6 non-rules for tipping your wedding vendors
There’s so much conflicting information on the internet, it’s no wonder tipping wedding vendors can be such a perplexing topic to so many couples. To make matters worse, it’s a subject that usually doesn’t come to light until the end of the wedding planning process, after you’ve already shelled out a great deal of cash and suddenly realize you might be expected to give EVEN MORE?! And if you don’t — clearly you’re a bad human, your vendors will despise you and ALL. WILL. BE. RUINED! (Dun dun duuuun!)
Well, not exactly. But, the fact is, clients ask me all the time for guidelines on tipping wedding vendors because… wait for it… there are no rules.
Friends as wedding vendors pros and cons: What I learned from getting our photos for free
Shortly after my husband and I were engaged, we ran into an old family friend who I hadn’t seen in probably over a decade. We chatted for a bit, during which she enthusiastically offered to photograph our wedding for us free as a gift. I had to restrain myself from jumping down her throat with my “yes.” Photography is important to me and my family, but we had a relatively small total budget, and there was almost nothing in there for photos, so I figured this was perfect. It is now almost four months since my wedding, and I’m having some issues with my choice.
Here’s what I’ve learned from my experience with using friends as wedding vendors…
Play a “stand up/sit down” game at your wedding reception
Jamie and Evan had planned a big outdoor game-fest, but some nasty, rainy weather pushed them indoors. The good thing was that they had an indoor elimination game planned with a really special prize.
So I canceled my wedding…
I was nearly there, you know. I’d bought a second hand dress and Irregular Choice shoes. I had booked my venue and I was organising my independent honeymoon to India. I had invited just eight people to my little ceremony. I had made 500 paper cranes for my Senbazuru decoration. I had chosen music and a menu and started to stockpile little bits and pieces for my small but no less special day. And then my relationship ceased to make sense. It was a very hard, very sad time. And I really remember feeling very alone when it all happens — plenty of people talk about divorce, about second marriages, about boyfriend breakups… I couldn’t find other people who had cancelled their wedding. So, without further ado, here is my guide to canceling your offbeat wedding. These are just some of the things I wish I’d heard last year.