Tipping your Vendors

Tipping your Vendors

As a bride-to-be, you’re completely immersed in the wedding planning gamut. But what about tipping your vendors? You’ve read opinions from experts to former brides turned wedding planners to the noteworthy sites for checklists, plans, and inspired ideas for our big day.

Tipping your vendors is a personal expression of gratitude for services delivered graciously, efficiently, and on point.Some vendors should not expect a tip on top of the lofty prices you are paying they include: photographer, videographer, designer (for paper materials), etc. The most important people to tip are often overlooked, such as your wedding planner,banquet manager,florist, officiant and altar servers (if church ceremony),and DJ. These vendors may be tipped at the end of their service at your discretion.

The obvious people to tip would be your hair stylist and makeup artist (20%), and your limo driver (20% of the bill).The typical amount is 20% unless the fine print in your contracts state otherwise. Many times the gratuity for your chauffeur, bartenders, and wait staff will be included in your bill. Don’t be shy! Ask your vendors if their tip is included and even ask to see it in your proposal.

Usually, cash is king. However, some of your vendors may accept other means of tips–small gifts and gift cards are also a nice gesture. Your wedding day is an important day in your life, and you need to remember to take care of the people that helped execute your day flawlessly.