (bartenders, servers, cooks). Beyond the catering team, you are NOT obligated to tip anyone. Tipping is at the discretion of the couple. Did your team wow you? Did you love working with them? Nothing says this like a tip and a review! Now, if you are keen on tipping your vendors, keep reading for the Lemon Drop Events Co. wedding vendor tip guide.
Wedding Vendor Tip Guide:
Let’s break tipping down vendor by vendor. Now, to make this guide as comprehensive as possible, rather than a dollar amount, I am going to be working in percentages. Each percentage represents the amount you should tip based on the overall cost of that particular vendor. Make sense? Great! Let’s dive in!
- Hair & Makeup……………………………..15%
- Officiant………………………………………..5%
- Transportation……………………………..10%
- Catering………………………………………18%
- Planning and design………………….8-10%
- Band/Musicians………………………….5-8%
- Florist……………………………………………5%
- Photographer/Videographer……………5%
- Speciality Entertainment…………………3%
When to Tip Your Wedding Vendors:
You may choose to tip your vendors at the beginning of the festivities, so you don’t forget or you may place each tip in labeled envelopes to have your wedding planner (that’s us!) distribute. I recommend handing them off to your planner, so it’s one less thing to worry about!
How to Tip Your Wedding Vendors:
Cash is best for tipping your vendors. This allows each vendor lead to distribute the tip out to their whole team immediately. If you have a specific amount you want to tip each team member, like servers vs. bartenders, simply add a note to the envelope with distribution notes, or you can leave it up to the team leads to fairly distribute tips.
Wedding Vendor Tipping Alternatives:
Envelopes full of cash not your thing–we’ve got you covered. Handwritten notes or small gifts, like a bottle of wine, are a great alternative to handing out tips.
The best addition or alternative to a tip is a kind review for that vendor. We thrive on good reviews! It lets us and other couples know that we are worth working with! Head over to their google business profile, drop a review on WeddingWire or The Knot, if they’re listed, and show your vendors some love!
Final Thoughts:
Now that you are armed with the tipping know how from this wedding vendor tip guide, I hope you feel confident and a little more prepared for your wedding day!
