Do you have to tip wedding suppliers?

I am getting married in 18 months and read in a wedding book that you have to tip your wedding suppliers (ie- caterers, DJ/Entertainment, florist etc ..).


Is this really so? I am just wondering as you are paying them a substantial amount of money already and if you are really expected to tip an extra 10% it seems quite unfair.

Do you have to tip wedding suppliers?
you do not have to tip here in england , im a hotel manager and moc and wait on at many many weddings, rarely do we get a tip, even to split betwween our staff. you pay for a service so there isnt any nessesity to tip, if i chose to tip it would only be the service staff, most certainly not, photographers or djs etc
Reply:Go to the registry office then spend all the tips on getting pissed
Reply:we didnt the only person we tipped was a lady who served us our meals and was reallykind and went out of her way. I hate tipping others.
Reply:Generally it is appropriate to tip anyone in the service industry. Just like you would tip a waitress at a restaurant even though you are already paying for the meal.





I have worked for a DJ in the past and you'd be suprised what even a 10% tip can help pay for. Its not necissarily just money in his pocket. DJ's have to own the rights to the music they play. They can not just download from free share servers like many of us. The FEE they charge is generally covering their travel, set up, and time expenses. The DJ I worked for used his tips on ITunes for new popular music.





Similar concepts apply to florists and caterers
Reply:i would think it's appropriate.





I mean, you tip your hair dresser don't you for that $125 haircut %26amp; color, right? And you tip your waiter at the restaurant you spend who knows how much money, right??





These people ARE offering a service after all, and a tip is just your way of saying thank you for a job well done.
Reply:Get your advice from Miss Manners or Emily Post, not from creatures of The Wedding Industry. The latter is based not on what is traditional or correct, but on what is most advantageous to their sponsors -- people like florists, caterers, dressmakers, etc.





The idea of tipping the florist is on a level with seeking out the restaurant owner and tipping HIM (or HER), rather than tipping your server. If some particular EMPLOYEE of the caterer, florist, etc, has really done an outstanding job, then tip that individual. The business owners are already charging a handsome fee for their services and are not tipped. The proper way to give a business owner recognition for excellent service is with a testimonial letter, with recommending the business to your friends, and with repeat business.





NOTE: There are some exceptions to this general rule. If the business is very small and the owner is also the waiter, the hairdresser, the delivery driver, etc -- THEN you may tip the owner just as you would a non-owner performing the same job.
Reply:nope no tipping ... most of these people own the business and as the owner they set there prices and don't have to share it with anyone unless they choose to have an assistant
Reply:This world is getting tip happy. The caterer,florist,entertainment etc are all getting paid handsomely for giving you their services. I would not tip them.Its bad enough that we are supposed to tip waitresses and waiters, coffee shop people,and everyone on a cruise,but for a wedding is just ridiculous.
Reply:This is called wedding reality . . and yes, you will have to give a gratuity or a tip to many of your service providers.





As a general rule, you tip only service people, not properietors. For example: if you hired the photographer, who is the owner and sole employee, then you do not tip; if they work for a photography company, then you do tip.





Many of the grautities are built into the contract, you don't have a choice, it's part of the fee or bill. And the gratuity percentage will be stated 15% . . 18% . . 20%.





Gratuities that are usually (but not always) covered by a contract . .





Waitstaff (servers, waiters, waitresses)


Wedding day transportation (drivers, chauffeurs)


Banquet manager


Maitre d'


Bar tenders


Powder room attendants


Coat room attendants


Parking attendants


DJ/musicians that are part of a company or band





If someone has gone "above and beyond the call of duty" they deserve a tip.





Doesn't a hairdress/make-up artist who has been asked to get up at 5AM and drive 25 miles deserve a tip?





Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Professional bridal consultant / A Wedding ceremony officiant
Reply:if they do any kind of set up you should... you are paying for their product but service generally gets tipped for... for instance... if you go to a nice restaurant and you pay 39.99 for each of your meals... that is a bit on the high side... so do you tip the waiter??? of course... most service people do not own the company... and surely you have seen the wedding singer... they don't make much money and they are providing you a service...
Reply:My nephew just got married, there was never any question about tipping the dj, pianist or anybody. They quoted a price, and were paid that amount. The brides father even managed to haggle some of the quotes down by a fair bit.
Reply:No way,,,they charge an amount for their services,,,,tipping is getting out of order,,,,you don`t tip the check out girl at the supermarket so why wedding suppliers?