Tipping...who?

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Hey Elizabeth, I'm glad you found what I said useful!

As for independent contractors, I think the rule of thumb is that you don't have to tip them since they're keeping all the money you pay them (so they're their own owners), HOWEVER, you can tip them if you'd like and I'd say definitely write them a nice thank-you card after the fact for everything.

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This has been amazingly helpful for me! Thanks! I never thought about employee vs. owner before with tipping but it makes sense: the employer will be making the profit versus an employee making a set wage.

Just one question on top of that though: What about independent contractors like a photographer, florists, or the officiant (do people tip the officiant)?

Don't think we require tips for anyone. Since most of our vendors are staying the entire night, their dinners/beverages are paid for. Plus they haven't mentioned anything about gratuities. I think I would send them a thank you card and a little gift to represent a token of our thanks.

Most vendors are paid for their services. We didn't tip any of them on the day. Its up to the couple generally.

Aww Awesome! Congrats to you both I highly agree with that and I checked with our vendor and gratuity is already included so that is one thing we don't have to worry about. I told my Fiancé it is his job to take care of that portion of the day

View quoted message Hey Eimear!! Congrats! My fiancé is from Ireland as well and he had trouble getting used to tipping here too! 😂
I agree! All good points and I will have to see if gratuity is also included in the contract. I'm big on tipping, but now with all the vendors we are hiring...all those extra tips add up when it could be used towards something else. We just hired an amazing photographer so I do plan on tipping him but only after we see the end results

Most all of my venues require a gratuity of 15% so the tip is included in the overall price at the end of the day. Very happy about this nothing to count or put aside in envelopes haha

I'm going to tip my venue. They didn't require it but they welcome it. Also tipping hair and make up, & bus / limo driver.

I feel like it'll all depends on how the service went and how the quality of their work was. I'm waiting to see if I'll tip my dj because they also do live music which is so hard to find. Also my videographer & photographer depends on how the result look so I'll be waiting for the video and photo 1st.

View quoted message Some of the venues I visited required 15% gratuity on top of everything and that’s why I booked with one that included it in the price lol.

View quoted message I would have never thought to tip the venue. I definitely won't be, the price I paid for it (doesn't include food) they are making their money 10x over.

Always tip hair and makeup, and anyone who is an employee for a company versus owns their own company. Check to see if your venue includes gratuity also.

We are tipping the hair stylist, bus driver, and the person performing our ceremony. Everybody else either owns the company and gets the whole cut or already includes a gratuity fee in our charge.

I was wondering this myself, coming from Ireland we do not have a big tipping culture so this is new to me. I agree with the hair, make-up and driver but when you are dropping so much money on catering and photography it seems excessive to tip on top of that amount too.

The only vendors I am going to tip are the following:

- Limo (this is usually expected)

- Hair

- Make up

I know a lot of people tip the servers/caterers but our tip is included in our fee to the venue who is doing all the staffing and catering. Really it is up to you however.

I know some people will tip the DJ or photographer, but I sort of think that the fee you pay them is already for the services. Where as the Limo, you pay for the car and hair and make up you can pay for their time/equipment/etc.

I would think the makeup and hair you would tip for, I don't know how it would work for food. I wouldn't for venue's though. I would think it would be for services provided like hair, makeup, catering (servers who work).