Your Guide To Tipping For Your New Jersey Wedding
Knowing what to tip your vendors on your wedding day can be tricky! From how much, to whether it should be cash or check, we get asked a lot of questions about tipping. As wedding planners, we want to make this easy for our couples, so we’ve created this guide to tipping. This guide has been updated for 2023! We’ll be sharing who, what, and how much to tip, so stick around!
Check Your Contract
The first thing to do is check your vendor contracts to see if gratuity is included. Gratuity will be built in for some vendors, but not for others. Usually, your catering, bar services, and transportation will fall in the former category with a 15-20% tip. Read your contracts carefully to see if gratuity is included, so you don’t end up paying twice! As wedding planners, we make sure to look over all of our client’s contracts, so that they don’t miss a thing!
Tip the Owners
I’m often asked if it’s necessary to tip a vendor if they’re the owner of their company. The answer is always yes! Although some may assume that owners “pocket” everything they charge, this is simply not true! The cost of running their business is all part of the total you’re paying, so very little goes directly to the owner. If they’re on-site providing a service like any other vendor, they should be tipped accordingly.
Reward Those Who Go Above and Beyond
Did a vendor go above and beyond for you? Then it’s great to send them an additional gift or a little handwritten thank you note in the mail! Writing reviews on all platforms is also a great way to show your appreciation. Wedding vendors rely on reviews to book couples, so be sure to write a nice review if you’re happy with their services! Relevant reviewing platforms include Google, the vendor’s Facebook page, and sites like The Knot and Wedding Wire. Conversely, if a vendor underperformed, then you can adjust their cash tip during the wedding or address your concerns with them post-wedding day.
Tip: When deciding what to gift wedding professionals, it’s best to think of something personalized! Have you and your vendor bonded over a common interest? Is there a restaurant they love that sells gift cards? Even a note written from the heart is enough to let your vendor know that their hard work is appreciated.
Prepare Your Tip Ahead of Time
Most vendors’ preferred form of tip will be cash. We suggest preparing envelopes with your tips 1-2 weeks ahead of time. That way, you’ll have time to withdraw small bills (if needed) and you won’t have to stress on the wedding day. It’s also important to remember to budget for tips at the start of the planning process! These can add up quickly, so make sure they’re a part of your initial budget.
Tip: Pre-label and arrange your envelopes so it's easy for your wedding planner to distribute them on the wedding day. That way your planner can handle the tips while you enjoy your day! Check out the experience of working with Weddings With Verve!
Clarify Tipping Preferences
Ask each professional how they prefer their gratuity and the names of each staff member so each envelope is clearly labeled. Although cash is a popular choice, some prefer Venmo/Zelle. Some professionals may allow you to tip on a credit card for your final payment. However, we don’t suggest doing this since you’ll likely be charged additional fees.
How Much To Tip
To make tipping easier, here is a list of common tip percentages!
Catering: 18-20% of the total food cost. However, check with your venue for guidance because every policy is different. Sometimes the tip is already included in the overall bill. Other times, it’s best to tip according to staff headcount (# of servers/bartenders) and ask about any maître d’ fees in advance.
Photography/Videography: $100-$500. The main shooter should receive more than the second shooter who may not be there all day. $200+ is average for the main shooter, while $100-$200 is average for assistants.
Hair & Makeup: 20% of service. It is best to have a separate envelope pre-made for each artist with their names on it.
Florist: $10-$20 per delivery person bringing flowers to your suite. $50-$300 per person for anyone setting up an installation such as a ceremony arch or sweetheart table backdrop, depending on how involved the set-up is. Use your judgment.
Wedding planner: 10-20% of the total package split among on-site planners (or $200-$500 per person). These should be in individual envelopes if there is a lead planner and assistant.
DJ: $150-$300. Tip on the higher end if they’re providing additional services such as ceremony music and uplighting. $50-$100 per assistant.
Live painter, Cigar roller, Photobooth attendant, etc: $50-$100 per person.
Band: $25-$50 per member (including set members)
Bakery delivery: $25-$50.
Rental delivery: $25-$50 per person.
Lighting: $20-$50 per person.
Transportation: $50-$100 per driver. However, sometimes the tip is already included in their contract. Check to make sure—if it isn’t included, most drivers will require gratuity in cash on the wedding day. Be prepared to give this to one of your VIPs or your wedding planner so they can greet your drivers with their compensation at each location.
Show Your Vendors Gratitude
Your wedding vendors take pride in their work! They always want to ensure that you and your guests have an amazing experience. So, if you’re happy with your team, a handwritten note is always appreciated! But, the best thing you can give them is a glowing review. Reviews help them build their business, so they’re the best kind of thank you! Plus, don’t forget to refer them to your friends when they start planning. As wedding planners, we love when we get to plan our past couples’ friends’ weddings!
Get in touch with us to find out more about our planning business (and how we can alleviate your planning stress!) here.
