When to Hand Out Tips at Your Wedding
A complete timeline for distributing vendor tips from the morning of your wedding through the end of the reception. So nobody gets missed.
Last verified: January 2026
The most important tip (pun intended):
Prepare all envelopes the night before and give them to one person — your planner, coordinator, or a family member. You should not be thinking about tips on your wedding day.
1-2 weeks before
Get cash from the bank
Request specific denominations. Our calculator tells you exactly which bills.
Prepare labeled envelopes
Write vendor name, amount, and delivery instructions on each.
Assign a tip distributor
Give all envelopes to your planner, coordinator, or trusted family member.
Morning of wedding
Hair stylist
Tip right after your hair is done. 15-25% per service.
Makeup artist
Tip right after makeup. 15-25% per service.
Delivery personnel
Tip each delivery person as rentals, flowers, etc. arrive. $10-$50 per person.
After ceremony
Officiant
$50-$100 (secular) or donation to house of worship (religious).
Ceremony musicians
$15-$50 per musician. They often leave right after.
End of reception
Catering staff / banquet captain
15-20% if not in contract. Give total to captain to distribute.
Bartenders
$50-$100 each if gratuity isn't included.
DJ or band
$50-$150 for DJ; $25-$50 per musician for bands.
Photographer
$50-$200 per photographer. Can also wait until gallery delivery.
Videographer
$50-$200. Can wait until final video delivery.
Photo booth attendant
$50-$100 as they pack up.
Day-of coordinator
15-20% of fee. Can also tip at your post-wedding meeting.
Wedding planner
15-20% of planning fee.
When retrieving vehicles
Valet attendants
$1-$5 per car. Best to prepay and post a sign.
Limo/shuttle drivers
15-20% or $50-$100 if not in contract.
The envelope system in detail
Here's exactly how to set up your envelope system. Go to the bank and get the specific cash denominations you need (our calculator figures this out for you). The night before the wedding, sit down with your envelopes, the cash, and this timeline.
On the front of each envelope, write three things: the vendor's name, the amount inside, and when it should be delivered (morning, after ceremony, end of reception). Stack the envelopes in chronological order. Hand the stack to your designated tip person with a copy of this timeline.
What if you're not sure about amounts?
Use our calculator to get exact amounts based on your actual vendor costs and tipping style. It'll tell you the tip for each vendor and exactly which bills to request from the bank.
What you'll need
Supplies for organizing your wedding day tips.
Get your exact tip amounts + cash breakdown
Enter your vendor costs and get a printable checklist with exact amounts and bill denominations.
Open CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
What if I forget to tip someone on the day?
It happens. Send a check or cash in a thank-you card within a week of the wedding. Include a note explaining it was an oversight. Vendors understand how hectic wedding days are.
Can my wedding planner handle all the tips?
Yes, and this is the preferred approach. Give your planner all the labeled envelopes at the rehearsal dinner or the morning of the wedding. They know exactly when each vendor finishes and can handle distribution seamlessly.
Should I tip before or after the service?
After, in almost all cases. The one exception is prepaid valet and coat check, which are set up before guests arrive. For everyone else, tip when their service is complete.
Last updated: January 2026