How Much to Tip Wedding Vendors
10–20%
Wedding tipping varies by vendor: catering and bar staff 15–20% (unless a service charge covers it), hair and makeup 15–25%, delivery and setup crews $10–20 each, and a flat thank-you for photographers, DJs and musicians. Owners of a business are optional to tip.
Tip$0.00
- Total with tip
- $0.00
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
15
Within the 10–20% range for wedding vendors.
How much to tip, situation by situation
| Situation | Typical tip |
|---|---|
| Catering / servers (no service charge) | 15–20% of food & beverage |
| Bartenders | 10% of liquor bill or $50–100 each |
| Hair and makeup | 15–25% |
| Wedding planner (employee) | $100–500 or 10–20% |
| Photographer / videographer | $50–200 per shooter |
| DJ or band | $50–150 per person |
| Officiant | $50–100 (donation if clergy) |
| Delivery and setup crews | $10–20 per person |
| Shuttle or limo driver | 15–20% |
Wedding vendors tip on common prices
| Price | 10% | 15% | 20% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $2.50 | $3.75 | $5.00 |
| $50 | $5.00 | $7.50 | $10.00 |
| $75 | $7.50 | $11.25 | $15.00 |
| $100 | $10.00 | $15.00 | $20.00 |
| $150 | $15.00 | $22.50 | $30.00 |
| $200 | $20.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 |
Worth knowing
- Read each contract: many venues add a 20%+ "service charge" that may or may not reach staff.
- Put tips in labeled envelopes and give them to a trusted person to hand out at the end of the night.
Working it out by hand? See how to calculate a tip. Travelling? Customs differ abroad: tipping by country.
Questions people ask
Do you tip a wedding photographer?
Not required, especially if they own the business, but $50–200 per shooter is a common thank-you.
Who hands out the wedding tips?
Usually the planner, a parent or the best person, using prepared, labeled envelopes.