Which Miami Wedding Vendors Do You Tip?

By Author: Stam Bett
Total Articles: 452
Comment this article

If you're already spending a great deal on your wedding expenses, gratuities can be a hard blow. The good news is you are not obligated to give any of your vendors a tip if the service charge is clearly explained in the contract. Still, many vendors will expect a gratuity, and you may end up considering tips on a case-by-case basis. So, who do you tip and how much do you give? From your Miami wedding photographers to the hair stylist, here's a quick overview.

The Wedding Planner
Wedding planners won't expect a tip, although you can offer one if they did an exceptional job. If you're strapped for cash after the wedding, consider a simple thank-you instead with a professional photo of your wedding from your Miami wedding photographer. About half of couples end up tipping their wedding planner, especially for the most opulent engagements.

The standard tip is up to $500, or a very nice gift, and you can tip at the end of the reception or send a thank you note.

The Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist
A gratuity is definitely expected here, so tip between 15 and 20%, just like you would in a salon. If ...
... a bridesmaid made a big scene about her style or there were last-minute changes, it's nice to give a little extra. Tip at the end of the service.

The Delivery and Set-up Staff
Gratuity is expected here, so give $5 to $10 to anyone who brought items to the site like the cake or sound system, and tip workers if a lot of equipment was brought in and set up. Drop off cash envelopes before your wedding to your catering manager.

The Ceremony Officiant
Many officiants expect a donation to their institution if they are affiliated with a synagogue or church. If you're a member, you should probably give a larger amount. If they're charging you a fee to use the space, a smaller amount if okay. If you choose a nondenominational officiant, there won't be any tip necessary.

The standard is donating $500 to the institution, or an optional tip of around $50 for nondenominational officiants.

The Musicians
If you're bringing in a small orchestra, consider a gratuity, but you certainly wouldn't need to tip a solo church organist who was required to play the event. The standard gratuity is $15 to $20 per person at the end of the ceremony.

The Miami Wedding Photographers
There is no expectation to give your Miami wedding photography team a gratuity on top of their usual fees. Still, it's a good idea to consider a tip for a Miami wedding photographer who doesn't own the studio, in which case you can tip $50 to $200 with a thank you note. If you were really impressed with the professionalism of the photographers in Miami, or they had to deal with some tough situations during the event, consider adding a gratuity anyway.

The Reception Staff
This includes your maitre d', banquet manager and on-site coordinator, and a 2% service charge is almost always build into your fee. Check your contract, and tip 15-20% of the food and drink fee (labor, not actual cost), or $200 to $300 for the maitre d' if the gratuity is not already included.

The Reception Attendants
The standard for tipping bathroom and coat room attendants, bartenders and waitstaff is usually determined by your contract. If there is a service fee already included, add an extra tip if the service was amazing. If it's not included, ask how many attendants will be working at your event and then tip per person. For waiters and bartenders, the usual tip is $20 to $25 per person, $1 per car, and $1 per guest for coat room and parking attendants.

There you have it, a quick run through of the expected gratuities for most of your wedding vendors, from your photographers in Miami to your coat room attendants. Always remember to check your contracts to determine if a gratuity is already included, and reward exceptional service.

For more information on Photographer In Miami and Miami Wedding Photographer. Visit Today - Miamieventvideo.com