Wedding & Event StaffTip Calculator
Enter the service fee and who it was for, then decide what feels right for the staff who made your event happen.
How much should you tip wedding or event staff?
In the U.S., wedding and event staff — bartenders, catering staff, hair and makeup artists — are commonly tipped 15%–20% of the service fee when gratuity isn't already included.
- Typical U.S. range
- 15%–20% of the service fee
- Common reference
- 20% of the service fee
What’s common in the U.S.
For U.S. weddings and private events, 15%–20% of the service fee is common for bartenders and catering or wait staff, and 15%–25% is common for hair and makeup artists, when gratuity isn't already built into the contract. Many vendor contracts already include a service charge — check for that language before tipping again on top of it.
What tippos suggests
tippos suggests entering the service fee and who it was for, using that to highlight a relevant percentage, and choosing what feels right — checking your contract for an included service charge first.
Tipping is always your decision. These numbers are context, not a requirement, and no amount is ever preselected for you.
Sources & methodology
Sources reviewed: September 2, 2026
tippos compares the references below to provide practical U.S. context. The final amount is always your decision.
- The Knot — Wedding Vendor Tipping Cheat SheetSupports 15%–20% for bartenders and catering staff, and 15%–25% for hair and makeup artists.
- Zola — How Much to Tip Wedding VendorsSupports $20–$50 per bartender or 10%–20% of the alcohol bill, and 15–20% for catering staff.