Essential Resource

The Puerto Rico Wedding
Tipping Guide

Exact amounts, etiquette, and insider tips for every vendor — from someone who has been on both sides of the tip envelope. Bookmark this page. You'll need it.

Quick Reference — At a Glance

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All-Inclusive Venue Team
20–30% of total venue package for outstanding service
Catering & Service Staff
15–20% of total catering bill, or $20–$50 per server
Bartenders
10–15% of total bar bill, or $25–$50 per bartender
Wedding Planner / Coordinator
$100–$500 depending on complexity
Photographers & Videographers
$100–$300 for lead; $50–$150 for assistants
Musicians & DJs
$20–$50 per musician; $50–$200 for DJs
Hair & Makeup Artists
15–20% of the total bill per stylist
Wedding Officiant
$50–$100 for religious; $25–$75 for civil
Florist & Floral Designer
$50–$100 (optional but appreciated)
Transportation & Drivers
10–15% of the total bill, or $20–$50 per driver
Delivery & Setup Crews
$5–$20 per person

Budget tip: Plan to set aside 10–15% of your total wedding cost for gratuities. Prepare cash in labeled envelopes before you arrive in Puerto Rico, and assign a trusted person to distribute them on the day.

All-InclusiveCateringBartendersWeddingPhotographersMusiciansHairWeddingFloristTransportationDelivery

All-Inclusive Venue Team

20–30% of total venue package for outstanding service

This is the most misunderstood — and most important — category in destination wedding tipping. At an all-inclusive venue, the team behind your wedding is often far larger and more involved than couples realize. The venue isn't just providing a space; they are coordinating, designing, setting up, serving, managing, problem-solving, and often personally fulfilling multiple vendor roles — all under one roof.

Details

At many all-inclusive Puerto Rico venues, the venue team wears a remarkable number of hats. It is common for the same team to serve as coordinator, floral designer, officiant, décor stylist, setup crew, waitstaff, bartender, and day-of problem solver — often simultaneously. Beyond the roles couples see, the venue is also tipping and compensating behind-the-scenes vendors on your behalf: delivery drivers, rental companies, generator operators, cleaning crews, and other support staff that couples never interact with but whose work is essential to the day running smoothly. The standard venue gratuity is 20–30% of your total package for outstanding service. The venue then distributes that exact percentage to every vendor and staff member they are responsible for tipping — meaning your single gratuity covers the entire chain of people who made your day happen, both seen and unseen. For intimate luxury weddings where the team provided deeply personalized, white-glove service, 30% reflects the extraordinary level of care involved. This is not optional — it is the industry standard for all-inclusive destination weddings.

When to Tip

At the end of the wedding day or the morning after, in a card addressed to the venue team. Hand it directly to the venue owner or lead coordinator.

Pro Tip

A heartfelt note alongside the gratuity goes a long way. These teams invest not just labor but genuine emotional care into your celebration. If you're unsure of the amount, ask yourself: how many individual vendors would I have hired and tipped separately if this weren't all-inclusive? The answer is usually eye-opening — and the venue team deserves that same recognition consolidated into a single, generous gratuity.

Catering & Service Staff

15–20% of total catering bill, or $20–$50 per server

Your catering team works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure every course is served with precision and warmth. In Puerto Rico, catering staff rely on gratuities as a meaningful portion of their income.

Details

If your catering contract does not include a service charge or gratuity (check your contract carefully), plan to tip 15–20% of the total catering bill. Alternatively, you can tip individual servers $20–$50 each depending on the level of service and formality of your event. For a plated, multi-course luxury dinner, lean toward the higher end.

When to Tip

At the end of the reception, or handed to the catering manager in a labeled envelope.

Pro Tip

Always check your contract first — many Puerto Rico catering companies include an 18–20% service charge. If gratuity is already included, additional tipping is appreciated but not expected.

Bartenders

10–15% of total bar bill, or $25–$50 per bartender

Bartenders at Puerto Rico weddings often manage high-volume service in tropical heat with grace and skill. A generous tip acknowledges their effort in keeping your guests refreshed and happy.

Details

Plan for 10–15% of your total bar bill split among the bartending team. If you prefer per-person tipping, $25–$50 per bartender is standard for luxury events. For premium cocktail service (craft cocktails, specialty menus), consider tipping on the higher end.

When to Tip

At the end of the reception in a labeled envelope.

Pro Tip

If you have an open bar, your guests won't be tipping individually — so your tip is especially important to the bartending team.

Wedding Planner / Coordinator

$100–$500 depending on complexity

Your wedding planner is your advocate, your problem-solver, and often your emotional anchor throughout the destination wedding planning process. In Puerto Rico, planners manage unique logistical challenges — from weather contingencies to local vendor coordination — that mainland planners never encounter.

Details

For day-of coordinators, $100–$200 is customary. For full-service planners who have managed your destination wedding from start to finish (venue scouting, vendor negotiations, timeline creation, logistics), $300–$500 reflects the immense value they provide. For exceptionally complex or multi-day events, some couples tip even more generously.

