Recently, I posted this on Twitter:
If a friend provides a wedding service as a gift, do you tip & if so how much? @EmilyPostInst? #etiquette
— Retroette (@retroette) May 1, 2014
It prompted these replies from Etiquette Advisory, Emily Post Institute and Etiquetteer:
@retroette Do you normally tip people for a “gift” given? A note of your sincere thanks is all that would be required. — Etiquette Advisory (@EtiquetteAdv) May 2, 2014
@retroette Lucky you! There’s no offical etiqeutte, but we would recommend a handwritten thank-you note and a present.
— Emily Post Institute (@EmilyPostInst) May 2, 2014
@retroette If your friend is a vendor with staff (say, caterer), tip the staff 20% of what the service would have cost. — Emily Post Institute (@EmilyPostInst) May 2, 2014
@retroette @EtiquetteAdv It’s how one separates business and social transactions. If business, tip. If social, Lovely Note and gift. — Etiquetteer (@Etiquetteer) May 2, 2014
So here’s a run-down of what to consider if a friend has offered you a service as a gift:
- In general: We don’t tip on gifts. So opt for a heartfelt thank you note and maybe also a gift.
- If you feel the gift was especially extravagant, worth 1,000s for example, feel free to get an extra-nice gift, like a fancy bottle of champagne.
- If the friend has staff, tip the staff (but not the friend).
Many thanks to the etiquette experts who weighed in!
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