Tipping Question

Hi Gina,

You usually don't tip if they own the business. Also, you aren't required to pay their your photographers family for dinner but you've already out of courtesy included them in your wedding. I'd say, you don't have to.

You don't have to tip her! It's her own business and she's making more than enough money from your wedding.

Thank you so much for the links! I have been stressing about who I need to tip...this has been a massive help!

Gina, Far for me to say, but your already given the Photographer plenty just by ( having her Husband and daughter at your dinner ) So for that alone and you didn't have to do that, No tipping.

I agree with this! I think offering the whole family a meal is a great tip enough!

What I plan on doing is waiting until I get my photos and videos back and if everything at that point was exceptional I will likely tip then!

So, from my understanding of tipping, if a vendor owns their own business, you don't have to tip. However, you still -can-, it's just not expected. So, for me, I'd say given that you're inviting her family and covering their costs, you really don't need to tip.

Here's a few etiquette guides:

https://www.thespruce.com/tipping-wedding-vendors-4164638

https://www.bridalguide.com/blogs/the-budget-guru/how-to-tip-wedding-vendors

I wouldn't unless you receive a card and presentation from the husband and kid... which I doubt they will give. So I would treat the meal as the tip, as well as the fact that the hotel is probably made for 3 instead of the usual 2 (1 more bed = more money most of the time).

I would simply send a thank-you card to them just as you will do with the guests

Honestly feel same way! I realize tipping is standard but man the packages alone we pay for are expensive. One thing I find hard is that you don't even know the result of photo's when your tipping. Like catering you know if food or good or not and then doing tipping based on service and quality. But photography- you have paid for everything but don't see results until weeks/months later.

Its hard as you have gone the extra mile and invited her family and are paying for them to attend your wedding. I would take that price out of the 20%. I was basing the 20% off the photography fee alone and it would be 500. If you are going to tip I would take this off. May I ask why you are paying for 2 nights at a hotel? Is she attending the rehearsal and all that as well?