[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/nj-wedding-tips\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/nj-wedding-tips\/","headline":"Your Complete Guide to Wedding Vendor Tips","name":"Your Complete Guide to Wedding Vendor Tips","description":"While wedding tips are never expected, this guide helps to explain customary and suggested gratuities for NJ events","datePublished":"2025-10-07","dateModified":"2025-10-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/author\/molly-gregor\/#Person","name":"Molly Gregor","url":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/author\/molly-gregor\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/47da4f5ce435757f134af9d46b74669474dd0bee2bfa69c2a08fe81cc550ccc5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/47da4f5ce435757f134af9d46b74669474dd0bee2bfa69c2a08fe81cc550ccc5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Wedding File","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/weddingfile-logo.jpg","url":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/weddingfile-logo.jpg","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/alexander-grey-8a5eJ1-mmQ-unsplash.jpg","url":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/alexander-grey-8a5eJ1-mmQ-unsplash.jpg","height":1200,"width":1800},"url":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/nj-wedding-tips\/","about":["Wedding Planning 101"],"wordCount":1647,"articleBody":"This article was updated on October 7, 2025, to reflect the current norms for tipping and gratuities at New Jersey weddings.Final stretch before your big day in New Jersey? This guide walks you through the essential vendor tips and gratuities every couple needs to know. From when to tip, who\u2019s included and what amounts make sense\u2014you\u2019ll leave confident and organized.You\u2019ve spent tens of thousands of dollars on your wedding, and you\u2019re now in the final stretch. You\u2019re crossing things off your to-do list, executing last-minute decisions and making final payments. Just when you think you\u2019re in the clear financially, up pops the topic of wedding gratuities and tips.While tips for your wedding vendors are never required\u2014unless specifically included in your contract\u2014they are ALWAYS appreciated. In most instances, these professionals have spent hours the day of your event and countless more in the weeks and months leading up to your wedding to get your vision just right. They\u2019ve been with you every step of the way, and in most cases, you\u2019ll be thrilled to thank them for a job well-done.But there\u2019s much confusion about who gets what and how much. Every contract includes different specifics. \u201cService charges\u201d don\u2019t always include gratuities. And friends and family will have different opinions on what you should\u2014or should not\u2014give. So hopefully this guide will help clarify what\u2019s customary in New Jersey so that you can better understand who and what amount to tip.Therese Marie Wagner PhotographyMisconceptions About NJ Wedding TipsFirst, let\u2019s clarify a few misconceptions that you\u2014or your parents\u2014may have. Forget the old rule about not tipping owners of a business. If they\u2019ve done a good job and fall within one of the suggested categories below, you should tip regardless of whether they own their business or not. It\u2019s not always about the money\u2014it\u2019s the praise and recognition that comes with even a modest tip. But the old practice of NOT tipping a business owner is outdated. If you\u2019re tipping the vendor\u2019s assistants, you should also include a tip for the head vendor\/owner.Can you give a gift instead of cash? Sure\u2014you can give anything you\u2019d like! But remember, cash is king and is the most appreciated.An additional thank-you that doesn\u2019t cost you a dime? Wedding reviews. Since these real-life recommendations can make or break the success of a company, a positive review will be appreciated more than you know. You do NOT need to give 20% across the board. See below for specific recommendations and guidance on this.You do NOT need to tip every wedding vendor. See below for details.How to Distribute Sit down the week before your wedding and mark envelopes for each vendor you want to tip. Enclose the amount, seal the envelope and put the vendor\u2019s name on the front. You can even include a card personally thanking them for everything they\u2019ve done.One envelope for each vendor category will suffice\u2014there\u2019s no need to create multiple envelopes for every member of the vendor\u2019s team. For example, the band leader, head photographer and maitre d\u2019 etc., will accept and distribute to their team. You can even mark on the envelope how much you\u2019d like each person to receive if you\u2019d like, such as $200 for lead photographer and $75 for assistant. But you don’t need to create a separate envelops for every person working at your wedding.Who Should DistributeDelegate the responsibility of distributing these gratuities to your fianc\u00e9, a parent or very close family member. Unfortunately, I’ve heard about instances when the full amount that the couple \u201cgave\u201d was not in the envelope by the time the vendor received his or her tip. I would only trust these large amounts of cash with those closest to you. There\u2019s just too much room for misappropriation when cash is involved.When to DistributeThere are a couple of different ways you can distribute. Many people wait until the end of the night to hand out. Others may give a partial tip at the beginning and tell the vendor that if all goes well, there will be more coming at the end of the night. And then there are couples who distribute the week after the event has taken place once they have had a chance to assess everything. The most common practice is to distribute at the end of the night, but since this is voluntary and not required, you can truly handle this how you\u2019d like.Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury \/ Idalia PhotographyNJ Wedding Tip RecommendationsSo here are recommended tipping guidelines. Remember, this is a GUIDE. You can take these suggestions and do as you please with them. Ultimately you get to make the final decision as to who gets what. But here are some common guidelines regarding New Jersey wedding tips:Venue (Ma\u00eetre d\u2019, Servers, Bartenders, etc.)First consult your contract to see if a specific percentage is required. At some venues, the \u201cservice charge\u201d includes gratuities, while at other venues this is an administrative fee and gratuities are an additional expense. Be sure to find out exactly what is required well in advance of your event since this number can add up. If you\u2019re unsure, ask your venue and they will let you know what\u2019s customary. You don\u2019t want to pay too little or double what\u2019s suggested\u2014or not at all. Every venue is different. Suggested gratuities could be any variation of the following: 15% to 20% of your food and beverage costs, $5 to $10 per person (so if you have a guest count of 100, you\u2019d give $500 to $1,000) or a specific range such as $1,500 to $3,000. Onsite Coordinator\/PlannerYou can tip your venue’s onsite coordinator between $100 and $200, along with $25 to $50 for any assistants who may have worked on your wedding.Bartenders (if not included in venue contract)These services are typically included in your venue\u2019s bill, but if you\u2019ve hired bartenders separately, a few dollars per guest is standard. So for a party of 150, $300 to $450 is customary. Hair and MakeupTwenty percent is standard and is typically included in your contract. If you’ve arranged for hair and makeup services for your bridal party as well, let your maids know in advance if they need to pay gratuities so that they’re prepared the day of. And yes, you also need to tip for hair and makeup trials.Photo\/VideoYour photographer is the one person who is with you ALL day long, sometimes lying in puddles and climbing trees just to get that great shot. Head photographers\/videographers often receive $200 and up, while second shooters can receive anywhere from $50 to $150 each. For engagement sessions that are included in your wedding package, I always recommend to tip $100 for the engagement session.MusiciansThe success of your party is often in the hands of your deejay or band. For ceremony musicians, $50 to $100 per person is standard. For bands, $50 to $100 per band member is standard; so for a 10-piece band, you\u2019d give $500 to $1000. For a deejay, tips $200 and up are standard, with $50 for assistants. If they agreed to keep the party going longer than they were contracted for\u2014and didn’t charge you\u2014you should tip even more.Wedding PlannerFor a full-service event planner who organizes every detail, oversees contracts and does all the worrying so you don\u2019t have to, a 10% to 20% tip is fairly standard. Or you can give between $300 and $1,000 depending on the range of services they\u2019ve provided. Assistants receive $50 to $100.FlowersYou don\u2019t need to tip your floral designer on top of your total bill, but a $20 delivery tip is recommended. If your florals require significant setup\/teardown or if your florist is remaining onsite, moving flowers from ceremony to reception, $50 to $100 per person is appropriate.OfficiantNot all clergy members are allowed to accept gratuities. If allowed, $100 is a good amount. If not, a donation to your house of worship can be made instead (this donation may be required in your contract). Gift cards to a local restaurant or a bottle of wine or liquor are also appreciated. If your officiant is being paid for his or her services, $100 is appropriate. If the officiant is a friend or family member doing it for free, you can still give a gift as thanks. Civil officiants at city hall are not allowed to receive gratuities by law.TransportationGratuities are typically included in transportation contracts. If not, you can tip your drivers at the end of the night, typically 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill.Valet and Coat Check AttendantIf not included in your venue\u2019s contract, $1 per coat and $1 per car is standard. It\u2019s typically frowned upon to leave a tip jar out at an event you\u2019re hosting. Your guests may tip as well, but you shouldn\u2019t rely on that being the only gratuity.CakeYou can tip the cake delivery person $20 the day of your wedding; it\u2019s not expected to tip on top of the cost of the cake itself.Rentals  $20 per delivery person is standard.Cigar Roller, Event Painter, Photobooth & Other Reception Entertainment If these vendors have done an outstanding job, you can tip them $50 to $100 each.Wedding Gown and AlterationsIt’s not necessary to tip the stylist at your wedding salon or the seamstress who alters your gown. But if someone has done an outstanding job and you want to recognize their hard work, a tip would always be appreciated.Stationer and CalligrapherA gratuity is not expected, but if they went above and beyond, you can tip them as well."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Your Complete Guide to Wedding Vendor Tips","item":"https:\/\/weddingfile.com\/nj-wedding-tips\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]