Guests tip on top of the tip we are giving

I would say to ask if the bar service will have a tip jar out - most weddings I've been to will skip this if they are already getting a tip and if a tip isn't in the price tag then it usually has it in the contract that they are allowed to have a tip jar out.

If it says in the contract nothing about a tip jar then I would just bring it up and verify that they won't have one out.

You aren’t forcing your guests to tip its completely up to them and honestly there isn’t any way to stop them. Also I work for a venue and part of the prepaid gratuity we charge goes to the “house” it actually pays for breakage of glassware and plates, cleaning , etc. so there is a good chance your bartenders and servers don’t even see any of that 18 percent come their way. I know it’s a lot of “extra” money you are putting in up front but I don’t think you should ever be concerned with guests tripping service industry workers additionally.

View quoted message In the contract we have to tip 18% of the food, drinks and minimum spend. I just thought that was enough and that my guests wouldn’t have to tip because we are taking care of that.

Bartenders at weddings do get tipped by guests provided a tip glass. Its optional to tip on top of that as your choice. At the same time, its not necessary to tip them if they get paid for their job.

Tipping on the part of your guests is optional. I’ve also seen wait staff tipped at weddings. There is absolutely no requirement on it so guests make the choice themselves if they wish to tip or not. I wouldn’t worry about it

I wouldn't worry about it. Your tip will cover all the staff from the cooks to the waiters and everyone in between so it doesn't hurt that the bartenders might make a little extra. And they might need to divide their tips with the whole group as well.

Considering servers and bartenders make minimum wage, extra tips would be nice for them. Guests will tip if they intend to; your built in gratuity is in case guests don’t tip, which happens more often than not at large private events. Worst case, they get a few extra bucks at the end of the night, no harm in that.

They’ll tip them anyway. The bartenders are serving guests personally. Bartenders will keep a tip jar out.