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Hey ladies + gents! It’s been awhile since we’ve paused for a moment to show you around the Southern Weddings world, so we thought we’d do a quick tour for our newest belles. You never know – our old friends might learn a thing or two about where to find Southern goodness, too!

First, of course, you’ve got the main blog. We post here two-four times a day on a variety of topics related to weddings and the South. There will always be gorgeous real weddings, but we also post fun features and series. Some of our favorites right now are Emily’s wedding planning posts, our Southern Brides of the Month, Marissa’s Southern Delicacy posts, and our recent series on Southern Blooms.

New readers, be sure to check out our real weddings gallery to catch up on years’ worth of inspiring Southern weddings! You can search by color and state, too.

Don’t miss the editorial galleries, either! We’ve posted in-depth looks at almost all of our editorial features from V3 and V4. While you’re at it, why not flip through online editions of V1, V2, and V3? You can always purchase copies of our print editions at this link.

Engaged ladies, your new best friend is our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory. We’ve stocked it with more than 125 of our favorite vendors across the South, and we’re adding more talents every day! Vendors do pay to be listed (full disclosure!), but they also must apply to be admitted, and we review each application as a team, and follow up with their references. Only the best for our belles! The Blue Ribbon Vendors you see listed as “Editors’ Picks” have been featured in one of our print editions, so they get an extra-special stamp of SW approval.

If you’re well on your way with wedding planning, it’s time to start thinking about the honeymoon! The Honey List is our collection of SW-approved vacation spots.

Everyone loves to learn from real brides, which is why we’ve collected a few of our favorites on our Southern Bride Bloggers page! These gals all blog regularly about their upcoming (Southern) weddings, and are a great resource!

Before we move beyond the site, be sure to get acquainted with all of the Southern Weddings ladies, if we haven’t yet been formally introduced! You can see all of our profiles here, including Lara (Editor in Chief), Emily (Creative Director), Marissa (Director of Advertising and Editor), and Nicole (Art Director). We also post about goings-on in our office of ladies in a special “In the Office” category.

Now that we’re better acquainted, we know you’re going to want to spend some quality time with us, am I right? Lucky for you, we’re quite social! We have one main Twitter account (@iloveswmag), where we share recent blog posts, happenings in the office, behind-the-scenes deets on shoot days, industry discounts and sample sales, news about Southern friends and events, and much more. All the SW ladies have their own accounts, too. So if you like business + branding, follow Lara, or if paper pretties and mini food are more your thing, follow Emily! Nicole’s great about finding neat design finds, and Marissa is our source for all things preppy + pretty.

Next, there’s Facebook. You may all feel free to like us here :) We share much of the same insider news and details that we do on Twitter, but it’s fun to see the conversations develop on FB. Plus, we sometimes ask fun polls on our Facebook page, and love hearing what y’all have to say!

Up next is Pinterest! You can follow Southern Weddings here. We love to pin photos from blog and print features, and it’s great for y’all, too, because we sort photos into different, fun categories. So if you’re looking for sweet tea + other drinks, biscuits + other delectables, or bow ties + boutonnieres, we’ve got you covered. We also have boards for ceremonies, fashion + style, bouquets, sweets, Southern traditions… you name it. And of course, each color has its own board, too. Get pinning!

And while you’re there, feel free to follow each individual account, too: Lara, Emily, Marissa, and Nicole. (If you need a Pinterest invite, just let us know!)

Our newest obsession is Lover.ly, a curated visual search engine just for weddings – love! You can find all of the SW bundles right here, and we’re adding more every day!

And there you have it! Southern Weddings in a nutshell (make that a pecan husk, natch). Questions, just ask! And if you’re new around these parts, introduce yourself below! We LOVE to meet our readers!

emily Written with love by Emily
3 Comments
  1. avatar Emily reply

    Hi y’all! Just figured I’d introduce myself, since you asked. :) My name’s Emily, I’m a Junior at a small university in North Carolina, and even though there are no wedding bells in the super-near future for me, I’ve been poring over your blog literally every single day for a few months now! I absolutely adore all things Southern and all things wedding-related! I’m also an aspiring journalist/writer, so I and was dying to apply for the internship position with y’all this summer but couldn’t be in Chapel Hill for logistical reasons. :( So I’m definitely keeping my eyes open for any future opportunities here – ’cause I LOVE SW MAG!

