Guide to tipping your wedding vendors

Should I tip my wedding vendors? Brides asked me that frequently. Tipping your vendors can sometimes be a touchy subject and may be confusing depending on where your wedding takes place.  Especially if you are having a destination wedding and don’t know what is customary.  Keep in mind that according to the countries, gratuities may be handled differently than what you are used to.  The good news is that at least in Puerto Rico, tipping is not much different than in the United States.

One way to know if you should or shouldn’t tip someone for their services is identifying if this person is the owner if the company or if he is an employee of the company contracted for the particular services.  The self employed vendor does not require a tip since the price paid for the product is received in its entirety by him.  However, the employee must of the time is receiving a flat payment independently of what you paid for the product or service.   This means you may want to tip the individual according to the service standards or the way services were rendered.  Also, a tip does not necessarily have to be money. Sometimes a thank you letter or a recommendation note may go a long way without draining your pocket.

Below find a simple guide to help you recognizing who and how to tip:

Photographers, Videographers, Florists, and Wedding Coordinator:  Most of the time these vendors are self employed and their fees are already based on the service they will provide.  Tipping is not required, but is optional according to how you feel about the services rendered.

Stylist and/ or Make up Artist:  You should tip as you would do on your regular Beauty Salon. But in general if they own their business, a tip is not required.

Music: Tipping is optional.  If you have a band with multiple musicians, you may distribute up to a 20% of the fee in between the members of the band.  For a DJ, although is not required, if you consider it appropriate, you may tip according to how pleased you are with the service received.

Officiant: Priests, Pastors and Ministers usually do not accept tips.  However, if you wish, a donation to their Church or a charity they run is sometimes encouraged.  For a Judge and Justice of the peace it may depend if they are self employed or if they work for a company.  If you consider the service requires an additional gratuity than the fee already paid, you may tip up to a 15% of the fee.

Venue/ Caterer: A gratuity fee is sometimes already included in the fees paid. However, you may ask your Catering Manager if the service fee included is actually a tip for the staff or if you should add an additional tip according to how you feel service was offered.

Set- up staff, Waiters and Bartenders: A tip is encouraged depending on how pleased you are with the service received.  Ask the Banquet Manager or Catering Manager how the tip should be given.

Vendors such as the Cake Designers, Stationary Designers (Invitations, Place Cards, Escort Cards, Table Numbers, and Menu Cards), and rental companies are not expected to be tipped.

Ensure that you make room in your budget for tips or gratuities. This portion is sometimes overlooked and turns out to be one of the expenses that throw couples out of budget at the end.

Remember, if you are not sure what is expected, you may always consult with your wedding planner and they should be able to identify the best way to proceed.

I hope this tip of advice was helpful for you.

Till next time,

Bridal Savvy