Guide to Tipping Your Wedding Vendors

One of the questions we receive the most is who and what to tip on your wedding day. We hope this guide is helpful! A few important things to note from the jump:

• Gratuity may be included in your catering contract already, so start there.

• Tipping is never mandatory. You don’t have to feel obligated to tip at all.

• Tipping is showing gratitude for a great service, to whomever provides it, and is always appreciated and never expected.

• If someone went above and beyond, tip accordingly! This is just a guide, not a rulebook.

• Cash is the best way to tip, but if you know the vendors full name, a check is fine too (especially for larger tips).

• We know this conversation can get awkward, so let’s all take a deep breath and barrel on through!

So, who to tip and how much?

Hair + MakeuP: 20-25%

What you would give in a salon is appropriate for your stylists.

Catering: Usually included in the contract

Check your contract first! If there is no gratuity added, 10-20% of the food and drink total is appropriate. Alternatively, you may want to tip one envelope to your catering manager, and one to the chefs, servers, bartenders, bussers, etc. to be divided up between them.

Photographer / Videographer: $100-200

If they have assistants, $25-50 is generous as well.

Florist: $25-50

There is generally a team on your wedding day, but feel free to tip the person you’ve been working with during planning.

DJ : $50-100

They’re making the party happen!

Band: $25-50 each

Or 15% of the service cost. You can give a little more to the band leader/emcee.

Transportation: $20-50 per driver

Navigating traffic in the Loop on Air & Water Show weekend? Yeah, these folks definitely deserve a tip!

Officiant: it depends!

If this person is your pal or a family member, as we most often see, a nice gift and card is appropriate. If they are affiliated with a religion, a donation to that institution. Or, if you’re just paying them to perform your ceremony, $25-50.

Venue Staff: $20-50 per person

This is a person who’s been there for you from the beginning, so it’s always a nice acknowledgement.

Wedding Coordinator: Ooo, awkward. This is us.

But getting a tip is very nice. And we thank you very, very much for your generosity.

We hope this guide has helped!

Keep in mind: tipping is a personal choice. Vendors love making your day go smoothly and watching the joy on your faces. Any acknowledgement of excellent service, even just a thank you card, is vastly appreciated by your vendors.