Am I supposed to tip my wedding vendor? If so… how much is appropriate?

Many people wonder what the general rule is on tipping your wedding vendor. There are plenty of vendors out there that automatically include the gratuity, but is that enough? No one wants to “double-tip,” but where is the happy medium?

Check your contract!

Catering companies and other service-providing businesses usually include the gratuity in their price. It typically ranges from 15-20%.

Business Owners

As a general rule-of-thumb, you are not supposed to tip the owner of a business (especially a small business). They are self-employed and set their prices to include a profit. This applies to DJs, photographers, florists, etc.

What about my wedding planner?

Well, they have been there by your side since the beginning, so that is solely up to you. You can show your thanks by tipping, or by giving a small thoughtful gift! If you don’t, they probably won’t get offended, but it would be a nice way to show how appreciative you are for their help to make your special day go smoothly.