A Guide to Tipping Your Vendors

While you are in the beginning planning stages of your wedding you may not be incorporating the extra money into your budget for gratuities, so I want to ensure that it’s on your radar from the beginning.

Many vendors, such as caterers, include their gratuity within their contracts so be sure to read them carefully. If the gratuity is not included the general standard is 15-20%. The actual amount is your discretion based on the service that you receive. However, even if you have a below average experience you should tip something. Think of it like this, if you were at a restaurant you would never leave without giving a little something as a tip and the same applies here.

Now there is also another rule that you may be familiar with. If the vendor owns their own company it is not necessary to tip them because the fee that you are paying for their service is going directly to them. However, I don’t completely agree with this. The "rule" makes it seem like all of your fee is going directly into their pocket but in reality it's paying for expenses to keep their business up and running. Also, the owner of the business is doing more work for you than any employee would. Again, this concept is your discretion.

If you would like suggestions for actual amounts to tip vendors, read this article from Martha Stewart Weddings.