Who to Tip (and How Much) at Your Morningside Wedding

One detail that often gets overlooked until your wedding is right around the corner is how to tip the vendors and crew who make your special day come to life. Who do you tip? How much? Is the tip already included in your invoice? We get it—figuring out these details is probably the last thing you want to do before walking down the aisle. That’s why we’ve put together this guide! It’s specific to Morningside and designed to make things easy and transparent. After all, that’s our goal!

When you book with Morningside, your event invoice lists all the details for your big day: your food selections, bar package, guest count, and our taxes and fees. This way, you know exactly what you’re paying for. However, gratuity for staff, servers, and bartenders is not included in your invoice. This gives you the flexibility to show your appreciation on your own terms—but don’t worry! This guide will help you figure out the who, what, when, and how of tipping.

The Who and What of tipping:

Here at Morningside, your overall tip amount for servers, coordinators, bartenders, and banquet team members typically ranges between $500 and $1,500. Here’s a helpful breakdown:

• Servers / Waitstaff: $150–$250 overall

• Bartenders: $100–$200 overall

• Head Server: $75–$150

• On-Site Coordinator: $100–$250

• Other Banquet Team Members: $100–$200 overall
  
  (Please note: this guide only includes Morningside Inn staff and does not cover other vendors like your DJ, photographer, hair & makeup team, officiant, or florist.)

The When and How of tipping:

Now that you know who to tip and a good range for each Morningside staff member, the next step is figuring out how to distribute these tips on the wedding day. We suggest designating a trusted friend or family member to hand out labeled, sealed envelopes. Cash is typically the easiest way to show your appreciation.

Other ways to tip:

We also want to reassure you that any form of thanks is deeply appreciated here at Morningside. Our staff loves being a part of your special day and enjoys seeing every detail come together. Beyond cash tips, we love handwritten notes, glowing reviews, and referrals to friends and family (have you seen our Wall of Fame in the office?).

Remember: tipping is about showing appreciation, not meeting an obligation. The people helping your wedding run smoothly have worked hard to make your day a success—they’ve prepared the space, paid attention to every detail, and made it all about you.