  2. avatar inspired : 6.17.12 | beka stays reply

    […] all about the wonderful world of southern weddings […]

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

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One thing we haven’t discussed yet in the “Emily Plans a Wedding” series is our honeymoon! That’s kind of surprising, actually, because as travel bugs, John and I love to discuss our next trip, and our honeymoon is kind of an exciting one :)

We’re actually going to be taking a minimoon directly following our wedding – we’ll drive back down South from Connecticut, stopping in Washington, DC, Charlottesville, VA, and Lynchburg, VA along the way. For our big adventure, we’re thinking a longer stay in France in June of next year. Oh la la!

Of course, just because we’ve already mapped out our trips doesn’t mean we’ve stopped daydreaming, and today’s sponsor, Wanderable, is the perfect accomplice. I love that Wanderable, a honeymoon registry, is also an online community where you can discover new places and experiences, and be inspired by the trips other members are planning (or dreaming about!).

If you have all the household goods you could ever want, registering for experiences instead of just accumulating more stuff is a fantastic option. A honeymoon registry works just like a traditional registry, except guests can gift you a horseback ride in the Texas backcountry, a fly fishing lesson in Montana, or breakfast in bed at a boutique hotel in Paris… instead of more plates. Yes, please!

If you’re ready to sign up, you can go with the free registry option (ad-free, too!), or you can upgrade and choose one of 28 designer themes with customizable colors. Whichever you choose, rest assured that the design will be simple and beautiful.

Tell me: If you were registering for a honeymoon on Wanderable, what would you register for? I’m dying to stay at Blackberry Farm or Paws Up, so one of those would be at the top of my list :)

emily Written with love by Emily
5 Comments
  1. avatar Erin reply

    I love the idea of a honeymoon registry! I made one recently (after I felt exhausted by my Amazon.com wedding registry and me and the groom finally picked a honeymoon spot!) and I’m really excited. It gave me insight into what we’re getting ourselves into down there (Key West!), ideas about the local area, and my mom assured me the older guests would probably love to buy us “experiences” rather than just items. Can you say couples massage or yoga on the beach??

    • avatar Emily reply

      Love it, Erin! I actually just bought a gift for my good friends off of their honeymoon registry, and I loved the experience! It was so fun to picture them enjoying their present :)

  2. avatar Lauren reply

    Thanks for sharing this! My fiance and I are definitely doing a honeymoon registry (we’ve been living together for a year so we don’t need to register for much) but I wasn’t sure who to use! We love the idea that our friends can feel like they’re a part of our trip, and that we can send photos of those activities with our thank yous!

  3. avatar Meredith reply

    YAY Charlottesville! That’s where I live! Here are a few suggestions for enjoying Cville to the max :-) Awesome restaurants: Zocalo, Commonwealth Restaurant and Skybar, Maya, The Local, MAS Tapas, and Duner’s. This is a foodie town and you will not be disappointed at any of those. Things to do: Visit Monticello and nearby vineyards; Jefferson, Blenheim, Castle Hill Cider, and Keswick. Check out a show at the Paramount Theater or Jefferson Theater on the Downtown mall. Go hiking to Humpback Rock on the Blue Ridge Parkway and visit nearby vineyards; King Family, Pollak, and Veritas (there are also a few breweries out that way). Stop by Greenwood Gourmet Grocery on your way to Humpback and pick up a fantastic sandwich or bread and cheese for a picnic. On your way to Lynchburg stop by Pippin Hill Vineyards and enjoy their breathtaking views. Sorry for writing a book… what can I say, I LOVE this town!

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

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Hi, friends! Since this post is several years old now, we’ve gone ahead and updated it. Click here to find our updated guide to tipping wedding vendors!

As y’all know, I’m planning a wedding of my own (whoo!), and something that has befuddled me from day one is wedding tipping etiquette. There are so many different sources offering advice, and so many different dollar amounts recommended for so many different vendors at so many different times, that your head can start to spin long before you start separating cash out into envelopes.

Plus, when you’re already shelling out thousands of dollars per vendor, you might find yourself feeling, ahem, a little less than grateful at the thought of tipping on top of your final bill. Believe me, I completely understand! BUT, if you remember that tipping is never required, and should only be used to reward exemplary service, you might begin to feel a little differently.

In case you find yourself wanting to tip certain vendors, I’ve distilled advice from several different sources, including Emily Post, Martha Stewart, and my Momma, and then added in my own two cents. I also put together a handy tipping cheat sheet for us all, which you can download at the bottom of the post and tuck into your pocket come wedding day!

Finally, remember that while cash or a gift is always appreciated, a grateful spirit on your wedding day and a genuine, thoughtful thank you note after your wedding are quite possibly the best thank yous you can give your vendors.

