The content in this blog post first appeared in my monthly newsletter in April of 2025. Sign up here for first access to more content like this!
Hi Friend!
How are we feeling about April so far? This week it cooled down a lot and we have been having thunderstorms, which I honestly love. I am ready for some warmer temperatures, though. I have been thrifting some new Spring and Summer clothes over the last few weeks that I absolutely can’t wait to wear. Working in my flower beds, wearing sandals, iced drinks, and watching the trees come back to life are what I look forward to the most in Spring, and we are so close! I really want to know what your favorite thing about Spring is, though, so be sure to leave a comment below and tell me all about it!
This month’s newsletter is on a subject that can be so awkward but honestly, I wish I had this information when I was planning my own wedding (before I became a photographer). I had no idea whether I should tip my vendors or how much I should tip or when to give them the money (I didn’t even see most of them, my day-of coordinator handled the set up and deliveries!).
As you may know, my background is in healthcare (I am an emergency department nurse), so I am very unused to even thinking about someone tipping me. I also never worked in food service before becoming a nurse, so I literally have never worked in a job where someone would be tipping me until I became a photographer. And while the subject doesn’t come up all the time, the times it has I have felt slightly uncomfortable, and I know that my client probably did too. So let’s get into it.
Do My Vendors Expect A Tip?
I personally would never expect a tip from a wedding client. I have carefully thought out the prices I set for my services, and am very comfortable collecting payment at that rate. If a wedding vendor ever communicates to you that they are financially reliant on tips, I would say that is a huge red flag.
I have also seen so many different wedding vendors that I really look up to post on their social medias that they never expect tips, so I feel pretty confident in speaking for the general wedding vendor community when I say that tips are never expected but always appreciated.
How Much Should I Tip?
If you do decide to tip, first of all, thank you! Running a business is hard and receiving a tip makes it less hard. I am beyond grateful for anyone who has ever tipped me.
Following standard service industry tipping protocols in your wedding location is appropriate. In the United States that can range anywhere from 10% on the low end to 20% on the higher end – these percentages are calculated off of the total price you pay, from deposit to final balance. But if you get married in another country and hire local vendors, finding out the tipping practices in that country would be helpful as you plan your budget.
Another thing to consider when calculating how much you should tip is the level of service your vendor provides. I always aim to under promise and over deliver, and I really hope that comes across to all my clients. If you have a vendor who really went above and beyond for you, was always prompt and thorough in their communications leading up to your wedding, and was an integral part in bringing your dream wedding to life, a really nice way to show your appreciation is with a higher tip.
When Should I Tip?
You can tip at any time during the process. Standard practice is probably to tip at the end of the wedding day or after the vendor has completed their duties for the day. Designating someone (who you trust!) to hand out tips at the end of the night is a really good idea to take even just one more thing off your plate.
For a photographer or videographer, the end of the wedding day is not even half way through their hours spent dedicated to you. Next comes the editing process, and those hours can be just as grueling as the ones spent on our feet on your wedding day. For those vendors, it would also be completely appropriate to tip after you have received the final product.
What If I Can’t Afford To Tip?
Weddings are expensive. Elopements are expensive. And vendors understand that. So if you want to show us your appreciation but can’t afford a tip, here are three things you can do for us that we really appreciate (and that don’t cost you a cent!):
1. Tag us when you post your wedding photos on social media (this goes for all vendors, not just photographers!)
2. Tell all your friends how awesome we were and that they should hire us, too
3. Write a Google review
Final Thoughts
Talking about money – and especially tips – can be an uncomfortable topic for a lot of people. But it is an important one and I hope that this newsletter has brought you some clarity as you plan your wedding. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to gain access to my wedding planning freebies that include titles like “Wedding Budget Breakdown”, “Leave No Trace Wedding Guest Guide”, “Wedding Planning Dream Date Worksheet”, and so many others!
*All my blog posts contain a selection of images that I’ve taken. If you are interested in booking a wedding or session with me, I am more than happy to send you a full gallery upon request!
I’m a wife, a dog mom, a foodie, a wanderer, a registered nurse, and a portraits/elopements/branding photographer … and this blog will cover it all! If you enjoyed this post, first of all thank you, and second of all please follow me on Instagram + Facebook and sign up for my monthly newsletter to get exclusive wedding planning advice and access to all of my new (and old) freebies! If you have any questions about elopement photography, my journey from nursing to photography, or my time spent as a full-time RVer, drop a comment and I just might write a blog post answering your question (but I definitely will)!
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