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Tipping Tips
Tipping is a practice which originally was intended
To Insure Prompt Service (TIPS). Today,
tipping has become expected by service staff.
However, it should still be in appreciation of good
service provided that exceeded expectation. You
should designate a member of the wedding party to
handle tipping, usually the best man, wedding
consultant or one of the fathers. Prior to the
wedding, talk to him or her about your views on
tipping and explain what parameters to follow on the
day of the wedding. Always
ask for an itemized bill in advance so you know if a
service fee or tip has been added already. You can
still, and many do, tip on top of that if you
received exceptional service.
Make sure that you plan to include tips in
your budget because, depending on the size of your
affair, tipping costs can become quite substantial.
You may wonder if tipping your officiant is
appropriate. Depending on who is marrying you, they
may be the most deserving. Marriage Commissioners
are paid very little for what they actually
do. Ministers are often volunteering and may not
accept a tip; however, they may take a donation. A
customary donation could be anywhere from $50-100.
If travel is involved it should be more. The
officiant is the only vendor you actually have to
have to get married. If you are unsure what and how
to pay, it’s best to ask directly well in advance so
you can be prepared.
It is quite common for caterers and bar services
to include a service fee or gratuity of 15-20% in
the bill. If you want to tip an individual beyond
that for exceptional service, then 1-2% is
customary. You should be very clear with bar
services and have a ‘no tipping please’ sign
out so guests don’t feel obligated to pay on top of
the tip you’ve already given. If service is
exceptional, you may choose to add up to another
10%.
Restroom, coat check,
valet person and parking attendants
are ordinarily prepaid and usually tipped between
$.50 and $1 per coat or car. The calculation may
also be based on a per guest tip in the range of
fifty cents. It may well be to your advantage to
arrange a flat fee prior to your event.
Limousine drivers are usually tipped between 15%
and 20% of the bill. Once again, should you feel you
were given special service, you have the option of
adding to the standard tip amount. It should again
be emphasized that you need to read your contract
carefully, so you don't double tip.
Musicians, including DJs, may be tipped if
their performance is exceptional. The amount of the
tip is in the range of $25 per band member or, in
the case of a DJ, 15% of their total bill. The tip
(in essence, the fee) for church organists and
church musicians is usually included in the rental
fee for the church. Where this is not the case, a
gratuity in the range of between $35 and $50 is
appropriate. If the organist and/or
musicians/soloist are close friends of the couple or
of the family, the average gratuity is $75.
Hair/Makeup,
if they come to you then you don’t have to tip. If
you go to the salon, and received good service then
a tip of 15% is appropriate. This is because the
salon is the one that makes the money not the
individual.
Florists, photographers and bakers are not
ordinarily tipped, nor do they expect to be. A
flat fee is paid, in advance, for their services.
Again, if service is extraordinary, a tip in the
range of 15% is appropriate.
Some go by the rule if it is a business owner
providing the service, a tip is not necessary. If
it is an employee then a tip is appropriate. These
are just guidelines, so be sure to follow your own
feelings in making a decision about how much to
tip.
If you really appreciate a service, put it in
writing. A thoughtfully written letter of thanks
could be just the thing that gets a vendor his or
her next job - or even a promotion.
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