How Much to Tip Wedding Vendors in Los Angeles

Oct 21

Some wedding vendors expect a tip and some do not, and two of the biggest wedding guides disagree on the amounts. The rule that matters most: read every contract first. If a vendor already includes a gratuity, you do not tip again. If you book your bar staff with us, the optional $100 gratuity per staff member covers them, so nobody needs an envelope or a tip jar.

Check the contract first

Look for the words gratuity, staff gratuity or service charge on every quote. They are not the same thing. Zola notes that a service charge usually goes to the business, while a gratuity goes to the staff. If the wording is unclear, ask the vendor where the money goes. The Knot notes that caterers and transportation companies often build the tip into the contract.

How much to tip each wedding vendor

These are the ranges published by The Knot (updated January 2026) and Zola. Where they differ, both are shown. Treat them as a guide, not a rule.

Planner or coordinator. The Knot: 15 to 20% of the fee, or a gift. Zola: 1 to 5% of the fee, or $200.
Photographer and videographer. The Knot: $50 to $200 per team member, or 5 to 15% of the contract. Zola: 1 to 5%, or about $200 per person, plus $50 to $75 for each assistant or second shooter.
DJ. The Knot: $50 to $150. Zola: 1 to 5%, or $200, a little more if the DJ also acts as MC.
Band and ceremony musicians. The Knot: $15 to $50 per musician. Zola: $25 to $50 per musician.
Hair and makeup. The Knot: 15 to 25% of the bill. Zola: 16 to 20%.
Officiant. Both: $50 to $100. The Knot adds a $100 to $500 donation if the officiant is from a religious institution.
Catering staff. The Knot: 15 to 20% of the food and drink bill if it is not in the contract, and $200 to $300 for the maitre d'. Zola: 16 to 20% if gratuity is not included.
Bartenders. The Knot: 15 to 20% of the drinks bill, split between the bartenders, if there is no service charge. Zola: $20 to $50 per bartender.
Servers. Zola: $20 to $50 each.
Delivery and setup crews. The Knot: $10 to $50 per person. Zola: $20 to $50 per person for the venue setup crew and $10 to $20 for rental delivery.
Transportation. The Knot: 15 to 20% of the bill, or $50 per driver. Zola: 15 to 20%, and $1 to $2 a car for valet.
Florist. The Knot: $50 to $200, or a small gift. Zola: $50 to $100.
Baker. The Knot: $50 to $200, or a small gift, plus a tip for the delivery crew.

If you book your bar and staff with us

Bartenders, barbacks, servers and hosts. On weddings the gratuity is optional. If you add it, it is $100 per staff member, paid in full to the people who work your wedding, and refunded if the job is not done. Two bartenders and a barback come to $300. Add it and there is nothing to hand out on the night.
Catering. Our per guest catering rates already include gratuity, so there is no catering tip on top.
If you skip it. Tipping on the night is then your call. More on that in do you tip bartenders and event staff.

How to hand tips out

Put cash in envelopes labelled with the vendor's name and the amount. Both guides call this the traditional way.
Give the envelopes and a list to one person: your planner, a parent or someone in the wedding party. They hand them out at the end of the night, so you do not have to.
Zola suggests going to the bank about two weeks before for mostly $20s and $50s, and keeping a few spare $20s for anyone you forgot.
Ask vendors whether they would rather be paid by Venmo, Zelle or check.
For delivery and setup crews, The Knot suggests leaving the envelopes with the crew lead the day before.

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