When paying for a reception, is the service charge the same as the gratuity, or do I need to pay both?

Answer by  Aubs (1089)

The service charge is different than the gratuity. The service charge is the set fee that a company or business will charge for a certain service that they perform. Gratuity would be how you reward the quality of work done for the activity you have chosen. Good etiquette dictates that you need to pay both of these.

Answer by  aiibis (175)

Yes, you would pay them both. The serive charge is the price you pay for someone to provide their services. If the job is done above and beyond the standards then you reward them with a tip or gratuity.

Answer by  Ginny (2251)

I work in a wedding event office. You have to pay both. Service charge could be for the set up of tables or decor, or for the services of a coordinator on site to make sure things go smoothly. The gratuity is a percentage of the total cost of the food and beverage that is then distributed to the servers.

Answer by  Marsha94 (618)

You can be upfront with the business you are working with, and ask them. They will appreciate that you are being thoughtful. But generally, it is not the same thing, and you will still need to pay a gratuity even when you pay a service charge. You could also ask what exactly the service charge covers and tip accordingly.

Answer by  M568460 (45)

you want to pay reception first and then can give the charge as you wish otherwise if the hotel rules is to pay both you want pay it is depend upon the city

Answer by  hpatel08 (7)

I say that a service charge is different from a gratuity since they are two different things. A service charge is added on top of a basic charge for whatever services might have been provided at the reception, while a gratuity is simply gift. So no need to pay both.