Tipping at our Wedding?

[LorraineD]

Hi Guys,

We have booked our Cypress Grove wedding package through Virgin.

We have filled in our form for "extras" and need to know about tipping.

The 5 hour limo charter is quoted as $315 - do we still give the driver a tip - if so how much?

The flowers are part of the package and I have no idea what they have cost. Do we tip for these?

I have booked for a hair stylist to come to our room - what is the going rate for tipping here??

And tipping the photographer? Any ideas?

And what about the reverend? The whole package has cost us £315 so what part includes him??


Sorry for all the questions but this is our first ever trip and I am getting a bit confused with the tipping situation!

Thanks,

Lorraine

[Keith]

Congratulations! hope you have a fantastic wedding!

We used the Disney fairytale package and it very specifically said tips were included so we didn't need to, BUT we did tip the limo driver because he was SO good. I lent him a small digital camera and said "enjoy" and he really got into the spirit of things and lept out at every opportunity to take photos for us (his ended up being better than many of the official ones) ;-)

I gave him about 25%... only because I happened to have that much in my wallet and I thought he deserved it. As I tried, he said "no really the tip is included" but I made him take it. Only person EVER in the states, did I mention EVER, that tried to turn down a tip.

Flowers, no.... hair stylist, prob 15-20, photographer not if he's in the package no unless you feel like you want to reward him a bit more, reverend nope, the officiants are VERY well paid out of those packages.

I'd say, no one part of the package would get extra tips usually, but if you booked the hair stylist seperately, they'd probably expect something.

[victorlowe]

I have to say something, Keith.

What you say sounds right, of course, except I always thought you had to tip the minister officiating at any wedding.

Naturally, being a photographer yourself, you would think they deserve something extra for fine work :hehe:

IMHO If tips are included in this package (as in the Disney package Keith mentioned (are they?)), then there is really no need for extra tips to all the others.

Congrats to the happy couple.

[Keith]

What you say sounds right, of course, except I always thought you had to tip the minister officiating at any wedding.


Well I bow to your cultural expertise Victor :) seriously though, I did ask and was told no by Disney for their officiants.


Naturally, being a photographer yourself, you would think they deserve something extra for fine work :hehe:


oh crikey.... remember I'm from the UK ;-) I wouldn't know where to look if someone tried to give me a tip. When I quote, that's my fee for the event, I certainly don't expect anything extra however brilliant the photography is <G>


IMHO If tips are included in this package (as in the Disney package Keith mentioned (are they?)), then there is really no need for extra tips to all the others.


agreed

[OKWTink]

Tip a religious? I'd not have the nerve, nor would I tip the photographer. The limo driver and the hairdresser, maybe if the tip were not included. Flower delivery person? Nope.

[victorlowe]

Well, at least the vicar knows I did my best to encourage the practice of tipping at weddings. I know I was obliged to tip the Episcopal priest at my brother's wedding. :( Seriously, does this vary with the denomination? Other churches have some other practices, I'm told, particularly on things like baptism (sprinkling vs. immersion).

For Example:
"The only problem with the Texas Baptists is that they don't hold them down in the water long enough," quoted from Molly Ivins' new book, "Strange Political Animals I Have Known". Since she is of that denomination, I assume it's an appropriate sentiment.

I've done my duty, even if I'm not as up to date on weddings as I should be, Keith and OKWTink. :lol:

I personally think all young couples should elope, and save their parents the cost of a big wedding. Maybe the dads could bribe their daughters to run away before the big event.

[Keith]

I don't know.. I find "expected tipping" vulgar at the best of times, the idea of pressing some notes into the hand of a vicar makes me shudder.

I'm with you on the eloping suggestion although the practice of parents paying for weddings is fading in the UK, many young couples pay for their own. I know we did and I was glad we did... it made me feel completely ok about having everything the way we wanted it.

[Redkop]

as a person married at cypress grove, we didnt tip anyone, ok we drove ourselves there and the flowers were waiting for us there, but as soon as the service was over the rev jimmy johnson shot away...........still thought with his name he'd be the miami dolphins ex coach :D , and the person in the house hid away while we did our photos and eat some cake, she only came down to wish all the happiness in the world........so no we didnt think it was right to tip anyone

[Cindernaenae]

Tip a religious?.

