Wedding Tipping Etiquette

Photos by Kaela Jean

Wedding Tipping Etiquette.

“Who and how much should I tip my vendors?”

This is one of the most frequently asked questions we get from our clients. Here is our general tipping etiquette advice! 

Industry Standard

Delivery and set-up staff: Tip $15-$20 to each service staff member (drop-offs, assistants, venue staff).

Hair and makeup: 15-25% of their package price split amongst the artists.

Officiant: If a religious officiant, typically a $250-$500 donation to the church is expected. However, if a friend, family member, or hired individual is officiating, consider a nice gift and card.

Reception staff: 10-20% of food and drink cost (not including labor/staffing). We recommend tipping your caterer as part of your invoice. Most caterers will add a gratuity to your final invoice at your request! Consider a cash tip in small bills (we recommend 20s) that can be split amongst the staff easily the night of your wedding. For hired bartenders with self-provided alcohol, you should tip 10-20% of your package price and allow them to set out a tip jar during the event. If you prefer for them not to have a tip jar out, discuss with them before your wedding and tip them 20% of the combined labor and alcohol cost. We recommend tipping $1 per guest for parking attendants and $1 per guest for coatroom staff.

Transportation: 10-20% of total bill either in cash to the driver or added onto your final invoice.

Optional

Consider tipping vendors who do not own the business you hired but are rather employees or contractors of that business.

Photography and Videography: $50-$200 per vendor.

Band, Musicians, and DJ: $25–$35 per musician; $50–$150 for DJs

Cake Baker, Florist, Stationer: $50-$100 each or small gift. Delivery workers should be tipped separately.

Other vendors you might consider tipping or giving a small gift are any of your vendors that you believe have done an exceptional job. A sincere thank you and a thoughtful review on Facebook and Google go a long way and are always greatly appreciated in this industry! Consider sharing your wedding album with vendors as well. In this day and age, authentic content that represents a vendors work is invaluable.

We recommend our clients budget tips into their wedding budget well in advance of the week of the wedding. It can add up quickly! Work with your planner to account for this ahead of time.

Warnersmith Events routinely distributes tips for our clients on their wedding day. We ask that our clients put their vendor tips in sealed envelopes addressed to who they would like them given to including the business name and contact name. As a general rule, tips should be delivered at time of service. Discuss tipping with your planner on a vendor by vendor basis for more specific advice.

Looking for more? Check out The Knot’s Wedding Vendor Tipping Cheat Sheet.