When and How Much to Tip Wedding Photographers and Other Vendors

In the whirlwind of wedding planning, it's important not to overlook a key part of your budget: the tips you allocate to your vendors. Tipping your vendors typically happens during the wedding and reception, but it's almost always in the frenzy of the big day, making it a daunting task. Our seasoned wedding planners help you navigate the entire process, from budgeting recommendations to when and how much to tip wedding photographers, bakers, caterers, and more.

Budgeting for Wedding Vendor Tips

Tipping vendors is a way to thank your big-day team for their hard work, dedication, and service. "Even though it is not required—unless it is stated on your contract or invoice—I highly recommend tipping, at a minimum, the individuals who will be paid the least but do more of the 'heavy lifting' on the day of," says Summer Newman of Summer Newman Events, a wedding planning and design firm.

Avoid tipping sticker shock by building tips into your initial wedding budget, says Wendy Kay, the owner and creative director of Birds of a Feather Events. This way, you won't experience major surprises or financial stressors as the event nears. "Decide who you will be tipping, set an amount based on your budget for that vendor, and know that if you decide to tip more, you'll be going over budget," says Kay.

When to Tip Wedding Vendors

Here are a few helpful ways to determine when to tip your wedding vendors:

• Check contracts: A good way to start determining when vendor gratuities are delivered is by checking contracts, says Michelle Norwood, the owner of Michelle Norwood Events. "Some contracts include a service fee or gratuity as part of your bill. Be sure to check your contracts to ensure you're not double-tipping," she says. "If contracts don't include gratuity, you can always ask to add it in when you sign and pay the deposit to avoid awkward or missed exchanges on the day of."
• Don't allocate tips too early in the process: While budgeting for tips in advance is a good idea, Newman cautions against handing out tips too early since you'll likely need to tweak the numbers. "You can allocate a dollar amount in the beginning, but you will definitely have to revisit what to tip that vendor about a month to two weeks out from your wedding, especially if you decide to tip based on the percentage of your contract," says Newman.
• Tip early the day of the wedding: Delegate the task to someone you trust and ask them to hand out tips early in the day versus at the end of the night. "By the end of the night, they may not be able to complete the task," says Newman.
• Tip after the wedding: If you prefer, you can tip your vendors post-wedding, though it's not always advisable because you are more likely to forget, says Newman. "We have had clients send tips to vendors after an event based on how it went," says Kay.

How to Tip Wedding Vendors

Consider these tried-and-true ways to ensure your wedding vendors will be appropriately tipped:

• Enlist your wedding planner: Ask your wedding planner to hand out tips on your behalf on your wedding day, says Newman. "Most will," she says. "I usually tip vendors upon arrival or when services are rendered. If I have never worked with the vendor, I'll tip them at the end."
• Prepare envelopes: Give your planner pre-assigned tipping envelopes filled with cash or checks before your wedding to be dispersed, says Norwood.
• Cash and apps: Vendors still like cash, but an equal amount prefer gratuities via Zelle, Cash App, or Venmo to avoid any lost envelopes while keeping a digital record, says Newman.
• Checks: Cash can get messy, says Kay, who asks her clients to tip vendors with checks so there are no discrepancies with numbers.
  

How Much to Tip Every Wedding Vendor

There are no set-in-stone rules when it comes to wedding vendor gratuities. "It is hard to say what to tip exactly, as it may vary based on budget, the financial means of each client, or their desire to tip," says Newman. Here are some general guidelines for wedding vendor tipping:

Wedding Planners and Event Designers

Tipping your lead planner—often the owner of the planning firm—is optional, though many owners ask for their teams to be tipped, says Kay and Newman. Team staff can receive between $100 to $500 each, says both wedding planners.

If you only have one wedding planner involved with your big day or are working with the business owner, Norwood suggests springing for a thoughtful present and thank-you card in place of cash. The gift can be sent the weekend prior or in the weeks after the event, she says.

"For nearly every wedding they plan, planners go above and beyond for their clients, oftentimes in ways you might not even be aware of," says Norwood. "While gratuity isn't ever expected, we recommend a nice gift. Your planner, after all, is the one person who keeps things running smoothly and absorbs the stress of the day so you don't have to."

Photographers and Videographers

Industry guidelines for tipping wedding photographers run between $100 to $500, "but we do not see this very often," says Kay.

Typically, if your photographer or videographer is the studio owner, you don't need to tip, says Norwood. "It's nice to offer assistants, studio employees, and photo booth workers, however, a small tip—though it's not typically expected," she says, specifying that between $150 to $200 per photography assistant is a good range.

If your lead photographer or videographer knocks it out of the park, send a gift, says Newman.