I've always been taught that you do give the minister something. Here's the reason - he/she had to get a haircut, have their suit drycleaned, drive to the church, etc.

When we were married in Vegas in 1997 in our literature with the package it gave a suggested amount of $30 or $35 I can't remember which, to give to the minister.

Here's what I found on one site
Officiant: It may seem a bit odd to slip an envelope to the person officiating your ceremony, but it is the proper thing to do. It's tradition for the best man to hand over the tip, which should be between $100 and $200. If you're getting married in a church, they'll often expect you to donate a percentage of your total wedding cost -- so if your wedding is $20,000, a $2,000 donation is gratefully appreciated. However, if you don't belong to this church and you didn't have a lot of involvement with the officiant, you can choose to contribute a lower amount.

[Keith]

I believe in the Disney package for example, that they DID include a rather generous amount to the officiant, hence no tip needed. (I thought it worth clarifying since it may have sounded like they weren't getting anything)

[Johnie]

Tipping the religious person may very well depend on the region you live in. I've never heard of tipping one. We were married by a Justice of the Peace in our home. We didn't tip him. I assumed that the entire fee went to him.

[candyman]

i am real naive her i never even thought about tipping , it just doesn't come naturally to us Brits as it does to our American friends
glad Keith said about them being included in the package i had not noticed that either



Keith
you mentioned the limo driver hope you dont mind if i ask a few questions about the limo

as you know we are staying in the GF and have the limo as part of the package
to my mind it seems a waste of time just going from the GF to the wedding chapel then back to the GF for the cake reception

we are going for a meal in the evening at the contemporary and we were wondering if it would be better to use it for that
i read in someones report that they went to celebration for some photos , was that you ?
we are getting married at 10 am so can you suggest the best way to get best use of the limo ?

also from a photographers point of view would it look odd if there was not a shot of us leaving /arriving at the chapel in the limo ?

we have been talking this over but cant think of any good ideas

the evening meal we expect to be around 6 pm but this could be made much later if you could suggest a visit somewhere before then if that would be best use of the limo

thanks again for the help

Steve

PS the new camera you recommended is just great !!!!!

[Keith]

as you know we are staying in the GF and have the limo as part of the package
to my mind it seems a waste of time just going from the GF to the wedding chapel then back to the GF for the cake reception


Agreed! We were staying at the wilderness lodge/Poly so again, not long of a drive


we are going for a meal in the evening at the contemporary and we were wondering if it would be better to use it for that
i read in someones report that they went to celebration for some photos , was that you ?
we are getting married at 10 am so can you suggest the best way to get best use of the limo ?
also from a photographers point of view would it look odd if there was not a shot of us leaving /arriving at the chapel in the limo ?
we have been talking this over but cant think of any good ideas
the evening meal we expect to be around 6 pm but this could be made much later if you could suggest a visit somewhere before then if that would be best use of the limo
PS the new camera you recommended is just great !!!!!

Glad the camera is working out Steve!!!!! :)))

ok... photography thing first, you'll get some really great shots arriving in a limo all dressed up. Some people *really* want those shots, other people couldn't care less. So it's really upto you... I'd say yes if you can, but if you don't no big deal, you can get photos of getting in and out the limo later perhaps? although you may not be in wedding outfits then?

The problem with the limo is its a block of 3 hours I believe? and the block can be used anytime but has to be all in one go.

We went back and forth on the best use. We thought maybe go shopping and arrive at the mall in a limo ;-) but it took too much time there and back really leaving not much time for shopping and not THAT special.

In the end, we got the limo to come and collect me and take me to the pavilion. It then went back for Helen (I hadn't seen her dress beforehand you see so all seperate). It waited and we had loads of photos taken. It then took us to the GF for the reception.. again that was nice.

Then we had a reasonably short reception and we got back in and he took us round celebration which had christmas lights etc. We stopped at the street where they were making snow and everyone was happily being christmassy and we had the best time. Turned up in a limo, everyone was clapping and saying congrats... snow.... more photos, champagne in the back of the limo (hic) and it was just great!