Michelle Warren via Southern Weddings

Wedding Planner
Should I tip? If your planner owns her own business, then no tip is expected, since it’s not customary to tip the owner of a business. However, if you would like to recognize exemplary performance, a personal gift or check is an option.
How much? Up to $500, or 15% of her fee, or a nice gift
When? We recommend sending a thank you note and your check or gift after you return from your honeymoon.

Jodi Miller via Southern Weddings

Delivery and Set-up Staff
Should I tip? It’s a lovely gesture, especially if they were careful to set everything up to your specifications and without causing damage to the surroundings.
How much? $5 – $10 per person
When? Drop off envelopes with your catering manager or wedding planner if they’ll be accepting deliveries on your behalf

Josh McCullock

Wedding Photographer or Videographer
Should I tip? As most photographers and videographers own their own businesses, tipping is not expected or required in this case. Again, a personal gift is always a lovely touch.

Melissa Schollaert

Wedding Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist
Should I tip? Yes, this is one area where a gratuity is definitely expected. However, the owning-their-own-business exception is still in effect, so keep that in mind.
How much? 15-20%, just as you would for a normal appointment
When? On the day of your wedding, after she’s finished getting you prettified

Photos by Tim Will and Caroline Joy (via SW here + here)

Wedding Transportation
Should I tip? Check your contract, because a gratuity is usually included. If it’s not, then one is pretty much expected.
How much? 15-20% of the total bill
When? When the driver picks you up or after the last ride

Virgil Bunao via Southern Weddings

Wedding Ceremony Officiant
Should I tip? It isn’t necessary to tip religious officiants like a priest or minister (many of them, in fact, won’t accept cash tips). In lieu of a tip, a donation to their house of worship is a nice gesture. It’s not expected that you’ll tip a civil employee or non-religious officiant, either (and sometimes, in the case of civil employees, tipping can be illegal). For all officiants, a personal gift, such as a gift certificate to a nice restaurant, would certainly be appreciated.
How much? Approximately $100
When? At the rehearsal or rehearsal dinner

Scobey Photography

Wedding Ceremony Musicians
Should I tip? This one’s definitely optional. If the string trio you hired has arranged or learned a particular song for you at no additional charge, then a tip might be a nice gesture.
How much? $15 – $20 per musician, or 15% of total fee
When? Before the musicians leave your ceremony site

A Bryan Photo via Southern Weddings

Wedding Reception Band or DJ
Should I tip? It’s completely optional, but somewhat common. For bands that book their own gigs (i.e. separate from an entertainment agency), tipping is not customary.
How much? If you choose to tip, set aside $20-$50 per musician or $25-$150 for DJs
When? Before they leave the reception

Ulmer Studios via Southern Weddings

Wedding Reception Staff
Should I tip? Oh boy, this one’s the big guy. Yes, you should tip, but make sure a gratuity is not already included in your contract.
How much? There are two ways to tip. The first is to tip as a percentage of the cost of your total catering bill – 15-20%. The second way (which is often more economical), is to tip each staff member individually. If you’re going that route, here is the rule of thumb: catering manager, banquet manager, headwaiter, or maitre d’: $100-$300 or 1-3% of food and beverage fees; chef: $50-$100; waiters and kitchen staff: $20-$30 each; bartenders: 10% of the total liquor bill (to be split among them) or $20-$25 per bartender
When? Before you leave the reception

Now, as promised, my handy cheat sheet for tipping at your wedding – enjoy!

Jodi Miller, Josh McCullock, Melissa Schollaert, and Scobey Photography are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

emily Written with love by Emily
33 Comments
  1. avatar Jennifer Underhill reply

    Emily, thank you for this post!!!! I have been meaning to look into tipping (along with a list of 20 other things) and have seen lots of different opinions that are all over the place! thank you for organizing all this into such a concise guide! I’m sure my vendors will appreciate it!

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Miss Jennifer! I’m SO glad this is helpful for you! And I completely know what you mean about being overwhelmed by all the different opinions – that’s why I sat down to write this post in the first place!

  2. avatar Kelsey reply

    I’m so glad this was your newest etiquette topic! It gets so confusing and overwhelming, so it’s really nice to have this all in one place!

