CeeBubble

You're very welcome! If you have any success or even mishaps, please post photos and let us know how they went.

Thanks!
 

Originally Posted by lavenderlux 

Thanks for the link CeeBubble!

"Don’t tip a band, unless they stay extra time and don’t bill you for it."

I still think that not tipping the band unless they work for free is totally unethical.

Just my 2 cents!
XO
Miss Manners 
 

Hi Cherriane,

Have you tried this forum: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/34234/majestic-colonial-or-elegance-brides-post-here ?

There you can ask experts their opinion and see other quoted prices.

Good luck!

Totally agree, Brenners. Here's a question for the ages: Is what's reasonable to one seem like far too much to some, or not nearly enough to others? 

Basically, I'm curious to know more details about the services you'll pay for and what you expect in return. Let us know?

Thanks!
XO
Miss Manners 

Hi amberah19,

These may not be the exact templates you were hoping for, but I bet you could modify them to suit your needs:

http://www.marthastewart.com/275722/handmade-party-favors

Good luck!

Let us know how it goes and post photos! 

Don't worry, we're not passing judgment!  

I think the ongoing debate in this thread is really healthy and proves how vibrant, passionate, and smart our community members are.

As I mentioned in an earlier reply, tipping and etiquette in general are really driven by one's cultural, social, and economic upbringing.

Something you may want to bear in mind, though, if you opt not to tip your staff or reserve tipping only for those who work overtime:

• Destinations may eventually have to shut their doors, because their staff will have gone on to other tourism jobs where they can earn more money for their families.

• Americans, and North Americans in general, haven't always had the best image abroad. Help improve international relations by being kind and generous with all who make your special day all the more special and seamless.

• The way you treat others reflects on you and your new spouse. Even if you don't care about how the staff at the Destination feel about you when you've packed up and returned home, your new in-laws might not so easily forget.

I hope everyone will continue to share their thoughts and experiences! Thanks for the Knot advice, too. It's great to see others are actively considering etiquette and manners.

XO
Ms. Manners

Nice Those will make super pretty party favors and bouquet embellishments!

Eeep is right!! Unless it's really really good maple syrup, and the card contains a check for $200!

Adding my $0.02:

Many of us face tightening belts and smaller bank accounts, and tipping is very much influenced by one's cultural, social, and economic background. My mother always tipped at least 20%, so the bar was set there from a young age. (It's actually a turnoff for me when friends leave miserly tips at restaurants. Thanks for turning me into a snob, Mom!)

There are unfortunately no hard and fast rules, but I personally err on the side of "more" rather than "less." I would make sure to include a gratuity/tip in my master wedding budget document to make sure everyone gets their much earned due.

I also may be biased, as I have friends who play in wedding bands and cater large events. Not to tip them (or tipping them only if they stay late and work longer than originally contracted) seems downright criminal 

Having traveled abroad and observed real, pervasive, hand-to-mouth poverty, I assure all that even the friendly gesture of a small gratuity (even if the tip is $40, instead of 15% or 20% of services) goes a long way to helping these destinations and their employees stay in business. If you're really confused and feel like yours is a unique and unusual event, feel free to ask the wedding coordinator (or whomever has been the most responsive, polite, and straight forward with you) for their recommendations.

I guess I'm passionate  about etiquette and curious to hear what others think! 

P.S. Feel free to call me Ms. Manners 

Very pretty and sparkly! :-) Are they made from plastic or glass?

Congrats, Taryn, and thanks for sharing such beautiful photos, leigh2011!