Tip Jar for Bartenders?

IMO, go with the prepaid tip. My cousin put out a "honeymoon jar" on the bar, and then there was also a bartenders tip jar. People tipped the bartender by accident, and some people awkwardly had to ask for their tip back to put it in the honeymoon jar.

If there is no tip jar out, fewer people will go out of their way to tip them. If you put out a honeymoon jar only, then you kind of eliminate even more of your guests tipping the bartender.

Also a big factor, is it open bar? cash bar? toonie bar? tickets? People generally tip when they're paying cash, so if it's a ticket or open bar, you really eliminate guests feeling the need to tip extra.

Pay cheaper and put out a tip jar! People expect to tip if it's a cash bar or toonie bar.

That's actually cheaper than what the quotes are in Alberta. Typically here it's 25-30$ an hour with a tip jar, and 35-40$ an hour without!

All quotes I have gotten are $20 an hour max and they haven't requested a tip jar. We will more likely put one out though

Sounds right to me! Our tenders come with the venue but I do hope they put themselves a tip jar! Trying to liquor up 200+ people is going to be a job!

Haha!

I'm not sure about our bartenders as they are close friends of my FH's family - but that sounds about right?

I would go with the $20/hr though. Most people at the weddings and functions I've gone to tip the bartenders regardless of there being a tip jar out. Besides, it will come out of the guests pockets rather than yours!

Both quotes sound reasonable to me too, though I don't have experience with this as gratuities are factored into as per my venue.