Wedding venue tipping; are cupcakes a rubbish tip?

ajdj

Wow! I find this unbelievable that the venue has raised the issue with you.

I would have thought as you are paying a large amount for their services that any tip should be entirely at your discretion depending on the level of service you feel you have received on the day.

In any event, after paying £6500 the most the venue would be getting from me is a thank you card/letter to the manager identifying anybody who went above and beyond and the offer of a letter of recommendation if they were exceptional.

How rude! I certainly wouldn't bother with the cupcakes, sounds like they'll turn their nose up at the gesture as they're expecting cold hard cash...

quidsy

Please don't give cupcakes, it is a waste of money.

sammylou100

ajdj wrote: »

How rude! I certainly wouldn't bother with the cupcakes, sounds like they'll turn their nose up at the gesture as they're expecting cold hard cash...

That was my worry really. Don't get me wrong, all the people we've dealt with have been super helpful and it really is a lovely venue, it's just this right at the end has put a spanner in the works!

warehouse

ajdj wrote: »

Wow! I find this unbelievable that the venue has raised the issue with you.

I would have thought as you are paying a large amount for their services that any tip should be entirely at your discretion depending on the level of service you feel you have received on the day.

In any event, after paying £6500 the most the venue would be getting from me is a thank you card/letter to the manager identifying anybody who went above and beyond and the offer of a letter of recommendation if they were exceptional.

How rude! I certainly wouldn't bother with the cupcakes, sounds like they'll turn their nose up at the gesture as they're expecting cold hard cash...

Exactly this.

The best tip you can give them is to recommend them highly to everyone you know if the day goes well.

comeandgo

I can't believe a venue would ask this. It's completely crass. I have helped arrange two family weddings recently and while we did tip at the end of the evening, we just put a couple of hundred pounds behind the bar for the staff, nobody at the two venues even suggested it.

minerva_windsong

Mrs_R_to_be wrote: »

Hi, iv just spoken to my brother who does waiting on for functions & weddings, he said it's rare that they get tips from weddings (more so sportsmanship dinners etc), but said that it is not expected (but being the cheeky so & so he is, added it was always welcome!!). He would advise against food as they get leftovers from the kitchen anyway. He did say that if they do get tips it tends to be a after the event that the bride / groom / parents drop it off to be split between the staff, not at the time of the wedding.
I know each venue will be different but he works at a posh hotel.
I.thought I'd better ask as I hadn't even thought about it to be honest! Sorry for the long winded post, in a nut shell, not expected but nice, if you do decide to it doesn't need to be done at the time.
I hope that helps.... x

I'd agree with this. I used to work behind the bar in a hotel that did a lot of weddings when I was a student, and although it was very rare that we'd get tips, it was usually £50 or £100 from the bride's dad at the end of the night which then went into the kitty to be split between the staff. I should also add I never expected to get tips, I always saw them as a nice extra but they were very much appreciated.

I think the cupcakes are a nice gesture but honestly I'd say you don't need them and you'd be better off putting the money you'd spend on them in an envelope for the staff.

We used to get buffet leftovers as well, which were the greatest thing ever at two o'clock in the morning at the end of a long shift!

sammylou100

Thank you, they do weddings every day of the week so I guess it does all go in a pot to be split, so every little helps!

Anatidaephobia

sammylou100 wrote: »

Anyway, we had our final planning meeting at the end of last year and the planner asked us what we wanted to do about tipping.

Does the planner work for the venue? I assumed the wedding planner was just making suggestions. Apologies if I've misunderstood - if the planner does indeed work for the venue and has asked about tips then that is very rude!

The venue and the staff will not expect tips - however they are always very welcome and much appreciated. Nobody will judge you if you don't tip; they'll just appreciate it if you do.

sammylou100

Yes, the planner at the venue. I guess it's just flagging it up exactly because it doesn't cross most people's minds, it's just put me in a flap!

Sazzarella

I don't believe in tipping anyone in this country as we have something called national minimum wage. Why is it that employees in hospitality should be tipped but not those in retail shops? They do the same job.

I think its incredibly rude that shes even mentioned this to you :eek: the venue staff should be getting paid out of the £6500 that you are paying the venue and if this isn't enough then they should revise their pricing structure.

Funnily enough I wont be tipping any of the venue staff or anyone else that is doing a paid job for my wedding. I am however going to buy a bunch of flowers for the wedding planner at the venue as she has been nothing but helpful.