Anyone skipping videography?
more by AmberEyes
What color is your dres?
Invite pastor to reception?
more in Etiquette
Program question
Oahu Honeymoon
more in Boards
Thank you card now, or later?

Are we supposed to tip our photographer and DJ??

posted 2 years ago in Etiquette
  •  
    1.
    Member
    390 posts
    Helper bee
    AmberEyes    October 9, 2010   Toronto

    Hi ladies, my fiance asked me this question and I didn't know the answer.

    However, considering how much were already being charged for these expensive services, I'm assuming that any type of gratuity is not expected.

    Am I wrong? What's the ettiquette?

     
    2.
    Member
    498 posts
    Helper bee
    gvsusara    November 7, 2009   Chicago/Lakeview

    We only tipped the DJ......I think it was $50 or so?  Can't remember.  Our photographer cost almost $7000 and I thought that was quite enough money already.

     
    3.
    Hostess
    3,054 posts
    Sugar bee
    naangel55    June 20, 2009   Long Beach, CA

    Technically if your photographer or DJ is the owner of their company you shouldnt have to tip them.  However, you are being provided a service and if you are very happy with the services they provide, I would tip them.  Our photographers owned their company but we still tipped them because I was so happy with them.  Can you get them a small gift card instead of tipping them cash?

     
    4.
    Member
    390 posts
    Helper bee
    AmberEyes    October 9, 2010   Toronto

    @ gvsusara - you're right, the cost of photography is enough already. We're paying $5800 for ours, and I don't think they need extra money.

    @naangel55 - I like your idea with the gift card. What's a good gift card to give? iTunes? Restaurant? I have no ideas.

     
    5.
    Hostess
    3,054 posts
    Sugar bee
    naangel55    June 20, 2009   Long Beach, CA

    I think a restaurant would be a good gift card, everyone eats but not everyone used iTunes.  We got our catering manager an Amex gift card so she could use it anywhere.

     
    6.
    Member
    4,199 posts
    Honey bee
    KLP2010    October 30, 2010  

    Apple - DJ or photographer is probably an apple nerd. Macs are kind of like a necessity for both.

     
    7.
    Member Icon
    Member
    4,416 posts
    Honey bee
    Ember78    December 15, 2012  

    You only tip people who go above and beyond for you, not for just doing their job or if they do a bad job. You tip whomever you feel deserves it, even if they are the business owner. A tip does not have to be monetary either. Never tip someone before you see the final service or product in action because people will be completely different during the planning process than at the wedding itself. Gauge how they are at the wedding and then give them a tip only if they deserve it after the wedding is over when you've stepped down from cloud nine.

     
    8.
    Member
    162 posts
    Blushing bee
    dmp777    July 10, 2010   NJ

    Aren't gratuities in most of the contracts already though? In all of our contracts...DJ, photog, videographer, caterers, etc...they all have included a gratuity percentage that is added in to their total price. That doesn't mean I have to tip them additionally the night of the wedding does it??

     
    9.
    Member
    3,755 posts
    Honey bee
    amariem25    October 2009  

    We didn't.  We thought about tipping our photographer, but then we decided we would order an album from him instead.  We hadn't planned on ordering any albums from him, so he is making more money off of that.  The album is like $850.

    We didn't tip the DJ because he didn't do a very good job and he caused stress in the weeks leading up to the wedding too.  I do not recommend J-Sun Entertainment from Rochester, MN.

     
    10.
    Member Icon
    Member
    4,416 posts
    Honey bee
    Ember78    December 15, 2012  

    @dmp777 - yes, a gratituity is a required tip. You don't tip anyone on top of that unless they absolutely went above and beyond and you feel they deserve something extra.

    You don't tip anyone the night of the wedding anyway, because you have no way of knowing before the wedding how they will perform. Wait until you send out thank you notes to your vendors after you return from your honeymoon and send a tip, if you feel they deserve one but it's never required, at that time.

     
    11.
    Member
    2,406 posts
    Buzzing bee
    vintage2010    April 10, 2010  

    I went on theknot.com and did a search for vendor tipping and it said that you usually tip 50 to the DJ and don't tip the photographer if they own the studio.  They also had other suggestions for other vendors.

    Aggh, we've got just a few more days to figure this one out

     

    Reply

    You must log in to post.





    Visit our sister sites eHarmony
    Online Dating
    eHarmony Advice
    Dating Advice
    Project Wedding
    Wedding Songs
    JustMommies
    Pregnancy Calendar
    Copyright 2004-2012, Weddingbee.com
     

    Find your vendors on Weddingbee

    Real reviews from brides in your area!

    Favors by Weddingbee

    • Favors by season

    Shop Now ยป

    Find Registry Find Registry Find Registry

    More
    User Posts Today
    ellisrobertson 24
    fishbone 21
    MsPanda 14
    ladyartichoke 14
    aduarte3201 14
    mypinkshoes 12
    pengoala 11
    sylvia.riggle 11
    Brielle 10
    likelimeade 10

    Etiquette

    User Posts Today
    fishbone 4
    lilgrizzlygirl 3
    thursdayschild 3
    eagle 3
    tnanog 3
    SapphireSun 2
    likelimeade 2
    SoonToBeSLP 2
    bridgetsierra 2
    aspasia475 1
    More