Should Waiters Expect a Tip at a Wedding?
Catering equipment suppliers supplying waiters for a wedding party is a little different from walking into a restaurant and having permanent waiters there ready to serve you. For many guests, it is tough deciding on whether they should tip the waiters at the end of the night or not. There are no hard and fast rules on the etiquette of a situation like this.
In this article, we are going to investigate this issue the next time you employ a catering equipment company for your next event.
Why is it Any Different?
Once you order catering equipment in the UK, you are also buying the waiters. This is confusing for people because they have technically already paid a service charge to the waiters. You have not done this in a normal restaurant setting.
The truth is although you have already bought the services of a team of waiters, they will not see any of that extra money. The chances are they are on minimum wage and will continue to receive that same wage no matter what you have paid.
Always give a tip to a waiter who does a good job at your wedding.
What about the Tip Charge on the Bill?
Some catering companies will already add a bit extra for a ‘service charge’ on the bill. This still does not mean you should give a tip to a waiter. These service charges do not necessarily go to the waiters. Some companies add the service charge but keep it as profit. The waiter never sees a penny of it.
In other cases, the total tip is split between all the waiters. Therefore, that waiter that went the extra mile for you will only see a tiny portion of the amount you gave.
Tip Directly to the Waiter
If you feel like a waiter has done a particularly good job, give them the money directly. Only put it in their hands so they get to keep the money. They may well have an informal agreement with their colleagues about what happens to the total tipping pot at the end of the night, but that is up to them.
Never make the mistake of giving a tip to a manager or another member of staff to give to the waiters. It will go straight into the company coffers.
Is Tipping the Waiter Expected?
Rules on tipping are far more lax because the waiters tend to receive a fair wage, unlike in a restaurant setting. In your favourite eatery, waiters need tips to pay their bills. The management expects them to top their wages up with any tips they can wrangle from the guests. At a wedding, waiters do not expect tips and you do not have to give them.
On the other hand, this does not mean you should not tip someone for good work. Yes, you might never see them again, but it’s a way of rewarding them for a job well done.
In conclusion, always tip the waiters when they have done a good job. Never feel compelled to do it, but it is a nice gesture when it does happen.
