You’ve signed the last check, paid the last deposit, purchased the final items, and settled up all the remaining balances…your wedding has been paid for! Or—has it? In the grand scheme of budgeting for your wedding, don’t forget to factor in funds for tipping wedding vendors. While not all vendors expect to be tipped for their services—instead choosing to make their prices reflect all the payment they feel they need—for some it’s an expectation to follow tipping etiquette in the wedding industry. Confused on which vendors to tip, how much you should tip each type of vendor, and when to distribute tips? Fear not: here’s a guide on tipping vendors.

Wedding Vendor Tipping Pointers

1. Tip when you feel you’ve received extraordinary service. Not all vendors expect tips, so it’s really a personal, case-by-case decision.
2. Check your contracts to be sure that gratuity has not already been included in the price.
3. Generally speaking, you do not need to tip the owners of large businesses (just their employees). Small business owners, on the other hand, should be considered for tipping based on the quality of service you feel you’ve received.
4. Tip or no tip, writing a thank you note to vendors who provided you with great service is always a thoughtful gesture and highly appreciated—as is leaving them positive reviews on wedding planning websites like Zola.

How Much to Tip Wedding Vendors (by Vendor Type)

While your tip should depend on your wedding budget and level of satisfaction & a few other factors, here are some quick guidelines on how to tip your wedding vendors, with additional protocol & tips below:

• Photographers & Videographers: $50-$100 per person
• Wedding coordinator/planners: 10-20% of the total bill (up to $500)
• Wedding Venue Coordinator/Catering Captain: $250-500, or 15-20% of the food and drink bill
• Officiant: $50-$100
• Ceremony Musicians: $15-$20 per musician
• Florist: 10-15% of your total floral bill
• Hairstylist & Makeup Artist: 15-25% of total
• Transportation: 15-20%
• Wedding Band: $20-$25 per musician
• Wedding DJ: $50-$150
• Reception Waitstaff: 15-20% of labor costs on food & drink bill
• Reception Bartender: 10% of the total bill
• Delivery Personnel: $5-$10 per person

Wedding Photographer(s) and Videographer(s)

• Protocol: Optional; consider tipping second shooters or staff beyond the business owner(s).
• Amount: Although not required, consider tipping wedding photographers and cinematographers $50-$100 per person, or instead of a cash tip, you can provide a personal gift as another nice gesture for their photography services.
• Timing: At the end of the reception.

Wedding Planner

• Protocol: Optional; about 50% of couples tip.
• Amount: Although wedding planners don’t expect a tip, if you’d like to show your appreciation for examples of exceptional service, consider offering a tip that’s 10-20% of the total bill (up to $500), or a personal gift.
• Timing: At the end of the reception, or mail it after the honeymoon.

Wedding Venue Coordinator/Catering Captain

• Protocol: Expected, based on contract. If service fee is not included, tip according to below.
• Amount: Wedding venue coordinators and catering captains should be tipped $250-500, or 15-20% of the food and drink bill.
• Timing: If included in the contract, the final bill is due before the wedding. If not, at the end of the reception.

Officiant

• Protocol: Expected, depending on officiant. If s/he works for church or synagogue, you might be expected to make a donation to that institution instead, or in addition.
• Amount: A wedding officiant should be tipped around $50-100 for the officiant alone, depending on how much time they’ve spent with you pre-ceremony. Consider a $100-500 donation to the religious institution.
• Timing: Prior to the wedding (when paying the ceremony service fee), or after the rehearsal.

Ceremony Musicians

• Protocol: Optional; consider the complexity of their setup and/or performance.
• Amount: Consider tipping each ceremony musicians $15-20 per musician.
• Timing: At the end of the wedding ceremony.

Florist

• Protocol: Optional or not expected, unless you really loved their work and service.
• Amount: Consider tipping your wedding florist 10-15% of your total floral bill.
• Timing: Include a separate check with the final invoice, or mail it after the -honeymoon.

Hair & Make-up Artist(s)

• Protocol: Expected
• Amount: Wedding hair and make-up artists should be tipped 15-25% of your total charge (just like at a salon!).
• Timing: At the end of their service.

Transportation

• Protocol: Expected (but may be already included in the contract).
• Amount: Wedding transportation staff should be tipped 15-20% of your total bill.
• Timing: At the end of the night or after the final ride.

Wedding Band

• Protocol: Optional; consider their overall performance and responsiveness to your requests.
• Amount: Consider tipping your wedding band $20-$35 per musician
• Timing: At the end of the reception.

Wedding DJ

• Protocol: Optional; consider their overall quality and responsiveness to your requests.
• Amount: Although not required, consider tipping your wedding DJ $50-$150
• Timing: At the end of the reception.

Reception Waitstaff

• Protocol: Optional, based on contract (check to see if a service fee is included). Tip on top of service fee only for exceptional service.
• Amount: Consider tipping your wedding reception waitstaff 15-20% of labor costs on your food and drink bill.
• Timing: At the end of the reception (or during set-up, to encourage great service).

Reception Bartender

• Protocol: Optional, based on contract (check to see if a service fee is included). Tip on top of service fee only for exceptional service. Make sure guests are not tipping on top of your tip!
• Amount: Consider tipping your wedding reception bartender 10% of the total liquor bill.
• Timing: At the end of the reception (or during set-up, to encourage great service).

Delivery Personnel (Wedding Cake, Rentals, Flowers, Etc.)

• Protocol: Expected
• Amount: Wedding delivery personnel should be tipped $5-$10 per person
• Timing: Leave cash envelopes with the coordinator or catering manager (whomever will be on site overseeing delivery and setup) to distribute the tip(s).