Tips for Tipping

Posted on July 2, 2019 at 11:25 am by Carisa Lockery

I’ve been asked a lot lately about what couples should tip their vendors. Below are a couple quick guidelines to follow when thinking about tipping those involved in your special day.

Caterer. For a caterer normally you should try for a 15-20% of total, or $50-$100 for the Chef, $20-$50 per server. But keep in mind some caterers include gratuity in their final bill, so be sure to look first before you start to tip them out separately.

DJ/Band. Whether you have a DJ or a band, try to stick around 10-15% or $25-$50 per band member.

Florist. The tip for the florist is not expected normally. But if you were looking to extend gratitude for their service, a 10-15% tip range is what you should stick to.

Photographer/Videographer. Now a tip for a photographer and/or videographer is not required if they are the owner of the business. If they are not the owner but an employee of the company, $50-$200 is sufficient for a tip for the night.

Officiant. There are two different guidelines for a tip for an officiant. If the officiant is nondenominational, then $100 would be an appropriate tip. If it is a denominational officiant, then many times you can make a donation to the parish, temple, or mosque.

Hair/Makeup. For the hair stylist and makeup artist, try to stay in the 15-20% range when giving them a tip.

Transportation. For the transportation, a 15% tip would be an appropriate amount for the service. This is for each transportation service.

Wedding Planner. There is no expectation of a tip for the wedding planner. But after your wedding, if you feel the service they provided was above and beyond your expectations, then consider a 10-20% tip.

About the Author

Carisa Lockery

Thanks for stopping by. I'm so excited that you decided to learn more about me!

First and foremost, I am a wife and mother to 2 boys, Kyle and Mason. They're part of the reason that I continued to pursue my dream of being a business owner. Having the ability to make my own hours and still be present for them is invaluable, and an experience for which I will forever be indebted to my amazing husband.

As a kid, I was always organizing everything. I loved stationary and paper and pens and markers and journals and planners and anything else that allowed me to plan and organize. Trapper Keepers and Lisa Frank? Yes, PLEASE! As I got older, that love for organization became a love for planning, particularly fun things like events. I woke up one day with the thought, “Could I actually make a living doing this?”. I had gone to Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT for my Bachelor's Degree in Communications, so I had a little knowledge about business and how they worked. When the idea began to formulate more and more in my head, I decided to take my education even further and pursue a Master of Business Administration Degree. Right after I earned this degree, I had my first son, so the timing was perfect! I was able to be home with him during the week while my husband worked, and work at night and on the weekends, when most events took place!

More than 10 years later, I still love bringing the idea and concept of a wedding or event into reality. Each one plays out differently, and I love that! It keeps things fresh and exciting! I can't wait to hear from you and learn all about how I can help with your next event!

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