How much should I tip my wedding vendors?
I want to start this out by saying that tips are optional. They are never expected, but always appreciated.
As wedding vendors, we are genuinely so grateful anytime we receive a tip or a gift. It’s such a nice way for us to feel appreciated for the work that we do and the service that we provide. To help me with this blog post I reached out to a few wedding vendors to get an idea of how much they are typically tipped.
Wedding Planner: 15-20%
Hair & Makeup Artists: 15-20%
Servers and Bartenders: 15-20% (check with your venue and/or caterer to see if this is already included in your package)
Officiant: $100-300
Alterations: $10-25 per outfit
Photographer, Videographer, & Content Creators: $50-250 (consider tipping your Second Photographer as well if you use one)
Photo Booth Attendant: $50-100
Florist: $50-200
DJ: $50-200
Cake Bakery: $20-50 or 15-20%
Band Members: $25-50 per musician
Other vendors to consider: parking staff, venue coordinator, delivery/setup staff (tables, chairs, other rentals), decorator, etc. Use your digression, but anything is appreciated, even if just $20.
There are many alternatives to a cash tip to show your appreciation and gratitude to your wedding vendors. Some of my favorites have been handmade or thoughtful gifts from clients. Some ideas if you want to go this route:
A hand-written thank you card
Gift cards
Wine
Gift baskets
Something handmade- one time a bride made all of her vendors winter hats/headbands that she sells in her Etsy store. They were so cute & I still have mine to this day!
Leave a review on Google, Facebook, The Knot, etc.
Referrals
I highly recommend having a conversation with your partner a week or two before your wedding to decide how much to tip or what to gift your vendors. It’s important to be on the same page on this, since it can certainly add up. Think about your vendors and how their service has been. Have any of them gone above and beyond for you? Listen to your heart and know that anything is appreciated.
Ensure that your tips or gifts are organized prior to your wedding day so that you don’t have to worry about it the day of. It’s helpful to delegate a bridesmaid or family member to hand them out for you on your wedding day.
