Help Pls. Don't know who to ask so I am trying my friends here at VB.

Getting married next week. Justice of the Peace is coming to our home and we are exchanging our vows in our kitchen. No kidding. We are simple people and didn't want any fanfare. It's just us with no witnesses except our cats. We love our kitchen. It's where we share many wonderful meals surrounded by our kitties. It's also the sunniest and most cheerful room looking out to our backyard full of birds.

Anyway, do we tip the JP after the ceremony? She gave us a set rate for the service. Don't want to insult her by giving too little. Can't afford a lot and definitely don't want to insult her if we shouldn't at all.

Anyone with experience? Thanks!:wall:

Hey!
We had a pretty small ceremony too, though we did invite the immediate family, so I think that's great. :) It's not the wedding that matters so much as the marriage! This was a non issue for us as my husbands aunt (and godmother) is a JP and officiated the ceremony for us. I did find this on a tipping etiquette site though. Hope it helps and congrats on the impending nuptials!
Wedding etiquette says that an officiant is "never tipped," but judges break that rule, because, in their cases, tipping actually takes the place of a fee for service rendered and is the only payment the officiant receives. Clergy persons may be comfortable accepting a donation for their organization. Years ago it was considered improper to ask a set fee for officiant services rendered. Today, you may find mention of a "suggested donation." The average gratuity starts at $75, more if travel time is involved or if you feel so inclined. Most couples rarely feel comfortable giving less than a hundred dollars for the wedding officiant. It's appropriate for the donation to be given to the best man before the ceremony. Following the proceedings, it is appropriate for him to give the "fee" to the officiant. A civil officiant (e.g., judge, Justice of the Peace, City Clerk, etc.) is not allowed to accept a tip or donation for a wedding ceremony performed during court /office hours. After hours, they may accept a "donation' (gratuity) of up to $75. To make sure you are within the legal guidelines of your locale, check with your officiant for specifics.
Mary

<<votes yes.

I mean, you tip the person who cuts your hair, delivers your pizza, etc. This person is *marrying* you. :)

(congratulations, btw!)

You might want to check to be sure you don't have to have two human witnesses to make it legal.

Since they are coming to your home, that is even more the reason I would tip. YES. :D

Anything that is a service to me, I tip. Great or small.:yes:

Congrats. :pibo:

You might want to check to be sure you don't have to have two human witnesses to make it legal.

We did already. In our state, no human witnesses are needed. Four legged witnesses are optional. :D

Thanks for your feedback so far. And the good wishes.

When we did it, we didn't tip. But, we were married in a room in the building where she worked, she didn't come to our house. So it was about 5 minutes work for her, whereas going to your house was probably... 30?

"The average gratuity starts at $75,"

Geez, that's a lot for a tip! But reading from what MaryC wrote, that sounds like it's for a wedding a lot more elaborate than what you're doing (which I think sounds cute, by the way.). I wouldn't tip, actually. I think it would be seen as an insult, like she has a job that doesn't pay enough.

I like the idea of doing your own thing even if it flys in the face of tradition. It is after all, your wedding.

I would tip, but I'm thinking the $75 suggestion is way out there... though I don't know how much a JoP costs...

Usually if you're unsure, about 20% of the service's fee is supposed to be an appropriate "guess"...

Very cute, BTW, congrats.

I would not tip. It is her civic duty to perform the ceremony so you can view the fee she set as a tip or otherwise remuneration for her time and travel.

Maybe I should have mentioned,-
She is charging us $75 to come over to the house already. My tip question is for whether we should give more than that.
Thanks.

Many wedding vendors and such received pretty high tips, depending on if it is already included in the bill or if it is an employee vs. the owner and other things. I don't know all the etiquette, but I would do a search on tipping and "wedding vendors" to look for the consensus on the JOP. I did read that religious officients should not be tipped but a donation to the church made in their name. But the JOP, I don't know. I personally try to play it conservatively when in doubt about ettiquette.

Maybe this will help?
http://www.tipping.org/tips/TipsPageWedding.html