“TIPS” – my father always told me “TIPS” were “to insure prompt service” and were an expression of gratitude for a job well done. Most of us are accustomed to tipping service personnel, wait staff, etc. (or not tipping, I guess, if the service was perfectly awful.) But when it comes to vendors, the majority will already include a 15 to 20 % gratuity in their bill or contract. That’s right, folks, already included on many agreements, so check the fine print when you sign on the dotted line.

For those vendors that do not include tips in their quote, you’ll want to consult them on their individual policies and procedures. Do you need to have individual envelopes waiting for staff? How many? Is it acceptable to pay staff directly? If so, when?

The following sites have some great information and guidelines on tipping!

• OurMarriage.com - Wedding Tipping
  
• WeddingChannel.com - Are You Expected To Tip All Of Your Vendors?
  
• Ehow.com - How to tip Wedding Vendors
  

If your vendor has already included gratuity in their bill, but you’d like to express your appreciation of a job well done, thank you notes are always welcome.