I was really happy with the way it went and the limo driver was wonderful. He took loads of great photos with my camera and was great in giving us a tour round WDW etc. before going to celebration.

Thinking back, I can't tell you that there was an inmissable THING at celebration or a MUST SEE.... it was just as a whole we loved it all and had a great time.

Given 10am... the snow thing may not be happening and it wont be dark for the decorations/lights etc.. but still, you could have a tour of wdw and celebration?

Perhaps someone else will have better ideas!

[candyman]

is celebration all decorated for christmas then ?
was it a special night there with the snow or does that happen every night
i think that it might be great to be picked up from the contempory and then given a grand tour of wdw and celebration with frequent photo stops
i quite like that

steve

[Keith]

I'm not sure if it happens everynight although there was a webpage I saw talking about it once... hmm. I have a feeling it was every night for a limited number of days in december.

Some of the streets were decorated yep and on the night we went (dec 14th 2002) it just had a really magical feel. Just got married, limo, decorations, suitably chilly night ;-), snow, champagne... it was all really great.

The limo was hired by Disney from Mears and our driver was Steve. He really did go out of his way for us.

[candyman]

thanks keith found a celebration web site that had this on it
thought it may be usefull for anyone else there at as similar time to us


November 26 -
December 31
Now Snowing Nightly
Snow falls on MARKET STREET at 6, 7, 8 & 9 p.m.


sounds favourite for our limo hire now
steve

[candyman]

tipping

in one of my earlier emails to the wedding co ordinator i asked about tipping the musician
she said very firmly that no one at the wedding is allowed to accept any tips at all
she did however suggest that if we are totaly happy after the event sending a thank you note

that sounds a very british thing to do !

steve

[jack123]

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any Idea?

[kirsty01979]

i'm getting married at Disney in May 2006 and I never even thougt about tipping anyone. I guess it is kind of a 'done thing' over there but I would be really embarrsed at tippin the minister and other people who have already been paid.

The hairdresser yes and maybe the limo driver but everyone else who has been paid I would never have thought about it. But now I am wondering if I am just being tight? We have had to pay for this wedding ourselves entirely and although it is cheaper than a church it is still a struggle and to tip the officiants and everyone else involved including the people who play a smaller part like the violin player would considerably increase the cost by a few hundred dollars!!!

I think I'm going to be tight and stick to my original plan of not tipping anyone who has already been paid. I will have to pay hairdresser on site I assume so I would feel bad not tipping as well but all the rest can whistle - think of all the extra Disney goodies and presents I could then afford!

In all seriousness I am going to e-mail my wedding co-ordinator and see what he thinks because I do not want to disrespect the traditions and customs of a beautiful place and the people who are doing everything to make my day perfect. Will try and remember to come back on and update you of the response!

[JuniorMickey]

I can't imagine not tipping my hair dresser and nail tech. Drivers are the same. Most officiants here are not paid, it's a "donation". Most weddings I've been to their tip is small and they are invited to the reception.

Basically a tip is a thanks for good service.

[Bec]

We tipped everyone who provided a service at our wedding Kirsty. They all worked so hard - they deserved it. But just do it where you feel it is right honey.

[kirsty01979]

Hi everyone,

I have had a reply from my Disney wedding co-ordinator regarding tipping. I have copied his response as below :-

You are correct tipping is customary in the US, but not required. Tipping is at the discretion of the wedding couple. If you would like to tip anyone you will not offend them.


Therefore I can only assume that everyone has been paid within the package price of our intimate wedding. We can still tip people when we feel the need but I wont be carrying a wallett in my wedding dress so I will leave all of that to my DHTB!!! Start as you mean to go on! ha ha

Men do have pockets after all and wedding dresses don't tend to... At least I know now that it's not going to cost me hundreds of dollars tipping everyone in sight. That makes me feel much better!

We were also told that guests take take in 'regular' cameras.... I assume they mean small sized ones but I hear people have taped the wedding themselves and at the price Disney charge I'll defintiely be fobbing that job onto one of our guests - video and pictures!

Kirsty x