Let’s talk about something that makes people weirdly uncomfortable: tipping your wedding vendors. I know, I know—you’re already spending what feels like a down payment on a house for one day. But here’s the thing: tipping your vendors isn’t just some outdated tradition or a sneaky way to squeeze more money out of you. It’s about recognizing the humans behind your wedding day and the work that goes into making your vision come to life.
01. They’re Doing More Than You See
Here’s what most couples don’t realize: what you see on your wedding day is maybe 20% of the actual work your vendors do. Your photographer didn’t just show up and click a button for eight hours. They spent time before your wedding scouting locations, planning shot lists, and probably losing sleep thinking about the lighting during golden hour. After your wedding? They’re spending 40+ hours editing your photos, color-correcting every single image, and making sure you look absolutely incredible.
Your florist? They started working on your arrangements at like 4am to make sure everything was fresh and perfect. Your DJ showed up hours early to set up equipment and test sound levels. Your hair and makeup artist practiced your look multiple times before your wedding day and brought their entire kit of professional products.
When you tip your vendors, you’re acknowledging all of that behind-the-scenes work that makes your day run smoothly.
02. It’s About Respect For The Craft
Wedding vendors aren’t just pressing buttons or following a checklist. They’re skilled professionals who have spent years perfecting their craft. Your photographer has thousands of dollars in equipment and training. Your planner has a mental database of backup plans for every possible disaster. Your videographer is basically creating a cinematic experience and capturing every bit of the story of your entire day.
Tipping is a way of saying “I see the expertise you brought to this, and I value it.” It’s recognizing that their work is more than just a service. What they do is an art form that required skill, creativity, and genuine care about your experience.
03. They Go Above And Beyond
Let me tell you what actually happens at weddings: something will ALWAYS go off from the way it was planned, and your vendors are the ones who fix it without you ever knowing there was a problem. We put out the fires (sometimes literally, but usually figuratively)!
Your coordinator is the one who called the cake artist when the cake wasn’t delivered on time so your mom didn’t have to. Your photographer is the one who noticed your dress strap was twisted and fixed it before family photos. Your DJ is the one who figured out how to keep the energy up when half your guests were stuck in traffic. Your makeup artist is the one who brought an emergency kit and fixed your lipstick seventeen times without making you feel high-maintenance.
These aren’t things they have to do. They do them because they genuinely care about making your day perfect. A tip is a way of recognizing that level of dedication.
04. The Industry Standard (And Who To Tip)
Now let’s get practical. Here’s the general guideline: 15-20% for vendors who don’t own their business, and a gratuity or generous gift for vendor-owners if you want to show extra appreciation. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by who/what/where/how and all the vendors to keep track of, we have a Vendor Tipping Guide you can snag here!
Definitely tip: photographers’ assistants, hair and makeup artists (especially if they’re not the salon owner), DJs, bartenders, catering staff, delivery drivers, and transportation drivers. Your wedding planner or coordinator should also receive a tip—they literally orchestrated your entire day.
Consider tipping: Band members, second shooters, florist’s assistants, and anyone who went genuinely above and beyond. If your photographer stayed two extra hours without charging you, or your florist personally delivered everything and set up? That deserves recognition.
Vendor business owners: While tipping isn’t required for business owners, a heartfelt card with a generous Amazon gift card or a bottle of nice wine is always appreciated. Or honestly? Just tip them anyway if you can. They often work harder than anyone else on your team.
05. Budget For It From The Start
Here’s the move: build gratuities into your wedding budget from day one. Don’t treat it as an afterthought or something you’ll figure out later. Set aside 15-20% of your vendor costs for tips and put someone in charge of distributing them on your wedding day (usually your planner or a trusted family member).
Having cash envelopes prepared and labeled before your wedding day means you won’t forget anyone in the chaos, and your vendors get recognized for their hard work immediately. We highly recommend giving these to your wedding coordinator (or whoever you assign to step into that role) for ease of distribution on the wedding day.
06. It Creates Better Vendor Relationships
Let’s be real for a second: wedding vendors talk to each other. When you’re known as the couple who genuinely appreciated their team and showed it, that reputation matters. Not because vendors are petty, but because everyone wants to work with clients who value their work.
Plus, if you ever need vendor recommendations in the future (for anniversaries, vow renewals, or helping friends plan their weddings), being remembered as generous and appreciative goes a long way.
The Bottom Line
Tipping your vendors isn’t about obligation—it’s about gratitude. These people poured their talent, energy, and genuine care into one of the most important days of your life. They problem-solved, they hustled, and they made sure you could actually enjoy your wedding instead of stressing about logistics.
So yes, weddings are expensive. But if you can afford to have a wedding, you can afford to show appreciation to the people who made it magical. Your vendors will remember your kindness, and honestly? You’ll feel good knowing you recognized the humans who worked so hard to celebrate you.
With love & confetti,
Amanda
