Tipping Etiquette?

I have received numerous emails from my brides asking my advice on what is the appropriate amount to tip their wedding professionals. Although I believe there is no etiquette in tipping... tipping is just a gesture of appreciation for services rendered, I am posting this to help the brides who wonder about tipping etiquette and norm.

I believe tipping is more of a social custom, not a requirement, it has no set rules.

The following are suggestions in tipping are by frugal bride ;

All tips should be given in cash. If the person serving you is an employee of the company, their tip should be in a separate envelope. No one/single person should get more then $150.00.

i.e: Let’s say your limo bus is $2000.00. 10 or 15% of that total is 200 or 300 dollars, not necessary.
Tips should be given just before your vendor leaves. That way you can judge how much to give, according to the job they did for you.
All vendors would love a thank you card. It is a great reminder of happy clients and let's face it, it'll help them book future clients.

Altar boys or girls - $10-15.00 each

Limousine Drivers – 10-15% of the limousine bill, given at the end of the evening. See "i.e. Tip" above. Sometimes the tip has already been included in the contract. (For great service consider a small bonus tip)
Valet Parking Attendants - $.50 to $1.00 per car, prearrange this amount with the supervisor based on an estimate of how many cars will be arriving and a sign should be posted to guests that the gratuity has been taken care of.
Wait staff - If the tip is not on the contract already, 15% of the total catering bill is tipped.
Wait staff do the hardest physical labor on your wedding day.
Bartenders - 10% of the total liquor bill, presented to the head bartender or divided equally among the total number of bartenders who worked the full evening. Make sure that a tip hasn't been added to your contract already.
Restroom and/or Coatroom Attendants - $.50 to $1.00 per guest, prearranged again based on the number of guests.
Makeup artist or Hair Stylists - You don't have to tip them if they come to you. If you go to the salon, then you should tip them 15%.
Why? you ask, well the salon makes the money, not the individual. If you have received a good job, and you would tip normally, then go ahead.
DJ - If your DJ owns the company then the tip is optional but if the DJ is an employee $50-100.00. If you have 2 DJs (DJ & MC), give each person $50.00 in separate envelopes. When your guests rave about your reception later, it's the DJ that had everything to do with the fun.

Business Owners - You don’t have to tip the owner of a business, unless you feel that they have gone beyond the call of duty and you want to give them a token of your appreciation.
Ceremony or Reception Musicians - $20-30/per person, in one lump sum given to the person in charge.
Banquet or catering manager - doesn’t need to be tipped unless they’ve thrown in extras or saved you a few hundred dollars on your bill. The tip would be between $50-$100.
Photographer and Videographer - If these vendors own the company, then the tip is optional. If they are employees $50.00 goes to the main photographer and he/she can give a split to the assistant.
Officiant - To tip them is to trivialize their profession and extremely bad etiquette. Generally you pay your fee and that's it. If you wish to make a financial contribution to the church, you can do that separately. $50-$100
Florist - You don't need to tip the florist for making your arrangements but you can tip them an extra $5.00 per delivery location (3 locations=$15.00) or $10-20.00 per staff member in one lump sum, for set-up and delivery.
Delivery workers- $10 each if droppping items off, $15 if dropping items off and setting up
Wedding Cake Baker - You don't have to tip for the baking of the cake but if you or your coordinator are at your reception venue at time of delivery and set-up = $10.00 (If cake was baked off premises)
Wedding Coordinator or Room Manager- This is the person managing the reception venues staff and facility the night of your wedding = $50.00
Your Wedding Day Coordinator - If this vendor owns the company, then the tip is optional. If they are an employee = $50.00
Your Wedding Planner - This person has planned your wedding from start to finish. An appropriate tip would be 10% of their total commission or bill.

This should give you some guidelines on tipping etiquette. Tipping etiquette is different in different provinces, cities and towns. Please be sure to add this to your budget. The amounts above are only examples and are not written in stone.

Happy Planning!