At Lavender Crown, tips and gratuities are never expected, but always greatly appreciated.
You've planned your entire day out, and it's just hours to the moment you walk down the aisle. You have the wedding dress of your dreams and the weather in the San Francisco Bay Area is turning out to be amazing. Frank Ocean just came out with "American Wedding" just in time for wedding season in California. All of your invoices have been paid, but what about tips and gratuities? How can you best prepare the thank you for your vendors?
We all know the regular rules of tipping when it comes to a meal out, a large party, or even take out. Tipping or offering a gratuity is a way to express gratitude for excellent service. But what about tipping your wedding vendors? Tipping vendors can be a largely thoughtful gesture that shows your appreciation for their hard work and dedication. However, understanding the nuances of tipping etiquette at weddings (especially California weddings!) can be confusing.
In this post, we’ll delve into some more intricacies of tipping wedding vendors and help give share our insights from our experience with Bay Area weddings! Keep in mind that these standards are not measured or statistically proven, but they are the averages that we experience within our Northern California vendor network.
Some have heard “If they own their own business, we don’t need to tip, right?” This is under the presumption that they are operating as a sole proprietorship and that they personally take in all of the overhead. Wedding vendors operating as a corporation (LLC, S-Corp, etc.) often have more fixed rates for the service providing staff.
What’s the difference between sole proprieterships and corporations when it comes to wedding vendors?
A sole proprietorship is a business owned and operated by a single individual. A corporation is a business structure that combines elements of a corporation and a sole proprietorship into a more formal entity. A sole proprietorship may be more prone to mixing finances between business and personal accounts while corporations by definition keep them separate.
Should I tip an owner of a corporation?
Short answer: hard to say.
Long answer: It’s up to you whether you feel that they performed a tip-worthy service or not. Just because they are a formal corporation doesn’t always mean that they are profitable. Some corporations may decide to pay owner bonuses at the end of their fiscal years, though it may be paired with a minimal salary or pay rate.
When tipping it's essential to consider their role in the wedding planning process. Wedding planners, coordinators & event managers often play a crucial role in coordinating various aspects of your wedding and tying loose ends. Coordinators and event managers make sure that your day goes according to plan. If any small fires come up, our job as planners is to put them out and solve the problem before you even notice anything has gone awry!
Side story: During the offboarding process, I recap anything that didn’t go according to plan and mention the highlights of the event. The strongest sign that I’m doing my job right and well is when our clients say “I didn’t even notice!”.
Additional Considerations
Quality of Service: The quality of service you receive should be a primary factor in determining the tip amount. If you're exceptionally pleased with the vendor's work, you may consider a higher tip.
Customary Practices: While the guidelines mentioned above are generally accepted, it's always a good idea to research customary tipping practices in your local area.
Vendor Expectations: Some vendors may have specific expectations regarding tipping. It's advisable to inquire about their preferences beforehand.
FAQs
Should I tip vendors who are family or friends? Tipping family or friends is generally a personal decision. If you feel that their services were exceptional and you want to express your gratitude, a tip is appropriate.
Can I tip vendors in cash or checks? Cash is typically the preferred method for tipping vendors. However, if you're uncomfortable with cash, Venmo or Zelle are now widely accepted.
What if I'm not satisfied with the vendor's services? If you're dissatisfied with the vendor's work, you may want to reconsider tipping. However, if you believe that there were extenuating circumstances beyond the vendor's control, you may still choose to offer a reduced tip.
Tipping wedding vendors is a thoughtful way to express your appreciation for their hard work and dedication. By understanding the nuances of tipping etiquette for wedding vendors , you can ensure that your tips are appropriate and meaningful. Remember, the most important thing is to show your gratitude for the exceptional service you received.
CHECK OUT OUR LOCAL GUIDE for recent gratuity rates we’ve been seeing in the Bay Area, California.
Comments