I know a few of you have gotten married here recently, and my wedding is now less than 3 weeks away... as the groom I guess one of my responsibilities is to tip the vendors. I'm seeing figures all over the place, and given how tipping is always such a hot topic on here, I figured I'd ask everyone's opinion.
For instance, I've read that if the vendor owns their own business, no need to tip (our photographer and planner both are independent), or if you don't have to go through an agency, you don't have to tip (our band books events themselves). Our caterer has "service" in the contract, but not specifically 'gratuity." Does service count as the tip? I rented a trolley company to drive a half mile to get guests from the hotel to the ceremony with gratuity in the contract... do I tip even more?
So what's does BBI say? Am I going to be out another couple grand on tips? Catering manager, 2 bartenders, 6 waitstaff, planner, photographer, hairstylist, transportation, 5 person band, delivery folks, officiant/reverend...
lolol
Seriously, the catering should include gratuity. The other guys typically own their own business (ie photographer) so you don't need to tip the owner.
Your guests will take care of the bartenders.
Weddings are fucking expensive.
Because it's not always clear, and knowing the "standard" these days, incremental is required.
Ka-ching says the quarter in your piggy bank.
Not nearly as fun as cow tipping and since you're buying the cow you should actually by a cow, that way in ten years when the luster has worn off and all you want to do is kill each other, you can......and eat it.
For the trolley driver I would call up the place and ask if the tip goes to the driver but generally speaking usually you are good with transportation places.
I believe I tipped each of the band members and I definitely tipped the videographer and photographer.
I know this thread will contain the usual cheapskates who complain about the tipping world but the way I look at it, if you can afford to the amount of money to them (especially servers and band members) than it does to you.
Although it's said in jest, I say it seriously, "you'll never see any of them again"
I think tipping has gone overboard. People will remark from time to time, "oh remember that ___________ (insert service person here), we tipped him pretty good, he/she was happy we were there that time."
As such, I think most of it is just plain self affirmation. You should know this first, and as long as you know it, then go ahead and tip, or don't tip whatever you want.
For the trolley driver I would call up the place and ask if the tip goes to the driver but generally speaking usually you are good with transportation places.
I believe I tipped each of the band members and I definitely tipped the videographer and photographer.
I know this thread will contain the usual cheapskates who complain about the tipping world but the way I look at it, if you can afford to the amount of money to them (especially servers and band members) than it does to you.
I'm more worried about the first point - I don't want the waitstaff and bartenders to be getting next to nothing and then me not throw in a tip. I was thinking about giving $25 per person. We don't have a maitre'd per say, but instead a catering manager who has been helping us get things together - the wedding is in a city owned building, not a restaurant/banquet hall/etc. I can't tell if she's fully compensated through that service charge or not...
I did look back through the trolley docs and gratuity is included. The band is taking care of pretty much everything for us from the ceremony to the dinner to the reception, so I'll give them something as well. My fiancee mentioned that our officiant just asked for a donation to his church.I'll let the fiancee worry about the photographer and planner!
I would definitely make sure you've got a couple of hundred, minimum, in cash in your pocket throughout the wedding and reception. That way, if you see something needs done, or isn't getting done right, you can pull one of the staff/band/caterers/whoever aside, slip 'em a twenty, and make sure the wheels are greased.
Remember -- your fiancee/wife is going to be stressed beyond human description. Anything you can do to make this better is worth doing. Is the best man a trustworthy guy? Give him a hundred bucks for tips, and tell him to spread it around to the staff as needed.
I would definitely make sure you've got a couple of hundred, minimum, in cash in your pocket throughout the wedding and reception. That way, if you see something needs done, or isn't getting done right, you can pull one of the staff/band/caterers/whoever aside, slip 'em a twenty, and make sure the wheels are greased.
Remember -- your fiancee/wife is going to be stressed beyond human description. Anything you can do to make this better is worth doing. Is the best man a trustworthy guy? Give him a hundred bucks for tips, and tell him to spread it around to the staff as needed.
Name checks out on the officiant customs...
Is this a new euphemism that I'm unaware of?
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I tipped one guy. The kid running the chocolate fountain.
Is this a new euphemism that I'm unaware of?
God I hope so.
Awfully professional of him. He'd get zero from me if he says upfront that I am expected to tip him. I expect to receive what I pay for. If I pay extra, I better get extra.
So I guess entirely optional...
See this is what gets me. #1, service should always be excellent at a "high end" hotel. #2, the phrasing "it's customary to tip for excellent service" implies that you dont tip for the expected service. Seems inconsistent with your first post, no? Is it tip expected, or tip for over and beyond service?
Could not agree more. I watched my brother put on a 60k+ wedding for his daughter. This damn thing was like a stage production with the intros and fog machines. The stress, work, and expense is absurd for one of those things. The I later found out he borrowed 30K of it from our mother and I really lost it. WTF would you put on that extravagant of a wedding when you have to borrow for 50% of it?
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I'm ever more grateful that I had a very small, modest wedding. No tipping required. You people are deranged.
Could not agree more. I watched my brother put on a 60k+ wedding for his daughter. This damn thing was like a stage production with the intros and fog machines. The stress, work, and expense is absurd for one of those things. The I later found out he borrowed 30K of it from our mother and I really lost it. WTF would you put on that extravagant of a wedding when you have to borrow for 50% of it?
It's an investment. He'll make that back 5 fold.