The Wedding Gratuity Guide: Who to Tip (and How Much)

Planning Tip

Tipping at a wedding can feel confusing…there are so many vendors, so many moving parts, and a lot of “wait… is this expected?” moments. The good news: deciding who to tip is usually simpler than it seems.

A solid rule of thumb is to follow the standards of everyday life. If you’d typically tip them at a salon or restaurant, you’ll tip them at a wedding. Otherwise, tipping is usually optional. Still, when couples do decide to give gratuity, here’s what’s most common.

A few friendly notes before you start stuffing envelopes

Tip what feels right. These numbers are suggestions based on what we commonly see. It’s not always the dollar amount that matters, often it’s the thought and effort that makes vendors feel appreciated.

Cash is king. Cash is typically preferred, and it’s best to place each vendor’s tip in a separate, sealed envelope so it can be handed off easily, but a check is appreciated especially for solo vendors who don’t need to split up the total.

Gratitude isn’t always money. If tipping isn’t in the budget (or a vendor truly went above and beyond), other meaningful ways to say thanks include:

A glowing review
A handwritten thank you note
A small gift
Referring them to friends/family

Reviews and kind words genuinely help vendors grow their businesses, and they mean more than you might think.

Wedding tipping cheat sheet by vendor

Below is a practical breakdown of common wedding vendor gratuities, including what’s “standard” vs. “optional,” plus a few helpful notes.

Food & Beverage

Bartending Staff — Standard
$50–$100 per person (unless there’s a tip jar)
If there’s a tip jar, couples don’t usually add extra unless the bartenders were exceptional.

Catering Service Staff — Standard
18–20% of food cost*
These tips typically go directly to the day-of staff and help supplement their income.
*Not including service costs.

Beauty

Hair & Makeup Artists — Standard
18–20% of service cost
This is often included already—double check your contract before tipping twice.

Planning & Design

Planner — Optional
$200–$5000 or 10% of planning package
Gratuity here usually depends on the level of service you booked and how involved your planner was throughout.

Floral — Optional
$100–$300
Consider the scope of installation: simple drop-offs vs. large-scale installs and on-site styling.

Photo & Video

Photographer(s) & Videographer(s) — Optional
$100–$500
If you have multiple shooters, it’s common for the lead photographer/videographer to receive more than a second.

Ceremony & Entertainment

Ceremony Musicians — Optional
$25 per musician
Smaller bills make it easier to distribute on the spot.

DJ — Optional
$100–$300
You’ll often see higher tips when the DJ provides add-ons (like GOBO, uplights, or other enhancements).

Band — Optional
$25–$50 per member
Remember: there may also be crew members (sound engineer, setup/breakdown crew) involved behind the scenes.

Hired Officiant — Optional
$50–$100
A thoughtful tip if they supported you in crafting your ceremony and leading it day-of.

Logistics & Staffing

Transportation — Optional
$50–$100 per driver
If you have multiple shuttles, prep multiple envelopes so each driver can be tipped directly.

Bakery — Optional
$20–$50
Typically goes to the person who delivers your cake to the venue.

Rental Delivery Personnel — Optional
$20–$50
This goes to the delivery person—keep in mind you may have multiple rental companies.

Security — Optional
$20–$50
If there are multiple guards, separate tips into individual envelopes.

Venue Personnel — Optional
$50–$100
Most common when you’ve worked closely with a venue coordinator/manager and want to thank them for their support.

Lighting — Optional
$20–$50
Typically goes to the person delivering and installing your lighting.

The easiest way to handle tips on wedding day

If you want this to feel effortless:

Label envelopes by vendor category + name (if you know it).
Assign a point person (planner, trusted friend, or family member) to distribute them.
Keep a small stash of extra cash for “above and beyond” moments.

Final reminder: appreciation goes a long way

Whether you tip, write a note, or leave a heartfelt review, vendors remember kindness. Weddings are long days, and a simple “thank you” (written or spoken) can land in a vendor’s memory forever.