Tipping

[GleepingBeauty]

I am not sure how much to tip the girl doing my hair. She will be there two different days one early and one not early. How much did you tip?

Was there anyone else that you tipped for wedding services?
Do we tip at meals at Disney?

Thanks!

 

[Chilly]

I tipped the hair and make up girls 20%

 

[2nd Time Bride]

I agree, I tip 20% for hair and makeup - cash. I am planning to tip Rev Tim, our WC Kathleen and the limo driver. I am not sure if I should tip the photographer and am not sure the people I am intending to tip will be able to accept the tips. I will have the cash ready and in labeled envelopes just in case!

My dad is huge on tipping and always tips his hotel housekeeping heavily the first day. This ensures he gets everything he wants - towels, extra shampoo or soap, etc. I used to travel extensively for work and, trust me, it really works! We tried that at the GF last year and they left the money!!!! I will try it again at the Contemporary.

 

[2nd Time Bride]

Oh - we tipped at meals at Disney last year but did not have a meal plan. I am not sure how it works with a meal plan.

 

[Cait8383]

I had heard your wedding planner couldn't accept cash but could give her a gift. What about...

Hair & Make up - 20%
Officiant ?
Carolyn Allens coming to the room to steam ?
DJ ?
Photographer ?

 

[michael's mom]

I too read that the planners couldn't accept a cash tip but they could a gift. I also heard that you don't tip the photographers or videographers, but the list I saw on magical kingdoms .com

Do we need to tip anyone on the day?

It's customary to tip certain people who have played a part in your wedding, these are rough guides, you may want to tip more or less depending on quality of service:
Officiant - $25
Bus / Limo drivers - $20 each
Musicians - $20 each
DJ - $20
Cosmetologist - $10 each
Dress Presser - $10 - $15
Photographer / Videographer - not necessary
Sales Manager - not allowed to accept money, but can take a gift.
Wedding Planner - not allowed to accept money, but can take a gift.


I always tip my hairdresser and manicurist 20%.

Good luck!

 

[GleepingBeauty]

This all helps! We didn't even think to include tipping in our budget! I feel sooo silly. We are huge tippers and my DF always leaves too much! i think i am going make some special envelopes that say something like "thanks for making our dreams come true!"

 

[pixie921]

I too read that the planners couldn't accept a cash tip but they could a gift. I also heard that you don't tip the photographers or videographers, but the list I saw on magical kingdoms .com

Do we need to tip anyone on the day?

It's customary to tip certain people who have played a part in your wedding, these are rough guides, you may want to tip more or less depending on quality of service:
Officiant - $25
Bus / Limo drivers - $20 each
Musicians - $20 each
DJ - $20
Cosmetologist - $10 each
Dress Presser - $10 - $15
Photographer / Videographer - not necessary
Sales Manager - not allowed to accept money, but can take a gift.
Wedding Planner - not allowed to accept money, but can take a gift.


I always tip my hairdresser and manicurist 20%.

Good luck!

Why is it not necessary to tip photographers/videographers? Are they not providing a service like everyone else?

(Disclaimer: I used to manage a photo studio and am the wife of a photographer.) Photographers are with the couple the longest, are probably the hardest working people at your wedding and they have a lot of responsibility; after all, their work is what you will keep with you for the rest of your lives to reflect on the day.

When my husband and his peers receive a tip and a word of thanks, they definitely appreciate it and it makes an impression because so few people do it. And again, why would you tip everyone BUT the people most responsible for capturing your memories on the most important day of your life?

 

[MsEsty]

This thread came at a perfect time...

I am sending my Photographers Fruit Flowers to be delivered the day after the wedding. I understand some do not tip because we are paying them directly, but I do want to show my appreciation.

 

[GleepingBeauty]

I hate to sound cheap. But we have limited funds for the wedding. What do you or have you given your wedding planner and sales manager? With a budget in mind? they have been sooo sweet and helpful!

 

[April Elizabeth]

Disney Cast Members can not accept tips but outside vendors can.

HTH

 

[April Elizabeth]

This thread came at a perfect time...

I am sending my Photographers Fruit Flowers to be delivered the day after the wedding. I understand some do not tip because we are paying them directly, but I do want to show my appreciation.

Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

 

[daisygirl902]

Disney Cast Members can not accept tips but outside vendors can.

HTH

Just to be clear, Cast Members may not be able to accept cash as tips, but they can accept gift cards!

 

[lurkyloo]

Sales Manager - not allowed to accept money, but can take a gift.
Wedding Planner - not allowed to accept money, but can take a gift.

This is no longer correct. Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings changed its policy a few years ago, and now everyone but sales consultants is allowed to accept cash tips.

