Wedding tip calculator
Tick the vendors you plan to tip and add each contract total. See the cash for every envelope, and skip anyone whose contract already includes gratuity.
Free, with no account or email. We never send what you type to vendors.
Plan your wedding tips
Cash to set aside
$50 to $1001 envelope, with more still open
| Envelope | Amount |
|---|---|
| Officiant | $50 to $100 |
Still open (not counted)
- Hair and makeup artists: add the contract total.
- Catering and bar staff: ask whether gratuity is already in the contract.
- Photographer: add the contract total.
- DJ: add the contract total.
- Delivery and setup teams: add the number of crew members.
Ranges follow Zola's suggestions. They are customs, and every tip is your choice. Gratuity written into a contract is already paid, so don't pay it twice.
Quick answer
How much to tip wedding vendors
Zola's tipping guide (updated June 1, 2026) suggests 16-20% for hair and makeup and for catering staff when gratuity isn't already included, 1-5% for the photographer, videographer, DJ and planner, and flat amounts for the officiant, florist and crews. The calculator uses Zola's figures. The Knot (no update date shown) and WeddingWire (dated October 23, 2020) suggest ranges of their own.
| Vendor | Zola (2026) | The Knot | WeddingWire (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair and makeup | 16-20% | 15-25% of the bill | 15-20% of the fee |
| Catering staff | 16-20% of food and drink, if gratuity isn't included | 15-20% of food and drink, if no service charge, plus $200-$300 for the maître d' | 15-20% of the food bill, if not in the service fee |
| Servers | $20-50 each | Part of the catering tip | About $20 or more each |
| Bartenders | $20-50 each | 15-20% of the drink fee, split | 10-15% of the bar tab, each |
| Photographer or videographer | 1-5%, or about $200 per person | $50-$200 per team member, or 5-15% | $100-$200 if they work for a larger company; none if they own it |
| DJ | 1-5%, or $200 | $50-$150 | 10-15% of the bill |
| Band members | $25-50 each | $15-$50 each | $25-$50 each |
| Ceremony musicians | $25-50 each | $15-$50 each | $25-$50 each |
| Planner | 1-5% of the fee, or $200 | 15-20% of the fee (full-service), or a gift | 10-20%, optional |
| Officiant | $50-100, or a donation | $50-$100; $100-$500 donation to a religious institution | $50-$100 (civil), or a $100-$300 donation |
| Florist | $50-100 | $50-$200 or a gift, optional | No tip expected |
| Drivers | 15-20% | 15-20%, or $50 per driver | 15-20%, if not included |
| Delivery and setup | $5-20 per person | $10-$50 per person | $5-$20 per person |
| Valets | $1-2 per car | $1-$5 per car | $1-$2 per car |
Percentages are of that vendor's bill. The publishers differ most on photographers, DJs and planners, so pick one rule and use it for every envelope.
Tip math
Tips on common contract totals
Zola's three percentage ranges on contract totals from $1,000 to $10,000. An $8,000 food and drink bill with no gratuity in it comes to $1,280 to $1,600 at 16-20%.
| Contract total | 1-5%: photographer, videographer, DJ, planner | 15-20%: drivers | 16-20%: hair and makeup, catering |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $10 to $50 | $150 to $200 | $160 to $200 |
| $2,000 | $20 to $100 | $300 to $400 | $320 to $400 |
| $3,000 | $30 to $150 | $450 to $600 | $480 to $600 |
| $5,000 | $50 to $250 | $750 to $1,000 | $800 to $1,000 |
| $8,000 | $80 to $400 | $1,200 to $1,600 | $1,280 to $1,600 |
| $10,000 | $100 to $500 | $1,500 to $2,000 | $1,600 to $2,000 |
What couples did
How much couples actually tipped
From Zola's 2026 Wedding Spend Survey of 720 couples, surveyed within 180 days after their wedding. The flat amount is the average among couples who gave a set dollar amount.
| Vendor | Couples who tipped | Most common range | Average flat tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caterer | 73% | 16-20% | $262 |
| Hair and makeup | 71% | 16-20% | $150 |
| Photographer | 70% | 1-5% | $200 |
| DJ or band | 67% | 1-5% | $200 |
The calculation method
Check the contract, then tip.
Contract total × Zola's low and high share, or the count × the amount each = the envelope
- Gratuity already in the contract: no suggested tip is added, since it is already paid.
- Not sure: the vendor stays open and is not counted until you ask. Catering and drivers start here: Zola says many caterers add 18-20% gratuity on their own, and to look for staff gratuity in catering and transportation contracts.
- Your own amount replaces the suggested range for that vendor, and counts on top of a contract that already includes gratuity.
A blank or half-typed number never counts as $0. That vendor stays on the open list until it has a number.
Words to look for in the contract
- "Gratuity included" or "Staff gratuity": already tipped.
- "Service charge" or "Administrative fee": ask whether it goes to the staff.
Ask the vendor
- "I see a service charge. Does it go to your staff as tips, or should I plan to tip separately?"
- "How many people will work on our day, and who should receive the envelope?"
Read how required charges differ from tips or add the tips to your budget.
Questions about wedding tips
How much should you tip wedding vendors?
Zola (updated June 1, 2026) suggests 16-20% for hair and makeup artists and for catering and bar staff when gratuity is not already included, 1-5% for the photographer, videographer, DJ and planner, 15-20% for drivers, $50-100 for the officiant and the florist, and $5-20 per person for delivery and setup crews. These are customs, and every tip is your choice.
Do I tip if gratuity is included in the contract?
No extra tip is needed for a gratuity the contract already charges. Zola points out that a service charge and a gratuity are different: a service charge usually goes to the business, and a gratuity goes to the staff. If the contract says only "service charge" or "administrative fee", ask the vendor whether it goes to the staff.
How much is a 1-5% tip on a $2,000 photographer?
$20 to $100. Zola also gives about $200 per person as a flat amount for a photographer or videographer.
How much do couples actually tip?
In Zola's 2026 Wedding Spend Survey of 720 couples, 73% tipped the caterer, 71% tipped hair and makeup, 70% tipped the photographer, and 67% tipped the DJ or band. Couples who gave a flat amount averaged $262 for the caterer and $200 for the photographer.
Should I tip a vendor who owns the business?
Zola says business owners don't expect tips the way their staff do, and a small tip of 1-5% for exceptional service is your call. WeddingWire says no tip is needed for a photographer or videographer who owns the business.
When and how do you hand out wedding tips?
The Knot suggests getting the cash a few days before the wedding and sorting it into an envelope for each vendor. WeddingWire suggests asking your planner or someone in the wedding party to hand them out. Zola suggests giving the catering tip to the head caterer before service starts and the florist's tip when setup is finished.
Method updated October 21, 2026. Report a calculation problem.