This page gives you a repeatable decision procedure to determine tipping for each vendor using only your own contracts and written answers.
The short answer
For each vendor, locate the gratuity or service charge line in your contract. Ask the vendor in writing who that charge pays—the business or the individual staff. Then decide whether to tip per person or per team, and set the amount yourself based on your own criteria. This method removes guesswork and ensures you only tip where it actually reaches the people serving you.
CalculatorWedding Vendor Tip Calculator
The decisions this settles
This page gives you a repeatable decision procedure to determine tipping for each vendor using only your own contracts and written answers.
Questions to answer before you commit
- Does your contract include a service charge or gratuity line?
- Have you asked each vendor in writing who receives that charge?
- Will you tip per person (each server, each hairstylist) or per team (one amount for the catering crew)?
- What is your own rule for setting the tip amount (e.g., based on hours worked, complexity, or a flat amount)?
- Have you confirmed whether any vendor prohibits tipping or includes it in their fee?
What each choice changes
| What to compare | What to ask for | The decision it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Contract line item | Is a service charge listed? Ask: 'Is this a gratuity that goes to staff or a fee that stays with the business?' | Whether you need to add a separate tip. |
| Vendor policy | Does the vendor have a written tipping policy? Ask: 'Do you have a written policy on gratuities?' | Whether you follow their policy or your own. |
| Team vs. individual | How many people will work your event? Ask: 'Do they work as a team or independently?' | Tip per person or per team. |
| Payment method | Can tips be added to the final invoice, or must they be given in cash on the day? Ask: 'What is your preferred method for receiving tips?' | How to prepare envelopes or payments. |
| Timing | When are tips expected? Ask: 'Should tips be given at the end of the night or after the event?' | Schedule for distributing tips. |
A worked wedding tipping guide example
Turning your own tip decisions into envelopes
- Catering staff: the contract already carries a gratuity, so no extra envelope.
- Bartenders: 3 × $60.00 = $180.00.
- Hair and makeup: 2 people sharing a tip on the $600.00 contract, $60.00 each = $120.00.
- Photographer: 1 × $150.00 = $150.00.
- Delivery and setup: 4 × $20.00 = $80.00.
- Total to put in envelopes: $530.00, in 10 envelopes.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Bartenders per person | $60.00 |
| Bartenders total | $180.00 |
| Hair and makeup contract | $600.00 |
| Hair and makeup per person | $60.00 |
| Hair and makeup total | $120.00 |
| Photographer per person | $150.00 |
| Photographer total | $150.00 |
| Delivery and setup per person | $20.00 |
| Delivery and setup total | $80.00 |
| Total tips | $530.00 |
| Envelopes | 10 |
Mistakes to avoid with wedding tipping guide
None of these are exotic. They are the ordinary ways this decision goes wrong, and each one is caught by asking a single extra question.
Watch for
- Assuming a service charge is a gratuity without verifying—you may double-tip or miss tipping the actual staff.
- Waiting until the wedding day to decide amounts—you risk scrambling for cash or forgetting a vendor.
- Tipping the business owner when the owner keeps the tip and staff sees none—ask in writing who gets the money.
Your next conversation, in checklist form
Your next conversation, in checklist form
- Review each vendor contract for any service charge or gratuity line.
- Email each vendor asking who receives that charge and whether a separate tip is expected.
- Decide for each vendor whether you will tip per person or a single team amount.
- Set your own tip amount for each vendor based on your budget and the service level you anticipate.
- Prepare cash envelopes labeled with vendor names and amounts for day-of delivery.
- Designate a trusted person to distribute tips on your wedding day.
Wedding tipping guide: common questions
Do I have to tip vendors who own their own business?
The decision is yours; some owners include gratuity in their fee. Ask them in writing whether a tip is expected and who it would go to.
What if my contract already includes a service charge?
Ask the vendor in writing whether that charge is a gratuity that goes to staff or an administrative fee. If it goes to staff, you may not need to tip additionally; if it stays with the business, plan a separate tip for the team.
Should I tip before or after the wedding?
Most tips are given at the end of the event or after the service is complete. Check with each vendor for their preference and prepare cash in advance.
What to settle next
Once you have your tipping plan, move to the Budgeting for Gratuities page to allocate funds, or the Vendor Contract Checklist to review all fee lines.