    I do have any additional/situational question. We don’t have a specific wedding planner, but we do have a coordinator at our reception venue. A fee is automatically added on to our final bill for her services (in addition to the 20% gratuity added for all wait staff and bartenders). Do I need to tip her additionally?
    Thanks! :)

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Kelsey! From my research, it seems like an on-site coordinator falls under the same category as maitre d’, catering manager, etc, so if she’s provided exemplary service or gone above and beyond for you, then I’d recommend a $100-$300 tip. However, I don’t think one is always necessary in this case.

  3. avatar Justin reply

    From the list it looks like you included every
    Wedding vendor but the Florist.

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Justin! From my understanding, florists and cake bakers are also usually the owners of their own businesses, and since owners aren’t customarily tipped, y’all wouldn’t need advice on that :) But of course, if you felt your florist went above and beyond, by all means, include a little extra or a personal gift!

  4. avatar A Gatty reply

    Great post, but I will have to disagree on the photography piece. Whether they own their own business or not, I think it should be determined by each situation. As a professional photographer who owns his own business, I worked many weddings without a break so I didn’t miss anything, skipped dinner because ” the wedding planner” thought it was a good idea to feed us last after the guests, which also happens to be the time that the bride and groom are done eating. Did I expect a tip? no but man it would have been a nice gesture given that I went above and beyond. Also nowadays, most wedding vendors own their own business including the wedding planners who are usually the highest paid to start with. If you are going to so generously tip them, it’s only fair to show us “the rest of the vendors” similar treatment.

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi A! I completely respect your opinion, but I just have to say that I think a vendor should never be disappointed by not getting a tip, only happily surprised by getting one. Also, I don’t think whether or not a couple tips should be based on the size of the vendor’s fee, but on whether or not he or she provided truly exemplary service. Thanks for chiming in!

  5. avatar The Friday Fresh Squeeze | Floridian Weddings reply

    […] are so many articles out there in regards to tipping your wedding vendors. I truly felt that this was a great article for advice! These adorable pencils are calling for an excuse to have a party! One of my favorite […]

  6. avatar Weekly Wedding Favorites | Going to the Chapel reply

    […] give? Is tipping even necessary? Although the title begins with “Southern Etiquette,” I think these very helpful tips from Southern Weddings apply to all Northerners, too. The post details when to tip your wedding […]

  7. avatar Weddings and Tipping | Wild Horse Inn Blog reply

    […] often asked about tipping.  Who to tip?  How much should vendors be tipped, etc?  Luckily or us, Southern Weddings Magazine has created a fantastic guide for weddings and tipping.  Personally, we can’t say enough […]

  8. avatar Tipping Wedding Vendors » Christopher William Jewelers reply

    […] here to read the entire article and get the down and dirty details on wedding tipping etiquette! […]

  9. avatar Tipping Wedding Vendors « Rules Of Engagement – Blog & Community for Guys & Brides – The Ring, The Proposal, The Wedding reply

    […] here to read the entire article and get the down and dirty details on wedding tipping […]

  10. avatar Christopher Smith reply

    I was an event photographer for 14 years, having retired in December of 2011. What meant the most to me was not a tip but a decent meal and a break to enjoy it. Though I did greatly appreciate the handful of tips I received, a meal meant a lot more.

  11. avatar Favorite Finds 6.8.12 reply

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  12. avatar Jordan McBride | HOW TO: Properly Thank Your Vendors reply

    […] you should be tipping, and how much you should be tipping them. To get you started on your search, this one from Southern Weddings is comprehensive, well-written, and includes a handy-dandy chart at the […]

  13. avatar Peter reply

    As a wedding photographer, I’d have to say the best “tip” you can give is a referral. I cannot quantify how much that means to us both personally and professionally. Although a bite to eat during the reception is much appreciated as well ;)

  14. avatar Maggie reply

    I have worked in several jobs within the wedding industry and I have to say that the wedding coordinator is probably the most underpaid job of all of them. The reason I say this is that they work for weeks, months and sometimes even a year with the bride and groom putting the wedding together. Many times, the DJ, bands and photographers make them same, if not more money for one night of work (photographers work more than one night however as they have to edit the photos). Not to say that the other vendors don’t work hard, but per hour, the wedding coordinator is the lowest on the totem pole for payment. If your planner goes above and beyond, especially if they own their own business, a tip is very appreciated. I can tell you that most planners put in atleast a 12-16 hour work day, not to mention the hectic week leading up to the wedding. It doesn’t feel so great to be handing out tips galore on behalf of the bride and groom to vendors who show up and work for 4-6 hours when you have slaved away and receive nothing. So it is not expected but really really appreciated.