When to Tip

On the wedding day or the day after, personally or via a heartfelt card with the tip enclosed.

Pro Tip

A heartfelt handwritten note alongside the tip means the world to planners. They invest emotionally in your wedding — acknowledging that goes beyond dollars.

Photographers & Videographers

$100–$300 for lead; $50–$150 for assistants

Your photographer and videographer capture the moments you'll relive for decades. In Puerto Rico's dramatic landscapes — from rainforests to beaches — these artists work in challenging conditions (humidity, heat, unpredictable weather) to deliver stunning results.

Details

For the lead photographer or videographer, $100–$300 is standard for luxury weddings. Second shooters and assistants should receive $50–$150 each. If your photographer went above and beyond — staying late, hiking to a waterfall for sunset portraits, or navigating a rain plan with creativity — tip on the generous side.

When to Tip

At the end of the wedding day or within a week, in a card or envelope.

Pro Tip

In addition to a monetary tip, the most meaningful gesture for photographers is a glowing online review. A detailed Google or Instagram review can be worth more than any tip to their business.

Musicians & DJs

$20–$50 per musician; $50–$200 for DJs

Live musicians and DJs set the emotional tone for your entire celebration — from the processional that makes everyone cry to the dance floor moments that make everyone laugh.

Details

For ceremony musicians (string quartet, guitarist, harpist), $20–$50 per musician is appropriate. For your reception DJ, $50–$200 depending on the length of service and how well they read the room. If your DJ also provided sound equipment, lighting, or MC services, lean toward $150–$200.

When to Tip

At the end of their performance, in a labeled envelope.

Pro Tip

If a musician learns a special song for your ceremony or a DJ handles a tricky request list flawlessly, a larger tip acknowledges that extra effort beautifully.

Hair & Makeup Artists

15–20% of the total bill per stylist

Your beauty team ensures you look and feel extraordinary on the most photographed day of your life. In Puerto Rico's humidity, skilled hair and makeup artists work with challenging conditions to create looks that last from getting ready to the last dance.

Details

Tip each stylist and makeup artist 15–20% of their service fee. If the lead artist brought assistants, ensure each person is tipped individually. For bridal party hair and makeup, the couple typically handles the tip for all services even if bridesmaids paid for their own styling.

When to Tip

Immediately after services are complete, before the ceremony.

Pro Tip

Puerto Rico's tropical humidity makes hair and makeup artistry particularly challenging. A stylist who can make your look last 12 hours in 85°F with 80% humidity deserves recognition.

Wedding Officiant

$50–$100 for religious; $25–$75 for civil

Your officiant guides the most sacred part of your day — the actual exchange of vows. Whether you have a religious ceremony, a civil union, or a personalized spiritual celebration, this person holds the emotional heart of your wedding.

Details

For religious officiants, $50–$100 is customary, though some couples make a donation to their house of worship instead. For civil officiants or non-denominational celebrants, $25–$75 is standard. If your officiant wrote a personalized ceremony, performed in multiple languages, or traveled to your venue, tip more generously.

When to Tip

Before or after the ceremony, in a sealed envelope, often handed off by the best man or wedding planner.

Pro Tip

In Puerto Rico, bilingual ceremonies (English and Spanish) are common and beautiful. If your officiant performs bilingually, that extra skill deserves acknowledgment.

Florist & Floral Designer

$50–$100 (optional but appreciated)

Puerto Rico's tropical climate offers access to extraordinary flowers — from orchids and heliconias to plumeria and bird of paradise. Your florist transforms these blooms into the visual story of your wedding.

Details

Tipping florists is considered optional in the wedding industry, but for destination weddings in Puerto Rico, a $50–$100 tip is a gracious gesture — especially if your florist delivered early-morning setup, created custom tropical arrangements, or handled last-minute changes with poise.

When to Tip

On the wedding day or the day after, in a card.

Pro Tip

Many all-inclusive Puerto Rico venues include floral design in their packages. If so, tipping the on-site floral team is a thoughtful way to recognize their work.

Transportation & Drivers

10–15% of the total bill, or $20–$50 per driver

Destination wedding transportation in Puerto Rico often involves coordinating airport transfers, hotel-to-venue shuttles, and late-night rides for guests — often across winding mountain roads or coastal highways.

Details

Tip 10–15% of your total transportation bill, divided among drivers. For individual drivers (limo, vintage car, party bus), $20–$50 per driver is appropriate. If a driver went above and beyond — handling luggage, making multiple trips, or navigating a detour with good humor — increase accordingly.

When to Tip

At the end of each trip or at the end of the evening for drivers who worked the entire event.

Pro Tip

Puerto Rico's roads can be adventurous, especially in mountainous and rural areas. A skilled, patient driver who keeps your guests safe and comfortable is worth generous recognition.

