Which Vendors to Tip at Your Wedding | Ask a Wedding Planner | Charleston, Atlanta, Philly Nontraditional Wedding Planner

Which vendors should I tip at my wedding?

Today we're talking about the yucky stuff...money.  Usually our blogs are about the funsies and picking out the pretty stuff or yummy cakes, but today is all about the moolah. Most of our clients are usually pretty in the dark about who to tip at the wedding and thus end up asking us.  So we figured it was about time to get a blog up on that subject! Keep in mind tips are always optional but several vendors will expect them. Make sure you give the envelopes to the planner or the best man before the event to be given out at the end of the night and/or service performed.

Firstly let's talk about tipping your planner, and no, this is NOT a plug for us to get more money out of you! 

Sure, a tip is AMAZING and always very appreciated, but something a bit more personal for the gal (or gent) you've spent tons of time planning this special day with is probably in order. I'd suggest getting her a generous gift card for a restaurant you know she loves or a gift card for a pair of Tieks (anyone who spends hours on their feet should totally own a pair...or four!) or a gift basket filled with her favorite wines and cheeses would be divine!  Whatever you do get her, make sure it's personal and well thought out and you'll certainly make her feel loved! Side note, I would suggest tipping her staff individually. $50-100 per person is perfect.

Should I tip the wedding photographer?

Photographers don't expect to be tipped if they own the company, but if they only work for the company we suggest tipping them anywhere from $50-200 per person. Same rule applies to their second shooters, we suggest tipping them as well. As for a nice thank you for the photographer, try to send them something well thought out and personal. 

Should I tip the wedding hair and makeup artist?

Hair and makeup artists are definitely expecting to be tipped.  We usually suggest 15-25% of the total at the end of the appointment.

who to tip at your wedding | scarlet plan & design charleston wedding planners

Should I tip the officant?

Officiants usually expect to be tipped as well but it's a bit of a gray area as to how much.  Some people feel that if they're charging you to officiate then that's good enough, but we usually suggest tipping them 10-15% of the total, and if you're only asked to make a donation it should be at least $200.

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Which other vendors should we tip?

Ceremony musicians

If you've used a larger choir for the service and they haven't charged you a large fee, we'd recommend making a donation to their church for a small amount (around $100 is good) and giving them some cupcakes or cookies when the ceremony ends.

Definitely plan to tip anyone playing an instrument for the ceremony. Whether they're playing as a group or a soloist, we suggest between $50-100 per person.

Catering

Check directly with the caterer when it comes to tipping the catering staff. They typically have their gratuity and/or service fees built into the contract so ask them if that goes to the staff. If the gratuity isn't given right to the staff, we recommend tipping each of them. We suggest 2-5% of the total bill, and have your wedding planner give it to the banquet captain or catering manager at the end of the night.

Bartenders should be tipped if they didn't have a tip jar out for the guests to tip them. We suggest $150-200 each.

Transportation

Another person that will expect a tip is the transportation driver. We suggest 15-20% of the total.

Reception musicians and/or DJ

The band or DJ are technically optional tips, but usually recommended. If they've done an especially good job and really kept the party on its feet, we suggest $50-100 per musician and at least $200 for a great DJ.

Rental staff

We always suggest tipping the rental delivery/set up staff. Usually about $20-30+ per person is perfect for them. They don't expect it, but if they're delivering a ton of stuff, moving things multiple times or coming back for a super late pick-up it's a very nice touch.

Miscellaneous vendors

We suggest generously tipping anyone who falls into one of the more specialized categories below:

  • Cake or specialty dessert vendor
  • Photo booth operators
  • Live wedding painters
  • Henna artists
  • Performers

We hope this helped clear up the great tipping questions we're sure you all have!

My Life as a Wedding Planner Told in GIFS | Scarlet Plan & Design

I'm gonna tell you what life is like to be a wedding planner, but I'm gonna do it using GIFs so nobody gets too offended.

Welcome to the highs, the lows, our pet peeves, the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between in the life of a professional wedding planner. Wedding planners don't always have the sunshine and rainbows job that J Lo gave everyone the impression we did. Sometimes things are downright batshit crazy, and other times we're on top of the world. But I'll let the GIFs show you what I'm talking about. Enjoy!

When your dream couple books you for full planning, design AND styling.

When your clients have realistic budget expectations.

When the couple gives you creative freedom to work your magic.

When a couple tries to pay me in "exposure".

When a couple picks the worst possible color palette and you have to somehow make it work.

When the wedding is outdoors in the summer in the deep South.

When they hire a club DJ and he acts like he's spinning at Burning Man.

When a bride sends you her Pinterest board and its full of your designs.

When everyone wants to give their input at the rehearsal. 

When a couple ignores your expert advice and does the dumb shit you told them not to do.

Your face when the dumb shit they done did blows up, like you said it would, and somehow you're expected to magically fix it. 

When you've assembled a #DreamTeam of vendors and you know this wedding is about to slay. Hope you're watching, Martha.

When the preacher just won't stop talking, and talking, and talking, and talking.

When the dance floor is #DEAD asf but a couple drunk bridesmaids stay live all night long.

When the bride says she's got 15+ bridesmaids.

When you turn into Wonder Woman in an emergency and pull off straight up magic. #JustCallMeMarthaMacGyver

What the couple thinks their choreographed dance with the wedding party is gonna look like:

What their dance actually looks like...every. single. time:

My greatest fear every single time they start doing the Hora.

When a new inquiry tries to hide her inner-psycho but you see right through her at the consultation and you're not about that life.

When a really promising couple tells you they hired a friend as the planner because you're just too expensive.

When the florist suggests Mason Jars, shepherd's hooks or burlap.

When the couple tries to cram 6 cake tastings in on one day.

When they booked that one caterer and you know the vendor meal is about to be worse than an episode of Kitchen Nightmares. #youknowwhoyouare

Discover & share this FOX TV GIF with everyone you know. GIPHY is how you search, share, discover, and create GIFs.

When an inquiry comes in for a BOMB destination wedding but you're already booked that weekend.

When you finally see the reception space fully set up and realize everything is absolutely perfect.

Discover & share this High Five GIF with everyone you know. GIPHY is how you search, share, discover, and create GIFs.

When the bride send you Pinterest pics from a six-figure wedding and wants you to recreate it on a four-figure budget.

Discover & share this No GIF with everyone you know. GIPHY is how you search, share, discover, and create GIFs.

What it's like to try to eat dinner during a wedding reception. 

When the kitchen throws your full plate of dinner out when you run out to check on the reception... and there's no more food left.

When a couple tells you half their "vendors" are actually random friends/family members with no experience.

When there's no such thing as a "sick day" because, its Wedding Season.

When the couple picks super inappropriate parent/child dance songs.

When the bride asks you to help her do something unmentionable in the bathroom because her gown is too big and she can't reach.

When the bride pulls up the day before the wedding with a U-Haul filled with half-done DIY shit she never told you about, but you now NEED to finish.

Discover & share this Oh No GIF with everyone you know. GIPHY is how you search, share, discover, and create GIFs.

When someone asks how the wedding went last night.

When the DJ plays Shout for you during breakdown and you get that final jolt of energy to finish strong. (shout out to David, Nick, Joel & Mike, y'all the real MVPs)

How we feel the day after a wedding. #WeddingHangover

Discover & share this The Good Place GIF with everyone you know. GIPHY is how you search, share, discover, and create GIFs.

When you see your favorite couple for the first time after the wedding is over. 

But let's keep it real, all we wedding planners ever really want is to be like Martha.

#amiright?