Floral Designers

Floral designers are not usually tipped, say experts. "If you were beyond thrilled with the job she or he did, feel free to add 10 to 15 percent to your final tab," says Norwood. A gift is also a viable option, says Kay. If a team of staffers is handling arrangements, erecting a floral arch, or delivering your bouquet, a cash tip for these assistants is appropriate.

Stationery Designers and Calligraphers

If you require your wedding stationery designer or calligrapher to be present on the day of the event to refine seating charts or touch up welcome signs, a small tip is fine, says Kay.

Transportation Team

Just as you'd tip a limo, Lyft, or taxi driver, gratuities are common and typically expected for wedding transportation professionals, says Norwood. "Be sure to check your contract first—but if gratuity isn't included, tip your drivers in cash at the end of the night," she says, adding that you can designate the task to a trusted guest since you probably won't be there. Your wedding planner can also handle this task. Either way, a 20 to 25 percent gratuity is a good range.

Hairstylists and Makeup Artists

Individual tips for hair and makeup artists are expected, says Norwood. "Tip between 15 and 25 percent of the total service cost, or even more if your stylist went above and beyond," she says.

If those in your wedding party are paying for their own hair and makeup, you'll want to figure out if they're tipping individually or if you'll need to tip for their services, as well. Tip directly after hair and makeup are complete, or have your wedding planner do this for you, says Norwood.

Caterers, Service Staff, and Bartenders

"With catering, we recommend either tipping 20 percent on the food and drink bill or allocating a certain amount for each staff member working the wedding," says Norwood. If you go the former route, put the lump sum in an envelope and pass it along to your catering manager to split accordingly.

Keep in mind that waiters and bartenders typically make a solid base rate (paid by the catering company), so your per-person tip can fall between $30 and $40 each. Catering managers, on-site chefs, and kitchen assistants should be paid between $100 and $200.

Cake Bakers

Tipping your wedding cake baker is optional, says Newman. If your confection was a work of art, use your discretion and give them a little something extra or a small gift.

Band, DJ, and Other Musical Entertainment

Tips are optional for ceremony or cocktail hour musicians, as well as bands and DJs, but they are suggested, says Norwood. "Anywhere from 15 to 20 percent on the final bill or contract is a good amount for a single DJ," she says. "If you have a band playing, tip each member anywhere between $50 and $75 depending on how happy you were with the job they did or the amount of equipment they had to lug to the venue." If you have other forms of entertainment, such as an on-site poet or dancers, follow the above tipping guidelines.

"You can add this amount onto the check when you pay your contact ahead of time—or tip band members individually in cash during the reception," says Norwood.

Officiants

"If your officiant is part of a church or synagogue, it's typically expected that you donate to that church or synagogue as a gesture of gratitude," says Norwood. "You can also give your officiant, rabbi, or priest anywhere between $50 and $100 as a personal tip in addition to your donation." Donate ahead of time, "as it will be one less thing to worry about on the day of," she says. If your officiant is attending your rehearsal dinner, give them an envelope with the tip, then, says Norwood.

For non-religious hired officiants, tip 20 percent, says Norwood. For a friend or family member who is officiating, a heartfelt thank-you letter and gift will suffice.

Rental Companies and Production Staff

These are the vendors who deliver and pick up tents, tables and chairs, lounge furniture, lighting, and other rentals. "Anyone who is delivering or setting up anything at your wedding should receive a small tip as a thank-you for carrying in all of those chairs or lugging around those boxes," says Norwood, who says to slip them $20 to $50 per person, depending on the task and time taken.

Streamline this process by giving your wedding planner or trusted loved one "a handful of twenties in envelopes and ask that they take care of delivery and set-up staff throughout the day," says Norwood. Confirm that the delivery team will be the same picking up items after the event is over, says Newman. Be sure to have tips if it's a different pick-up team.

When to Tip More

If your vendor went the extra mile, you can tip more than expected. "When someone goes above and beyond for you and your spouse on the day of your wedding, even if gratuity isn't expected, a nice tip is the perfect way to show your gratitude," says Norwood. "This could mean slipping $20 to the busboy who keeps opening the door for your grandma or allocating an additional few hundred dollars to vendors who may have already included gratuity in their contract but deserve more than the standard amount."

When Not to Tip

"Proper etiquette dictates that you are not supposed to tip the owner of a business," says Kay. "That being said, most of our partners are small business owners, so we do see them getting tips."

If a vendor disappointed you but received a tip envelope with a check, you can cancel it, says Kay. "Another good reason to use checks instead of cash," she says. "But in general, vendors want to do an amazing job—and you should not expect them to fail."