When it comes to tipping your wedding vendors, you might be wondering who to tip, how much to tip, or what alternatives for tipping there are if your budget is tight. To make it simple and easy for you, here is the ultimate vendor tipping guide with vendors organized by 1) typically tipped, 2) occasionally tipped, and 3) rarely tipped.
I say “typically tipped” rather than “required to tip” as unless it’s required in your contract, you technically aren’t required to tip anybody. Ultimately, tip the vendors you think went above and beyond in providing you with great service and a wonderful experience. Within this category are the vendors that are almost always given gratuity for weddings and should probably be first on your list to tip.
These are the vendors that don’t usually appear on “must tip” lists, though can definitely be tipped if you feel they did an amazing job. Some of these vendors, like your planner and photographer, are spending several hours with you before and during the wedding day, so it’s a great gesture to give them a little extra for their hard work!
Some vendors just wouldn’t make much sense to tip and these are the categories that fall into that realm. Of course, if you’d like to tip them, feel free to do so!
If you search on the internet, you’ll find wide ranges of tip amounts listed for each vendor category. With so many varying dollar and percentage amounts, it can be hard to determine what’s right for you. Everybody’s budget and wedding logistics vary greatly, so don’t be too stressed about hitting a specific number you found online.
I encourage simply creating a line item on your budget for tips. Think about how much you are comfortable tipping your vendors collectively. Maybe that’s $500 or perhaps it’s $2,000. Take your number and divide it up among the vendors you’ve chosen to tip. Prioritize vendors from the “typically tipped” category and then those from the “occasionally tipped” category that you have selected to tip.
Vendors should always be appreciative of tips, so don’t be worried about your tip being too low. If in doubt, you can always ask your wedding planner (if you hired one) for their advice on your specific situation.
If you don’t have the budget to tip or simply don’t feel inclined to tip a vendor but still want to show your appreciation, here are a few tipping alternatives:
Cavin Elizabeth is a wedding film photographer based in San Diego, California. Her wedding work has taken her all over the United States and abroad. In addition to being a photographer, Cavin is an educator and an avid blogger of wedding planning tips for brides and grooms. She authored the book A Bride’s Guide to a Picture Perfect Wedding, which teaches couples how to make wedding plans that are best for photography.
Photography: Cavin Elizabeth Photography
