Who Do You Tip on Wedding Day?
Charleston wedding vendor tipping trips up almost every couple eventually. Some vendors expect a gratuity. Others already have one written into the contract. Tipping the same service twice can add hundreds in the final week. A short list clears it up before the envelopes get sealed.
How Charleston Wedding Vendor Tipping Usually Works
Two rules cover most of it. Owners generally are not tipped, though plenty of couples still do. Staff who work for someone else almost always are. Read every contract for a service charge before adding anything on top.
Who Typically Gets A Tip?
Day-of Staff
Hair and makeup artists follow salon custom, roughly 15 to 20 percent. Bartenders often get $20 to $50 each, unless a tip jar sits out. Catering staff are frequently covered by a service charge already.
Entertainment and Creative Vendors
DJs commonly receive $50 to $150 for the night. Photographers and videographers who do not own the studio often get $50 to $200 each. Second shooters and assistants usually receive less. Lighting and photo booth attendants fall into the same range as bartenders.
Coordination and Officiant
Coordinators are commonly tipped $50 to $200, or handed a thoughtful gift. Officiants often receive a donation instead, especially at a church.
Who Usually Does Not Receive A Tip?
Owners sit outside the list, along with any vendor whose contract lists a service charge. Delivery and setup crews are the exception worth remembering. Five to twenty dollars per person covers rental, floral, and cake drops.
A Few Charleston Specifics
Downtown weddings often add shuttles from King Street hotels or valet at a historic venue. Gratuity is frequently built into those contracts already. Venues like Lowndes Grove and the William Aiken House sometimes require house staff. Those tips usually route through the venue instead.
Couples booking an all-inclusive package should ask a simple question. Which vendors are employees, and which are contractors? The answer changes the envelope count considerably.
Handling the Envelopes
Cash in labeled envelopes is still easiest. Hand the whole stack to a coordinator or a trusted family member before the ceremony. Nobody should be hunting down envelopes mid-reception. A short list tucked in the pouch keeps the handoff straight.
Complete Weddings + Events Charleston staffs DJs, photographers, videographers, photo booth attendants, and coordinators from one team. That makes Charleston wedding vendor tipping far simpler to plan. Ready to hand off the day-of details? Talk to the Charleston coordination team.
