How Much To Tip Wedding Vendors
Wedding professionals are probably going to be some of the most driven and loving people that you will ever meet. When our entire careers are centered around love and making sure that the two individuals in love have the most magical day of their lives, there is no doubt as to why this is. As the couple, one of the ways that you can show your appreciation for their hard work is through tipping and gifts. This can be tricky to navigate at times though, which is why we are here to help. If you are unsure of how much to tip different wedding vendors (and who it is expected to tip versus who you want to show appreciation for because they went above and beyond), then you need to look no further.
Photographers & Videographers
$50-$300
Photographers and videographers work hard to make sure that your memorable day stays memorable. They see the details that no one else sees and captures them in a way that reflects who the couple are while constantly being on their feet and interacting with people. Tipping between $50-$300 each, while not always expected, is a wonderful gesture as a thank you for capturing memories. A gift is also a nice gesture (we will have some gift ideas for vendors in a later blog)
Wedding Planner/Coordinator
Between 15-20% of their fee, up to $500, or a gift
Tipping wedding planners is also not necessarily expected, but given the long hours and hard work that they have put into bringing the entire wedding day together, is greatly appreciated. Wedding planners have a lot of work that goes unseen, and a tip (and/or a gift) is always deeply appreciated.
Caterer
Between 15-20% of the total bill
Much like how you would tip at a restaurant, there is an expectation that you also would tip the caterer for your wedding. Much like a restaurant, their hard work goes into making the food taste good AND look excellent, but unlike a restaurant, they may be prepping and cooking in an environment that they have not been in before. Make sure to check your contract because gratuity may have already been built in.
Hair and Makeup Artists
Between 15-20% of the total bill
Tipping hair and makeup artists (HMUAs) is another industry expectation. Similarly to how you tip caterers as you would at a restaurant, you tip HMUAs as if you were at a salon. They are working in an environment that requires they bring all of their tools with them, and have to adapt pretty quickly (I have been at venues where there are not nearly enough outlets for all of the hair tools). Make sure to tip every HMUA, even if they are working for the same company, to demonstrate your appreciation for them.
Officiant
$50 - $500 tip to their organisation
Many officiants are a part of larger organisations, whether it be a church, temple, or company. A tip to the officiant or their organisation is seen as a nice gesture (especially if it isn't already required as part of their fees). A gift directly to the officiant is also a nice touch, as the tip may be going directly to the organisation itself.
