What Is the Etiquette to Tip Bartenders at a Wedding?
When planning a wedding, there are so many decisions to be made. From the location to the food to the floral arrangements, it can all seem overwhelming. Then, once you rent and secure all of the vendors, you have to worry about how much to tip them on the day. When it comes to bartenders, there are a few rules of thumb you can follow so they are tipped appropriately on the special day.
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Tip Jar
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Some wedding rental halls provide waitstaff and bartenders for the wedding and reception. Depending on the policy of the wedding hall, if you're having an open bar they might allow their bartender to place a tip jar on the bar. If this is the case, then you do not have to worry about tipping the bartender separately as they have received their tips for the evening from your guests.
Pre-determined
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Some wedding halls, catering companies or bartending services automatically add a gratuity to the bar bill at the end of the evening if you're having an open bar reception. This gratuity can range from 10 to 20 percent depending on the policy of those entities. Be sure to check the bar bill at the end of the evening. If the gratuity already has been added, it is not suggested that you add more, unless you feel it is appropriate. If the bartenders had to make a complex signature drink many times throughout the evening, for example, you could add a higher gratuity.
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Percentage
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In general, if the gratuity has not been added to the open bar bill, you should tip the bartender between 10 and 20 percent of the final tab. You can make one payment to the head bartender and instruct them to divide the gratuity among the bar staff evenly. You can base the percentage on the quality of the service as well as how hard they had to work on a given evening. For instance, if two bartenders served 250 guests, they might deserve a higher gratuity than two bartenders who worked an intimate wedding of 30 people.
Satisfaction
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When it comes to tipping in general, a tip is based on the quality of service the client feels they received. This is no different when it comes to tipping etiquette for bartenders who worked an open bar at a wedding. If you feel the service was fantastic and that the bartenders really helped enhance the event, then you can give them a tip in the neighborhood of 20 percent. However, if the bartending staff was difficult and people weren't happy with their experience, then give them something closer to 10 percent. Keep in mind that a bartender is part of a service industry that relies heavily on tips to make a living.
Hourly
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Tip a bartender working an open bar by adding to their hourly rate. For instance, if you hired bartending staff by the hour for the wedding, you might pay them time and a half or double time and let the extra cash qualify as a tip. This might be appropriate for a smaller wedding where the bar bill was low, but you still want to show some appreciation toward the bartending staff for their services.
Cash Bar
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If the wedding is a cash bar scenario, then many of the guests will be tipping on a per-drink basis as if they were at a regular bar. To settle any confusion about who will be leaving the tip, be sure that a tip jar is placed on the bar so that the bartending staff receives a fair tip for their work during the special night.
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References
- Photo Credit wedding celebration image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
