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Should wedding guests tip the bartender? Here’s what etiquette experts say you should do
While a night out at a bar or restaurant can call for a standard 15% to 20% gratuity, wedding reception dynamics are entirely different. As you prepare to celebrate the happy couples in your life this summer, Fox News Digital spoke to an etiquette expert to answer one awkward question: Do you need to bring cash to tip the bartender?
According to national catering cost guidelines from wedding planning platform WeddingWire, couples are advised to pre-pay a 15% to 20% gratuity directly to their food and beverage vendors if it isn’t already built into their venue contract.
Because of this pre-arranged fee, guests are generally not expected to pay out of pocket.
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“As a guest at a wedding, or any other formal occasion, it’s bad form to expect your guest to pull out cash or a credit card,” Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Texas in San Antonio, told Fox News Digital
When planning a wedding, hosts generally choose between an open bar, where the hosts cover all alcohol costs, and a cash bar, where guests buy their own drinks.
“When planning a wedding, it’s important to know the difference between an open bar – where guests are served by a bartender and the gratuity has been factored in to the cost of the bartending service,” Gottsman siad. “This type of situation is the most traditional and appreciated type,” she added.
Conversely, a cash bar is usually a budget-saving measure.
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“A cash bar is generally offered for those couples who are on a budget and offering some food and beverages but cutting costs by not paying for the liquor,” Gottsman said.
Some couples compromise with a partial open bar, offering complimentary beer and wine but requiring guests to pay for liquor.
In that specific scenario, the financial responsibility shifts back to the attendee.
“This would require a tip jar since the couple is not paying for gratuity on anything other than beer and wine,” Gottsman said.
Gottsman believes a tip jar has no place at an open bar reception, as it forces guests to second-guess the hosts’ hospitality.
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“At a wedding, if gratuity is covered, guests feel pressured to tip when there is a tip jar,” Gottsman said.
“I do not like a tip jar present at a wedding unless it’s a cash bar.”
“It’s in poor taste to put out an additional tip jar, as well as ask guests to pay for their own drinks,” she says, adding that when guests are forced to pay, they are treated like a “patron or customer” rather than a guest.
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However, keeping a small amount of cash on hand is still a smart security blanket for peripheral services. Even if the hosts have covered the baseline gratuities, certain situations might warrant a little extra.
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“There may be valet service and although gratuity is factored in, for a special service such as leaving your car up front and close, a discreet, additional tip may be given,” Gottsman suggested.
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Ultimately, the best way couples can avoid guest confusion is through clear communication. If a cash or partial bar is on the itinerary, industry experts recommend noting it clearly on the wedding website.
“It’s important to let your guests know what to expect so they can come prepared with cash,” Gottsman said.
“Generally, valet, coat check and bar set up is part of the wedding experience and no tip is necessary, unless otherwise stated on the wedding website.”
More than 25 years after it debuted as one of Universal Orlando’s most iconic themed lands, the Lost Continent is beginning a phased closure at Islands of Adventure.
Demolition work has started inside the aging land. Footage from a local station’s news helicopter showed an excavator positioned next to a pile of rubble, according to multiple reports.
“In the coming months, venues and experiences within Lost Continent will permanently close in phases to make way for a new themed area,” a Universal Orlando spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
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“This will include the closure of Mythos Restaurant in 2027,” a statement also noted.
The Lost Continent opened with Islands of Adventure in 1999, helping to define the park’s early identity with mythology-inspired architecture, towering stone facades and elaborate storytelling rooted in ancient legends.
For years, it served as one of the resort’s most atmospheric lands, blending fantasy adventure, cutting-edge effects and live entertainment, according to Universal Orlando.
The area was also home to several fan-favorite attractions.
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The Dueling Dragons roller coasters — later re-themed as Dragon Challenge after the arrival of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — were among the resort’s most iconic thrill rides.
They were famous for their intertwined layouts, synchronized dispatches and near-miss elements, per Universal Orlando and Wizarding World history pages.
Poseidon’s Fury was another signature attraction, drawing crowds with dramatic water tunnel effects, bursts of fire and live actors.
But over the last 15 years, Universal has steadily chipped away at the land.
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In 2010, the Dueling Dragons coasters were re-themed as Dragon Challenge as part of the neighboring Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion, according to Universal Orlando.
That attraction ultimately closed in 2017 to make way for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, now one of the resort’s most popular rides.
The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad, a stunt-heavy live show, said goodbye in 2018.
Poseidon’s Fury closed in 2023, according to Universal Orlando’s retired attractions page.
Mythos Restaurant is expected to remain open through 2027 as part of Universal’s phased closure plan, according to the company press release.
“Universal Orlando Resort is continuing its unprecedented momentum as it prepares for a slate of compelling new guest offerings across the destination, ranging from new themed areas to delicious eateries,” the resort said in a release shared with Fox News Digital.
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Universal announced the resort’s Horror Make-Up Show at Universal Studios Florida is temporarily closed to prepare for what the company calls a “reimagined experience.”
The updated production “will showcase a mix of classic and modern horror properties along with shockingly fun surprises.“
Hogwarts Castle at Islands of Adventure has seen ongoing maintenance and refurbishment work in recent years, according to Orlando Informer.
Universal Orlando will debut Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift in 2027, a high-speed roller coaster based on the blockbuster movies, the press release noted.
The demolition drew mixed reactions from Universal visitors.
“Glad it’s finally happening because it’s needed it. I mean, the two attractions have been closed for 8 years and 3 years,” one Reddit user said.
But many fans were sad to see Lost Continent go.
“Goodbye, Lost Continent, you will always be my favorite show,” said one TikTok user.
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“RIP, Lost Continent. Thank you for everything,” another said.
A third TikTok user chimed in with these words: “The end of an era.”
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