Tipping & Gifting Wedding Staff in Illinois
There are 4 main types of events: Leisure; cultural; organizational; and personal. Personal events include weddings.
When I tell you that “it takes a village”, trust me. I want you to look at this list. Notice all the people that come together to make sure your wedding day runs smoothly. This is what we do. It isn’t easy. It isn’t a blast. It’s real work.
This list is for two reasons. One, to tip the reader about tipping or gifting. Secondly, to educate the reader about the number of people it really takes to make this day happen.
At the PBC Venue, we offer wedding coordination, so this is a discussion we have with our couples regularly. We have no hidden fees & no service charges. We get zero financial kickbacks from anyone, not even our preferred vendors.
We regularly get tipped at the end of the night by our couples or their parents.
100% of the tips go to my staff and it makes me SO PROUD when I hand them out. This is a hard job and these tips are earned every bit of the way.
But if the thought of adding on another fee causes you heartburn, then take other forms of gifting into consideration.
We have also received gifts before.
The most wonderful, kindest, sweetest, thoughtful gifts!
Couples have given us everything from bouquets of flowers to a Louis Vuitton purse!
One bride consistently brought my entire team homemade pickles all through her wedding planning process. The weekend after her wedding was over, I pulled in and was greeted to a mason jar of sunflowers picked that morning from her own field. Under the mason jar was a scribbled noted on a ripped-up piece of paper. It said, “Love you Always”.
It was the most wonderful moment.
There is nothing that even comes close to a gift like that.
It honestly is the most amazing and wonderful feeling to make people happy –and everyone shows it differently. Some people show financial gratitude; some people show it through their handwritten letters, and some people love to give gifts.
They are all wonderful and appreciated greatly by our team!
But if you are wondering what the going rate is, then I hope this helps.
Here’s a clear breakdown of tipping and gifting wedding vendors and staff so you’ll know who traditionally gets a tip, who doesn’t, and when a thoughtful gift might be more appropriate. Remember, tipping customs can vary by region. These are US Guidelines.
Tipping Etiquette for Wedding Vendors
Vendors Who Commonly Receive Tips
Catering Staff (servers, bartenders, banquet captain, chefs)
How much: 15–20% of the food & beverage bill (often included in contract as “service charge”)
If not included: $20–50 per server, $50–150 for banquet captain/chef.
Hair & Makeup Artists
How much: 15–25% of the service fee, similar to salon etiquette.
Transportation (drivers, limo, shuttle)
How much: 15–20% of the bill.
Delivery Staff (cake, flowers, rentals)
How much: $10–50 per person, depending on difficulty.
Musicians/DJ
How much: $50–150 per person for live musicians; $100–200 for DJs.
Officiant
If a friend/family is officiating: a thoughtful gift.
If clergy or professional: $100–300 donation to their house of worship or $100–200 cash.
Vendors Who May Get Tipped
Photographer & Videographer
Not required if they own their business, but $100–300 (or gift) is a generous gesture.
Wedding Planner/Coordinator
Not expected if they own the company, but $250–500 or a nice gift is appreciated.
Vendors Who Usually Don’t Get Tipped
Florist, Cake Designer, Stationer, Tailor — unless they go above and beyond.
Gifting Instead of Tipping
If your vendors are business owners (planners, photographers, florists), a personalized gift often feels more meaningful than cash. Examples:
A handwritten thank-you card with a photo from the wedding.
A gift card to a nice restaurant, coffee shop, or local boutique.
A bottle of wine or gourmet basket.
Custom keepsakes (engraved pen, framed photo, cozy blanket).
Practical Tips
Prepare cash in labeled envelopes before the wedding. Assign someone you trust (parent, planner, best man/maid of honor) to hand them out.
Double-check contracts—sometimes “service charge” is already included.
Write thank-you notes to every vendor, tipped or not. A heartfelt note + positive review online is invaluable.
Pole Barn Chic is locally owned and operated. We hope to encourage engaged couples to consider choosing a locally owned wedding venue. We go to great lengths to exceed expectations, and you will find that locally owned wedding venues have far less turnover and that leads to better communication! We love shouting out and supporting our locally owned wedding venue and wedding business colleagues. Here are a few locally owned wedding venues across the US:
Emerald Acres Events: www.emeraldacreevents.com
Spain Ranch: www.spainranch.com
Terrace 167: www.terrace167.com
Meadows Wedding Venue: https://meadowsweddingvenue.com
Union 12: www.union12.com