Why is it not necessary to tip photographers/videographers? Are they not providing a service like everyone else

It's not specific to photographers/videographers.

The rule of thumb is that you don't tip anyone who owns their own business. So in theory this includes outside photographers but means that you should tip Disney photographers, who are just employees.

In theory, you also wouldn't need to tip most of the cosmetologists but you would tip their assistants. However, it seems like everyone always tips their cosmetologist even if s/he owns the business—maybe because we're used to tipping the people who cut our hair?

 

[pixie921]

This thread came at a perfect time...

I am sending my Photographers Fruit Flowers to be delivered the day after the wedding. I understand some do not tip because we are paying them directly, but I do want to show my appreciation.

I think that's a very nice idea!

It's not specific to photographers/videographers.

The rule of thumb is that you don't tip anyone who owns their own business. So in theory this includes outside photographers but means that you should tip Disney photographers, who are just employees.

In theory, you also wouldn't need to tip most of the cosmetologists but you would tip their assistants. However, it seems like everyone always tips their cosmetologist even if s/he owns the business—maybe because we're used to tipping the people who cut our hair?

I get that, and I'm not trying to be argumentative, but not all photographers are self-employed. My dh works independently, but also contracts out to several studios (as do many photographers) and I can count on one hand the times he's received tips, whether or not the clients were his or a separate studio's. Disney Photographic Services photographers do not work for themselves and I'm willing to bet the couples that use them seldom think to tip them.

And if you want to split hairs, the officiants (for example) all work for themselves and charge a hefty fee for about a half hour's work, yet they are still included on tipping lists. And many DJs are also self-employed, but they get tipped just the same. The photo and video folks are the only ones who seem to consistently get ignored, and yet their services are the ones most couples feel are among the most important on the wedding day.

Again, I'm not trying to be argumentative, but that's why tipping (and I don't mean just for weddings) has always bugged me. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to who gets tipped or why. I like the idea of tipping anyone who gives exceptional service, not just because it's "expected", you know?

 

[lurkyloo]

Oh I definitely agree with that—tipping should just be a way to reward exemplary service.

Yet here we all are debating the "rules" about how to tip every single person we come in contact with on our wedding day because it's come to be expected that we should.

 

[pixie921]

Oh I definitely agree with that—tipping should just be a way to reward exemplary service.

Yet here we all are debating the "rules" about how to tip every single person we come in contact with on our wedding day because it's come to be expected that we should.

I know! It's an unending condundrum!

 

[neener3]

I suppose I can add two cents to the confusion/debate! I read on a wedding etiquette board (which I can't remember now, but anyway...) that you only tip your officiant if you're not paying them for the service.

So, for example, my friend who just had her big Catholic wedding didn't have to PAY the priest, but she gave him a tip and made a donation to the church, since he didn't have a fee for marrying them. But in my case, since I'm paying him for the service...no tip? At least that's how it was explained on the board.

IMHO, I'm going to tip whoever I want based on their services. There's a lot of people that are working for us to give us a magical day, and we're putting our trust in them to pull it off. We'll be tipping, regardless of etiquette rules, based on our experiences. And I'll be reigning DF in a little bit - he gave our cab driver a twenty last week and told him to "keep the change" on an eleven dollar fare! And the driver took us the long way home! Argh. Later he told me he felt bad for him cause he was older and should be retired...

 

[michael's mom]

Why is it not necessary to tip photographers/videographers? Are they not providing a service like everyone else?

(Disclaimer: I used to manage a photo studio and am the wife of a photographer.) Photographers are with the couple the longest, are probably the hardest working people at your wedding and they have a lot of responsibility; after all, their work is what you will keep with you for the rest of your lives to reflect on the day.

When my husband and his peers receive a tip and a word of thanks, they definitely appreciate it and it makes an impression because so few people do it. And again, why would you tip everyone BUT the people most responsible for capturing your memories on the most important day of your life?

I'm not sure why they put that. I didn't write the page on the website...I just offered the link to the OP. And, that post wasn't a reflection of my opinion but merely, a reiteration of what I had read on that website (my parents did tip AND THANK, our photographer and videographer at my wedding). I treasure those wedding photos that I have and I'm grateful for the wonderful job that was done to preserve those moments for me.

 

[pixie921]

I'm not sure why they put that. I didn't write the page on the website...I just offered the link to the OP. And, that post wasn't a reflection of my opinion but merely, a reiteration of what I had read on that website (my parents did tip AND THANK, our photographer and videographer at my wedding). I treasure those wedding photos that I have and I'm grateful for the wonderful job that was done to preserve those moments for me.

Oh yes! I totally knew you were just quoting. I'm sorry if you felt I was responding directly at you ... I def. meant it more as a general "why is it said by etiquette people" vs. "why did YOU say that".