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Tipping can be one of the more confusing parts of wedding planning. It’s a question couples often ask: “Who are we supposed to tip? And how much?”
The short answer? Tipping is never expected—but always appreciated. It’s a way to say thank you when a vendor has gone above and beyond and to show your appreciation for their services.
If you’ve been following the Marryment Planning Guide or tuning into 52 ‘Til I Do, you’ve likely heard us suggest setting aside 5-10% of your total budget for gratuities.
In this post, we’ll walk through common tipping protocols and standards and give you practical advice on how to forecast and manage your vendor tips.
Tipping should reflect your personal feelings about the service you received. There is no required formula. These guidelines are based on industry norms and real experience, but you are never obligated to tip outside of what feels right to you.
We also want to acknowledge that the culture around tipping can feel frustrating. If you're feeling a little annoyed or unsure about it, you're not alone. Our goal is simply to offer guidance, so you can approach this topic with clarity and confidence.
One final element to consider: is your vendor the business owner or part of a team? If they are part of a larger team, they don’t necessarily receive the full portion of your payment. You may feel inclined to tip them an amount that you feel best reflects their level of individual service.
This is one category you’ll want to pay special attention to, as staffing can vary widely and gratuity is often already included.
Before tipping, check your catering contract—some include gratuity or a service charge automatically. If gratuity is already included in your contract, you can check this off of your list.
Important note: “service fee” or “admin fee” are not gratuity!!
If gratuity is not included, you have a few options:
Option 1: Tip Per Staff Member
Option 2: Tip Based on Food & Beverage Total
This is one of the larger vendor categories, so tipping based on team size often makes the most sense.
If your beauty team feels like they’re working salon-style, tip them the same way:
15-20% of the total service cost is standard.
Sometimes gratuity will already be included in a hair and makeup contract. Be sure to check that agreement first before proceeding.
If you’ve hired a professional officiant:
Religious considerations: For example, it’s customary to give in increments of $18 for Rabbis (like $36, $54, or $108), or to donate to the officiant’s affiliated organization in lieu of a personal tip. Some religious organizations or churches may have a suggested (or required) donation amount to their organization.
$50-$200, depending on the complexity of the design and scale of the installation.
$100-$200 per person.
You may see advice suggesting waiting until you receive your gallery or preview—this is completely optional and based on preference.
For content creators, we typically see between $50-$100.
DJs: $100-$150
Bands/Musicians: 10-15% of the total bill OR $25-$35 per band member
$50-$100 per driver
Check your contract or initial inquiry emails—gratuity is often already included.
This category is often overlooked, but if you’re around to receive items, a $20-$50 tip per delivery is a kind gesture. We typically see the larger tips for bakeries that drop off wedding cakes or rental companies, and a smaller amount for delivery drivers that bring by late night pizza, for example.
Note: your coordinator may not always be present for early deliveries, so this one isn’t always feasible to be delivered by your coordinator.
While you may not have worked with them during the planning process, these individuals play a big role on your special day.
$50-$150 per assistant (most commonly applies to photo, video, DJ, and planning teams).
$20-$50 per guard.
Check contracts to confirm if gratuity is already included.
$50-$100 per vendor.
It feels a little funny writing this out, but if you’ve felt supported, cared for, and like your wedding was in good hands, tipping your coordinator or planner is a lovely way to acknowledge that effort. We notice. And it means a lot.
As someone who receives these tips, we’ll say this: there is no expectation, but a tip is always incredibly appreciated.
We most commonly receive $200-$300 for month-of coordination packages, though it varies depending on the length of our planning time together, the complexity of the day, or whether we’re managing multiple events over a weekend.
For full-service or partial wedding planners, tipping is often structured differently—typically around 15-20% of the total service cost.
✔️ Use sealed envelopes, labeled with the vendor’s name + company
✔️ If a vendor has multiple team members (like a lead photographer and assistant), prepare separate envelopes for each person
✔️ Designate someone (like your coordinator / planner) to distribute them. If we’re distributing your envelopes and have any doubt about the service delivered on the day, we will discuss with you prior to distribution.
Tipping is a personal choice. Use this guide to help you plan, but don’t stress if every line item doesn’t apply to your day. If you have questions about how to handle tips for your specific vendor team, let’s talk it through. This is one of those details where forecasting ahead makes a big difference.
For more wedding planning tips, listen to our podcast 52 ‘Til I Do on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Have more tipping-related questions? Send us a message at hello@marryment.com or get in touch on our social media—we love helping couples navigate this part of wedding planning!
Searching for your wedding planner or wedding coordinator? Marryment proudly serves couples all across Chicago and the surrounding Chicago Suburbs including popular areas such as Schaumburg, Lombard, Naperville, Evanston, Joliet, Oak Park, Lisle, Barrington, Downers Grove, Wheaton and Northbrook, to name a few. We also love destination weddings. We'd love to be a part of your wedding day! Schedule your free planning call with us today.
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