  15. avatar The Tipping Point: Who and How Much to Tip on Your Big Day | Pink Cloud 9 Weddings Blog reply

    […] (Image credit: Southern Weddings Magazine) […]

  16. avatar Chelsey Morrison reply

    I have sent this post to clients multiple times. Just wanted to say thanks for an easy to understand reference guide that I can keep coming back to!

  17. avatar Akisha reply

    A very thoughtful article that is personally appreciated. Being that I make most of my living from “contract” photography work these days (although I continue to have my own business presence), I feel obliged to add that many engaged couples are using national or regional companies to provide photography and videography services in the current market. In this case (and there are many since the prices of these companies are competitive and most business owners can’t compete in the “budget market”), I think you are inferring that a tip is appropriate. This is due to the fact that the photographer/videographer/DJ’s that work for these companies are making a day rate that is only a portion of what you are paying out. This is generally a fourth or fifth of what they would be making if you were their own client (without overhead included, of course) and they are still treating you with the same respect and hard working attitude they would have if you had hired them directly. I personally do this kind of work because my living depends on it and these companies who can afford big advertising can keep me steadily employed. It’s the closest thing I can get to a regular paycheck and I can tell you at the end of the day, any tip makes a big difference and means the world to the person actually providing you with excellent (hopefully) customer service.

  18. avatar Budgeting For Your Wedding | Magnifique Soirée reply

    […] 3. Prioritize your budget. Once you’ve determined the pool of money available to spend, it’s time to begin slicing it up. Start to talk with your fiance about what’s most important to you both, and start to reach out to vendors and venues with whom you’re interested in working. As quotes come in, you’ll start to see how your money might need to be allocated.Wedding quotes can be eye-popping and confusing at first, but there are lots of articles out there that will help you understand them better (two I recommend on flowers: here and here). It also might be helpful to look at how other couples have split their budget — mine is right here, and Ruffled also runs a great series on real budgets. Also: don’t forget to calculate tips into the cost of each vendor. You can find our tips for tipping here. […]

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  22. avatar Chanced upon this on FB & I love how detailed it is!!! Aroused my passion to open a wedding boutique again. Well, I will need all these information, one day :’) | Iamzhiyi reply

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  23. avatar Wedding Planning With A Difference – SignatureWeddings Magazine reply

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  24. avatar Diagrams to help you with Your Wedding | Pinky Ring reply

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  25. avatar The Who, What, and When of Wedding Vendor Tipping reply

    […] you show your appreciation is bound to make them smile. Sources: The Knot Martha Stewart Weddings Southern Weddings Ann’s Bridal Bargains Putting on the […]

  26. avatar Anonymous reply

    Hello Emily,

    I was curious what owning your own business really has to do with tipping or not? I personally believe that tips are earned based on hard work and effort… I agree that it is important to tip the delivery staff and people like that… but the people like photographers and planners who literally spend ALL day long with the bride and groom, making every effort to make sure everything is perfect surely deserve a tip more than the guy who drove the tables to the reception that the bride and groom never met. Small business owners put every single bit of effort that they can into their jobs. They have a true passion and usually end up doing way more work than they are paid for. So why is it etiquette to tip someone for just showing up and doing what they are being paid hourly to do vs tipping someone who will go above and beyond for you? It is pretty hard to be that vendor that goes above and beyond to make the bride and groom’s day perfect and spends 10+ hours with them over the course of the day and then watch the DJ who had a bad attitude and was only there for 4 hours get tipped just because blogs/magazines say that it is etiquette.

    I am a wedding vendor. I work very hard every single wedding to make sure everything is perfect. I don’t ever expect to be tipped or given a gift… but please think and help your readers realize who the people are who really do go above and beyond.

    And brides…. please say thank you to your vendors. You wouldn’t believe how often this little phrase is skipped over. It really makes the small business owners feel so happy and really makes us want to do even more to make your day better! :)

    Thank you,
    Anonymous

  27. avatar Tips for Tipping Wedding Vendors at Your Wedding: An Infographic | crazyforus reply

    […] Via southernweddings.com Image via […]

  28. avatar Tips for Tipping Vendors | reply

    […] If you’re still in need of some more advice, head on over to their breakdown of vendor tipping here. We recommend saving or pinning the cheat sheet for future reference. We hope we helped make your […]

  29. avatar Fresno Wedding Vendors Tipping | Supreme Wedding Dress reply

    […] Southern Etiquette: Tipping Wedding Vendors – and something that has befuddled me from day one is wedding tipping etiquette. There are so many different sources offering advice, and so many different dollar amounts recommended for so many different vendors at so many different … […]

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

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