The Complete Guide to Wedding Vendor Tipping
Tipping your wedding vendors is a thoughtful way to show appreciation for their hard work in making your day special. While tips are not legally required, they are customary for most service providers and especially valued after exceptional service. Understanding tipping etiquette helps you budget appropriately and ensures the people who made your celebration memorable feel appreciated.
Unlike restaurant tipping where 15-20% is nearly universal, wedding tipping varies dramatically by vendor type, their ownership status, and your location. This guide breaks down exactly who to tip, how much to tip, and when tipping isn't expected.
The Golden Rule: Employees vs. Owners
The most important distinction in wedding tipping is whether your vendor is an employee or the business owner. Tipping is customary and expected for employees who work for a company. Tipping is not expected (though always appreciated) for business owners who set their own prices and profit directly from the service.
How do you know if someone is the owner? Ask directly, or check their business card and website. Photographers, DJs, florists, and planners are often owner-operators. Catering staff, bartenders, makeup artists, and delivery people are typically employees.
Vendor-by-Vendor Tipping Guide
Photographer and Videographer (15-20% or $50-200 per person)
Your photographer and videographer spend 8-12+ hours on their feet capturing your day. If they're employees of a studio, tip 15-20% of the service fee or $100-200 per person. If they own their business, a tip isn't expected, but $50-100 is a lovely gesture for exceptional work. Second shooters and assistants should each receive individual tips.
DJ or Band (10-15% or $50-150 for DJ, $25-50 per musician)
A great DJ or band sets the tone for your entire reception. For employee DJs, tip 10-15% or $50-150. For bands, tip each musician $25-50 in individual envelopes. If the DJ is the owner, tipping is optional. Consider tipping more generously if they learned special songs, accommodated last-minute requests, or kept the dance floor packed all night.
Catering Staff (15-20% if not included)
First, check your catering contract—many include automatic gratuity (typically 18-22%) in the final bill. If gratuity isn't included, tip 15-20% of the catering total to be distributed among the staff. Give the tip to the catering manager or head server with instructions for distribution. Alternatively, tip $20-50 per server if you know the staff size.
Bartenders (10-15% or $20-50 each)
Bartenders often receive tips directly from guests at the bar, but many couples put out tip jars (controversial) or provide a cash tip at the end of the night. If there's no tip jar and gratuity isn't included, give each bartender $20-50 or 10-15% of the bar bill divided among them.
Florist and Delivery Staff (10-15% for delivery team)
If the florist is delivering and setting up personally as the owner, tipping isn't expected. For the delivery team and setup crew, tip $10-20 per person or 10-15% of the floral bill split among them. Consider the complexity of the setup—a team spending 3 hours placing arrangements deserves more than a quick drop-off.
Officiant ($50-100 donation)
Religious officiants are typically not tipped directly. Instead, make a donation of $50-200 to their house of worship. For secular officiants who own their business, tipping isn't expected, but a $50-100 gift or donation to their chosen charity is thoughtful. For judge or courthouse officiants, $50-100 is customary.
Hair Stylists and Makeup Artists (15-25%)
Tip each person who works on you and your wedding party 15-25% of their individual service fee. If one artist did hair and makeup for five bridesmaids at $150 each, tip them $110-185 on the $750 total. These are often the first people you see on your wedding day, and generous tips for great work are remembered!
Wedding Planner or Coordinator (10-20% if employee, optional for owner)
Wedding planners who work for a company should receive 10-20% of their planning fee, or a flat amount like $500-1,000 for exceptional service. For owner-operators, a tip isn't expected, but a thoughtful gift, glowing online review, or referrals to engaged friends means the world. Day-of coordinators typically receive $100-500.
Transportation (15-20% or $25-50 per driver)
Limo, car service, and shuttle drivers should receive 15-20% of the transportation cost or a flat $25-50 per driver. Check your contract first—many limo companies include gratuity. For shuttle services with multiple drivers, have individual envelopes ready or give one envelope to the lead driver for distribution.
Valet Attendants ($1-5 per car or flat tip)
Some couples prepay a flat tip to the valet service ($50-100 total) so guests don't need to carry cash. Others allow guests to tip directly. If you're prepaying, let guests know with a small sign: "Valet gratuity has been taken care of by the bride and groom."
When to Give Tips
Prepare all tips before the wedding day in clearly labeled envelopes. Trying to calculate tips during your reception is stressful and likely to be forgotten. Options for distribution:
- Before the event: Tip hair and makeup artists when they finish their work
- During the event: Designate your wedding planner, best man, or a trusted friend to distribute tips at appropriate moments
- After the event: Mail tips with thank-you notes within a week for vendors you missed
What to Put in the Envelopes
Use cash for vendor tips—it's preferred universally. Include a brief handwritten note thanking them for their role in your day. Label each envelope clearly: "For [Vendor Name] – Thank you!" Some couples include the company name in case the individual isn't present and someone else receives the envelope.
When Tipping Isn't Expected
Tipping is optional or not expected in these situations:
- The vendor is the business owner and set their own prices
- Gratuity is already included in your contract (check carefully!)
- The service was disappointing or problematic
- The vendor explicitly declined tips in advance
Even when tipping isn't required, showing appreciation matters. Alternatives to cash tips include heartfelt thank-you cards, detailed positive online reviews (extremely valuable for small businesses!), social media tags and shares, referrals to engaged friends, and thoughtful gifts like gift cards to their favorite coffee shop or restaurant.
Regional Tipping Differences
Tipping customs vary by region. In major metropolitan areas (NYC, LA, Chicago), tips often trend higher—15-20% is standard. In smaller markets or the South, 10-15% is common. When in doubt, ask your wedding planner or venue coordinator what's customary locally.
International weddings have entirely different norms. In the UK, Australia, and much of Europe, tipping wedding vendors is far less common than in the US. Research local customs if you're having a destination wedding.
How Much Should Your Total Tip Budget Be?
A common rule of thumb is to budget 10-15% of your total wedding budget for vendor tips. For a $30,000 wedding, that's $3,000-4,500 in tips. This may seem high, but remember that you're not tipping every vendor this amount—you're distributing smaller amounts across many people who made your day possible.
If your tip budget is tight, prioritize the service workers earning hourly wages (catering staff, bartenders, drivers, setup crews) over business owners who profit directly from your payment. A smaller tip is always better than no tip at all, and no one will fault you for giving what you can genuinely afford.