How Much to Tip at a Wedding: A Guide for Arizona Couples
- serena9995
- Mar 6
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Your wedding is a day of love, full of family and friends who want it! But behind every wedding is a crew of vendors who make it possible — a team that works tirelessly to make sure your big day is a hit with as few hiccups as possible.
Wondering how to show your appreciation for their hard work? Tipping is always a good idea! And while it is by no means a requirement, it is always appreciated!
If you want to include tipping into your budget, take a look at our wedding tipping guide to help you plan!
Wedding Tipping Etiquette 101
Tipping is a standard practice in many service industries, but when it comes to weddings, things are a little less straightforward. You know to tip your server when dining at your favorite restaurant, but what about your makeup artist? Or the florist?
Some vendors expect tips, while others see them as a pleasant surprise. To help you prepare, here are a few best practices to keep in mind when you consider who to tip at your wedding.
Cash is Preferred
The easiest and most appreciated way to tip vendors is by cash. If you decide to tip, prepare individual envelopes with cash, labeled clearly with each vendor's name. That way, they’re easy to give to the right person!
You’ll have a lot going on during your wedding, so hand these tip envelopes over to your wedding planner or a member of your wedding party to pass out so you don’t forget!
A Thank-You Goes a Long Way
While monetary tips are appreciated, a heartfelt thank-you note can be just as, if not more, meaningful. Your wedding team is there to make sure your day is perfect, going above and beyond at every turn to do so. A simple thank you can mean the world!
And if a vendor truly impressed you, consider doing both!
Check Your Contracts
Some vendors (especially caterers, transportation services, and planners) already include gratuity in their pricing. Review your contracts ahead of time to avoid double tipping.
Reception and Catering Staff
From drinks, food, and more, your reception team plays one of the biggest roles in making your wedding a blast! But who should you tip, and how much?
Bartenders: $100–$200 per bartender. If your bar has a tip jar, additional tipping is usually not expected unless they go above and beyond.
Catering Staff: $50–$150 per server. This goes directly to the individuals serving meals and clearing tables. Keep in mind that it’s likely a separate expense from service fees.
Your bartenders and catering staff often work long hours and are on their feet for the entire reception. A tip goes a long way in showing them how much you appreciate their work!
Hair and Makeup
When you look good, you feel good — and you can thank your beauty team for helping you and the wedding party look flawless! The wedding tipping etiquette for this team is as follows:
Hair and Makeup Artists: 18–20% of the total service cost, however, gratuity is sometimes included in the final bill.
Decor and Rentals
From floral arrangements to rentals, these vendors make sure the decor fits the mood. Their work transforms your venue into the dream setting you envisioned, and tipping should include:
Florist: $100–$300, depending on the complexity of the installation.
Lighting Crew: $20–$50 per person. If your lighting team is creating an intricate setup, consider tipping on the higher end.
Rental Delivery Staff: $20–$50 per person handling setup and breakdown.
Photography, Music, and Entertainment
Bring on the team with the good vibes and good energy! These vendors are responsible for bringing the fun, and capturing it too. Here’s what we recommend as a way to say thank you:
Photographer/Videographer: $50–$400. If you have multiple photographers, the lead photographer typically receives a larger tip.
DJ: $50–$200, especially if they provide extras like lighting or a custom playlist.
Live Band: $25–$50 per band member (don’t forget the crew members, too!).
Ceremony Musicians: $25 per musician.
Transportation and Venue Staff
Getting to and from all the locations included in your wedding (whether it’s for pictures or to go from ceremony to reception) isn’t always as simple as hopping in a car. The transportation and venue staff take care of all the logistics so you can enjoy your day and all its photo ops. Here’s how we recommend tipping them:
Transportation Drivers: $50–$100 per driver. If you have multiple shuttles, tip each driver separately.
Venue Staff: $50–$100, especially if a venue coordinator has been particularly helpful.
Security: $20–$50 per guard, depending on their role and hours worked.
Cake, Officiant, and Miscellaneous Vendors
Some vendors aren’t always top of mind, but their contributions are just as essential to your wedding’s success! Don’t forget to tip them according to these guidelines:
Bakery Delivery: $20–$50 to the person delivering your wedding cake.
Officiant: $50–$100, especially if they crafted a personalized ceremony.
Rental Setup Crew: $20–$50 per person.
Your Wedding Planner
Whether you have a guest list of 50 or 150, your wedding planners are there to make sure it all flows smoothly. They also make sure all the above vendors are where they need to be and when.
They undoubtedly are the glue of the celebration, and keep you from stressing as you plan!
Here’s what we recommend as a tip:
Wedding planners: $200–$1,000 or 10% of the package price. The level of service your planner provides should influence the tip amount, so if you feel they did a great job, don’t be afraid to let them know!
More Wedding Planning Resources for Arizona Couples
Tipping isn’t just about money — it’s about showing your appreciation. A successful wedding truly takes a team to make it happen, so if a vendor goes above and beyond, showing them some love will always be appreciated!
Need more wedding planning help? We’re here for you. No matter what you have in mind, our planning team can get you connected with the right vendors to make it happen.
