Aloha Everyone,

I receive this question at least a few times every week. We do understand that to have a wedding on Maui, you are dipping deep into you or your parents savings. Thinking about giving gratuities as well, seems a bit much. For some vendors, service charges may be included right into your contracts. Tipping – although not mandatory is always appreciated for a job well done. It’s also a kind and thoughtful gesture to the people who helped you put your entire ceremony together. With that being said, here are some guidelines to tipping.

Hair and Make-up Stylist:

A gratuity is definitely expected as you would do the same if you went to a salon. It would be a15 – 20% tip and should be given at the end of your services.

Delivery and Set-up Staff:

Anyone who is delivering to the wedding site or to your hotel, should receive a few dollars as a thank you. If a lot of gear is to be brought in a set up such as tents, chairs, then the workers should receive a tip too. This would be a standard $5 to $10 a person. If you are having your ceremony/reception at a venue, give the cash envelopes to your wedding planner or the venue’s event manager so they can pass them out for you.

Minister

If your minister is affiliated with a church or temple, you’re often expected to make a donation to that institution. Tipping the minister is also appreciated and is the standard. Tips to ministers should be between $50 and $100. Have your best man if you have one or your wedding planner take care of the envelope for you.

Wedding Musician

Do consider some monetary thanks for their talent. The standard is $20 and up. If they have traveled to a site or venue, you may consider giving them more. This would be taken care of at the end of the ceremony when they are wishing you well and saying goodbye.

Wedding Photographer (same for your videographer)

If your photographer is traveling to a site and doesn’t own a studio where you are going in for photography consider giving her/him a tip. If there are more then one, you can give the tip to the photographer and have her/him dole out the gratuity. The standard for a photographer is anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on the package that you have chosen. This tip would be given at the end of the ceremony or at the end of their services at the reception.

DJ

Whether you hire a band or a DJ, tipping is optional. Many will ask to be served a meal as they will be setting up and playing during dinnertime for the most part. Depending on the quality of the job and how willing they were to work with you and a playlist is what you should consider when tipping them. The standard is optional but it is preferred that you do so. For a musician in a band, you should tip $20 to $25 per musician. If you have a DJ the gratuity should be between $50 and $150 depending on the amount of time they have spent with you. Tipping should be handled by the best man or the wedding planner at the end of the reception.

Wedding Transportation

This is one where you do have to check your contract as it is usually included. If it isn’t, plan to tip provided that they showed up on time and didn’t get lost. The standard should be 15 to 20% of the total amount. This should be paid at the end of the last ride.

Wedding Planners

Most wedding planners will not expect anything, however if yours did a great job you can always offer a token of your appreciation. Approximately 50% of couples do tip their wedding planners especially if they asked them to put many items together such as the flowers, music, cake and miscellaneous items. Depending on the amount of your wedding and reception, wedding planners receive up to $500 or a very nice gift. Destination wedding planners do not charge what you would be spending on the mainland and in most cases they will receive less than $100 for their services. This gratuity should come from the bride either after the ceremony or at the reception. If there is an on site coordinator that is not the wedding planner, they may receive a token tip as well.

I hope this answers some of your questions. Please always feel free to email me if you have others.

Hope you are having a great 2017 thus far.

Much aloha,

Peggy