Wedding reception- 18% administrative charge?

Tribesters · ‎03-10-2010

Looking for opinions- my son & his fiancé have just booked their wedding venue. Everything is being held at a local resort. All prices/charges are clearly stated. It also states that all food & beverage is subject to 8% sales tax and 18% administrative charge. I incorrectly assumed that the 18% was the gratuity. The resort wedding planner said specifically that any gratuity would be additional & totally optional. Is this common at other resorts? I just wonder why any "administrative costs" wouldn't be included in the prices.

Also- I certainly wouldn't want to cheat anyone out of their tip but how do you tip them? Do you add it onto the money you pay the resort? How do you know they distribute it? Or do you pass it out during the event? I've gotten different opinions from co-workers. One plans weddings for a local organization & he insists that most people don't tip. He said that they all make minimum wage now so it's not an issue. Another coworker's daughter just got married & she tipped everyone. She gave the bestman cash & he passed it out throughout the day. She tipped the photographer, the DJ, the limo driver, all the servers, etc... There will be an open bar. It is included in the "per plate" price. I think some people will tip the bartender when they get their drinks. So do we still tip the bartender?

And the resort offers rehearsal dinner packages at their restaurant which is open to the public. The packages also require the 18% administrative charges. I'm thinking we could go to a very nice restaurant & eat off the menu. I could leave a very generous tip & not have the administrative charge. I guess I just don't understand the administrative charge. Have restaurants added this since they now pay minimum wage so tipping isn't expected?

Anxious to hear what everyone thinks. TIA....

LizzieInSRQ · ‎12-27-2010

I'd Google to see if TheKnot.com has a forum or FAQ section regarding tips

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

"And the resort offers rehearsal dinner packages at their restaurant which is open to the public. The packages also require the 18% administrative charges. I'm thinking we could go to a very nice restaurant & eat off the menu. I could leave a very generous tip & not have the administrative charge. I guess I just don't understand the administrative charge. Have restaurants added this since they now pay minimum wage so tipping isn't expected?"

My niece is an event coordinator at a restaurant that very frequently holds rehearsal dinners, anniversary & b/d dinners and wedding receptions. I haven't discussed this with her, but my guess is that, since they specifically mention 18%, it IS a gratuity for the person who has to plan and coordinate everything about the dinner - and believe me, there is a LOT of coordination and work involved. It takes time away from other duties. It's common for her to get to work at 9-10 am on a rehearsal dinner day and not leave until midnight. No salary encompasses that. The gratuity may be added on to insure the person doesn't get stiffed.

There's also the difference in surroundings/experience between a chosen venue and a restaurant. A resort, or a place with prettier than average surroundings, is going to charge for that vs. a restaurant banquet room.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

I have been to a number of weddings. The photographer and special people were tipped but not the wait staff. The friend that tipped the wait staff might have done it for personal reasons. Tipping wait staff at weddings is not the norm.

The administrative charge may be setting up and tearing down the event as well as booking the room.

Tribesters · ‎03-10-2010

@LizzieInSRQ wrote:
I'd Google to see if TheKnot.com has a forum or FAQ section regarding tips

@LizzieInSRQ

Thanks- I did google it. Most of the posts I could find were from a few years ago & the answers varied. I think tipping is no longer expected since the law changed and the servers make a higher hourly rate now. So it seems this charge is to help the resort recoup the additional labor costs? I guess they think people are used to paying gratuities so you pay it to the resort now! It's all so confusing....

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

I'd contact the establishment, and ask them what this charge is for.

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

ANY TIME YOU CONTRACT FOR SPACE OR SERVICES BE SURE TO GET A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL CHARGES--SET AND DISCRETIONARY SUCH AS TIPS--WRITTEN, DATED AND SIGNED BY THE PERSON WHO GIVES IT TO YOU.

I cannot stress this enough. Don't listen to "he said that" or "when my son got married". Get everything in writing from any venue you visit or from any service (food, flowers, etc) that you contrat with.

I was in business a LONG time and have booked many events and get it in writing and be sure they spell out EVERYTHING is my advice. And yes, I am shouting!

homedecor1 · ‎03-09-2010

@Tribesters

Not sure about wedding but I live in a over 55 gated country club and as of January, 2015 they instituted at our dining room - 18% gratuity & tax (not included in price of item on menu). They did this because originally we tipped the servers but then it was clear "tipping" was not the same for everyone (we did 20%). Now these tips go into a pool and are equally split among the staff.

ill ask my niece who just had a wedding at a high end venue in Philadelphia.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@Tribesters wrote:
Looking for opinions- my son & his fiancé have just booked their wedding venue. Everything is being held at a local resort. All prices/charges are clearly stated. It also states that all food & beverage is subject to 8% sales tax and 18% administrative charge. I incorrectly assumed that the 18% was the gratuity. The resort wedding planner said specifically that any gratuity would be additional & totally optional. Is this common at other resorts? I just wonder why any "administrative costs" wouldn't be included in the prices.

Also- I certainly wouldn't want to cheat anyone out of their tip but how do you tip them? Do you add it onto the money you pay the resort? How do you know they distribute it? Or do you pass it out during the event? I've gotten different opinions from co-workers. One plans weddings for a local organization & he insists that most people don't tip. He said that they all make minimum wage now so it's not an issue. Another coworker's daughter just got married & she tipped everyone. She gave the bestman cash & he passed it out throughout the day. She tipped the photographer, the DJ, the limo driver, all the servers, etc... There will be an open bar. It is included in the "per plate" price. I think some people will tip the bartender when they get their drinks. So do we still tip the bartender?

And the resort offers rehearsal dinner packages at their restaurant which is open to the public. The packages also require the 18% administrative charges. I'm thinking we could go to a very nice restaurant & eat off the menu. I could leave a very generous tip & not have the administrative charge. I guess I just don't understand the administrative charge. Have restaurants added this since they now pay minimum wage so tipping isn't expected?

Anxious to hear what everyone thinks. TIA....

@Tribesters

Have they signed the contract yet? Personally, I would call the wedding planner back and ask them to again specify EXACTLY what the administrative charge is ..... and probably try to negotiate a lower rate.

I'm not saying your son is being bamboozled here, but it seems rather high .... and rather vague. JMO

seaBreeze · ‎02-04-2014

A wedding venue that I reside beside just added this "administrative charge" to their contract. What they did was deduct $4000 off the "grand total" of reserving the banquet hall and grounds, so it would appear less expensive to those unsuspecting until the "fine print" was read.

I agree, why not just include the admin. cost as part of the basic total.