Wedding Etiquette; Your Guide to Gifts and Tips
Planning a wedding is almost always a team effort, even if you feel like you’re doing a lot of the work by yourself at times.
It takes a lot of people to bring all of those strands together and to create a wedding day that everyone in attendance will remember for all the right reasons.
To show your appreciation to those people, it’s nice to give them a meaningful gift or a tip, whichever is most appropriate. This guide will tell you all you need to know about those gifts and tips.
Sometime it’s good to add the tips part to your overall budget. Or, plan your Wedding Photography on a budget to spare some of the cash for the tips and gifts part.
Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
These are often the people closest to them, so pick something that you feel speaks to that friendship. You might want to choose something classic and elegant and put a personal twist on it.
Best Man and Maid of Honor
These are the most important people at the wedding besides the bride and groom, so you want to get them something that shows gratitude. It means spending a little more and getting something precious.
Flower Girls and Ring Bearers
A small gift that’s worth $25-50 is great, and if you’re also buying them their dresses and outfits for the day, this can count as a nice addiction gift.
Ushers
Ushers do important work on your wedding day, so it’s nice to give them a gift. A personalized momentum, such as a bottle opener or something like that is a good idea.
The Parents
Your wedding day is a good time to express your appreciation for the people who raised you and devoted their lives to you. It’s impossible to put a dollar price on that, but make it special and meaningful.
Each Other
You might also want to get something for each other. Make it sentimental and long-lasting so your partner will treasure the gift forever.
Tipping
Officiant: Giving some money to the officiant, priest or rabbi is pretty standard, and something somewhere between $50 and $100 makes sense. You can make this donation as you pay for the ceremony.
Musicians: The ceremony musician you hire can be tipped roughly $15-25 depending on how you feel they performed. And you can do this at the end of the day.
Hairstylists and Makeup Artists: Tip these professionals in the same way you would in your everyday life when getting your hair and makeup done. Most people pay around 20% of the fee.
Food and Drink Staff: Sometimes gratuity will be included in the price, if not tip 10-20%, and do this when you pay the final bill.
Wedding Planner: You can choose a gift or cash for your wedding planner, and it’s really up to you how much you pay. It might be around $500.
Photographer, Videographer, Florist and Coordinator: Something between $50 and $70, as well as a heartfelt thank you card is great for all of these people, and you can give them this at the reception.
Wedding Band or DJ: You don’t have to tip the wedding band or DJ but many do. Aim to tip each member around $20 and if it’s a DJ or single musician, tip around $75-125.
Staff and Transportation: Tipping drivers is customary if it’s not included in the price. And for coat room staff, you should tip a small amount that relates to how much work they do.
Delivery Works: When delivery people arrive to bring vital things like furniture, tents, electronics and the all-important wedding cake, tip $5-10. Photos are courtesy of Perfect Moment Wedding photography from the beautiful wedding of April and Mitchell at Le Montage, Navarra Venues.
