Some of the most frequently asked questions I get from Brides, Grooms, and their families are: "Which of my vendors should receive a tip?" This is truly a personal decision. If you feel as though your vendors have done a wonderful job in making your day special and run smoothly then it is courteous to tip them (but not required). "How much should I tip?" Below is a guide on what is standard in the wedding industry. Keep in mind this is only a guide and feel free to tip however you see fit as well as what is in your budget. "Who should distribute them?" If you have hired a wedding coordinator, this is something that should be done by them. If not, a parent or the groom will usually handle this. Below is a standard guideline of percentages.
Bartenders 10% of total liquor bill
Bathroom Attendants $1.00-$2.00 per guest
Catering Manager $100-$200
Coat Check Attendants $1.00-$2.00 per guest
Makeup/Hairstylist 15-20% of fee
Limo/Bus Driver 15% of fee
Musicians/DJ 15% of fee Ceremony Music $25-50 per musician
Photographer/Videographer 10-15% of fee
Valet/Parking Attendants 15% valet; $1-2 per car
Waitstaff $20+ each (distributed by banquet manager)
Wedding Coordinator 10-15% of fee
I had the pleasure of coordinating Olivia & Rocky's big day. The ceremony was held at the Immaculata and the reception was at The Loew's Coronado Bay Resort. They were a sweet couple to work for and truly showed how grateful they were for the day. Their love radiated through the ballroom. Here are a few fabulous photos from the day taken by the great Kim Seidl.
Thank you Olivia & Rocky for allowing me to be a part of your special day. I wish you the best in your future together.
Guests were welcomed with champagne and mimosas upon arrival
The ladies enjoying their massage chair pedicures. The chairs were awesome.
There are many times when I hear couples say they are doing something themselves or they have a family member, friend, or friend of a friend handling certain aspects of the wedding. The examples above are only a couple of things that come to mind. "Know when to hire a professional", this is your wedding day! When you are spending the kind of money it costs to have an event like this, you have a vision of how you want the day to run as well as how you want to remember it. It's important to know when you need someone who is an expert in the field.
I received a lovely thank you card from a couple who just recently had their wedding at the Handlery Hotel & Resort in San Diego on 9/27. Look out for photos from their wedding soon:
Back in July, we posted about how excited we were to be designing a tablescape for San Diego Style Weddings Magazine. Well, the magazine is now available on newsstands. We had the pleasure of teaming up with Michael's Flower Girl to create our spa theme centerpiece for the design. The team of florists executed our vision to perfection. Click here to see our inspiration design board used to make this table come to life. Don't forget to pick up a copy of the magazine! It's packed full of great locations, great vendors, and awesome ideas to help you create a vision for your special day.
See our ad on page 53
Samples can be ordered to customize the look with your color scheme. Choose from the pre-made designs or create your own.
Although wedding graffiti is easy to remove and doesn't damage floors or walls, be sure to contact your wedding venue to get approval from them before applying any appliques.