Delivery & Setup Crews

$5–$20 per person

The unsung heroes of every wedding — the crews who deliver, assemble, and break down everything from tables and chairs to lighting rigs and dance floors.

Details

$5–$20 per crew member is customary, with $10–$20 for physically demanding setups (outdoor venues, hillside locations, rainforest settings) or extreme weather conditions.

When to Tip

Upon completion of setup, before the event begins.

Pro Tip

In Puerto Rico's heat, setup crews often work in challenging tropical conditions. Having cold water, sports drinks, or snacks available for them alongside the tip is a classy touch.

Your Tip Envelope Checklist

Before you fly to Puerto Rico, prepare these envelopes with cash. Label each one clearly. Hand them to your wedding planner or a trusted member of your party on the morning of the wedding.

All-Inclusive Venue Team

20–30% of total venue package for outstanding service

Catering & Service Staff

15–20% of total catering bill, or $20–$50 per server

Bartenders

10–15% of total bar bill, or $25–$50 per bartender

Wedding Planner / Coordinator

$100–$500 depending on complexity

Photographers & Videographers

$100–$300 for lead; $50–$150 for assistants

Musicians & DJs

$20–$50 per musician; $50–$200 for DJs

Hair & Makeup Artists

15–20% of the total bill per stylist

Wedding Officiant

$50–$100 for religious; $25–$75 for civil

Florist & Floral Designer

$50–$100 (optional but appreciated)

Transportation & Drivers

10–15% of the total bill, or $20–$50 per driver

Delivery & Setup Crews

$5–$20 per person

Pro tip: Bring extra blank envelopes and some additional cash for unexpected helpers (valet, delivery crew, venue staff who go above and beyond).

Tipping FAQ — Your Questions Answered

Yes, tipping is customary in Puerto Rico and follows similar conventions to the mainland United States. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, and service workers rely on gratuities as part of their income. Tipping your wedding vendors is both expected and deeply appreciated.

A good rule of thumb is to budget 10–15% of your total wedding cost for gratuities. For a $30,000 destination wedding, plan for approximately $3,000–$4,500 in tips. Prepare this in cash, in labeled envelopes, before you arrive on the island.

If your vendor contract includes a service charge or gratuity, additional tipping is not required but is always appreciated for exceptional service. Read your contracts carefully — some 'service fees' go to the company rather than the individual staff. When in doubt, ask your planner or venue coordinator.

Prepare all tips in labeled envelopes before the wedding day and assign a trusted person (best man, maid of honor, or wedding planner) to distribute them. Most tips are given at the end of each vendor's service — hair and makeup after styling, officiant after ceremony, catering and DJ at end of reception.

The industry standard for tipping an all-inclusive wedding venue in Puerto Rico is 20–30% of your total venue package for outstanding service. All-inclusive venue teams typically fulfill the roles of 5–10+ individual vendors — coordinator, florist, designer, officiant, setup crew, server, bartender — and also handle tipping behind-the-scenes support staff that couples never interact with. When you tip the venue, they distribute that exact percentage to every vendor and team member they are responsible for compensating — so your single gratuity covers the entire operation. This is the recognized standard among Puerto Rico wedding industry professionals and is the primary way to acknowledge the enormous scope of work that makes an all-inclusive experience feel effortless.

Your all-inclusive package covers the cost of services, logistics, materials, and overhead — but it does not include gratuity for the team delivering those services, just as a restaurant bill covers your meal but not the server's tip. At all-inclusive wedding venues, the team often fills roles that couples at non-inclusive venues would hire and tip separately: coordinator, florist, décor designer, officiant, musician, setup crew, waitstaff, bartender, and more. Additionally, the venue tips vendors behind the scenes on your behalf — delivery drivers, rental companies, cleaning crews — that you never see. When you provide a venue gratuity of 20–30%, the venue distributes that exact percentage to all the vendors and staff they are responsible for tipping. It is a single gesture that covers the entire chain of service. When couples skip the venue gratuity, it effectively means an entire team of people who worked extraordinarily hard receives no recognition beyond their base compensation.

Cash is strongly preferred and considered more personal and immediate. While some vendors may accept digital payments, cash in a labeled envelope is the standard and most appreciated method. ATMs are available throughout Puerto Rico, but it's best to have your tip cash prepared before arriving.

Yes — and this is one of the most common misconceptions in destination weddings. At an all-inclusive venue, your package fee covers the service and logistics, but it does not replace gratuities. The venue team is often fulfilling the roles of multiple vendors — coordinator, designer, florist, officiant, setup crew, waitstaff, and more — and they are also tipping behind-the-scenes vendors on your behalf (delivery crews, rental companies, support staff) that couples never see. A gratuity of 20–30% of your total venue package is the current industry standard for outstanding service. The venue distributes that percentage directly to every vendor and staff member they are responsible for tipping, so your single gratuity covers the entire team. Think of it this way: if you had hired each of those roles individually, you would tip each one. The all-inclusive venue handles that distribution for you.

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