How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost?

Some professionals take complete control of the wedding planning, ensuring the preparations are hassle-free for the couple; others only assist the couple at certain stages of the planning.

When choosing your wedding planning package and billing method, consider your total wedding budget, guest count, and how much time you can invest.

Hiring a wedding planner isn’t mandatory. Some couples handle the planning themselves and nail it. However, a planner can save you plenty of time and relieve stress, which is priceless.

Full-Service

Wedding planners provide a different service range and charge accordingly. Full-service or full-time wedding planners are the most expensive option because they work with the couple throughout the entire event planning timeline.

A full-service wedding planner helps the couple choose the venue, vendors, decorations, entertainment and fit everything in their budget. It’s a labor-intensive and expertise-demanding process.

The planner must have excellent time management and logistics skills to coordinate the entire event and ensure that all vendors work well together for a flawless wedding.

Full-service wedding planners spend 80-200 hours on average on the communication with the couple, vendor search, coordination, and execution of the plan. Many wedding planners charge an hourly rate ranging from $40 to $300.

Therefore, a full-service wedding planner may cost you anywhere between $3,200 to well over $15,000. You may also come across flat fee packages with an average cost of $4,000.

Note that wedding planner fees don’t include the vendor rates. The planner will select vendors that fit your budget and negotiate with them but not pay them out of pocket.

However, some wedding planners provide all-inclusive services. These are essentially full-service packages, but the price also includes vendor rates, and the planner takes the burden of transferring payments off the couple’s shoulders.

Day-Of Wedding Planner

Sometimes, planning the wedding isn’t the problem, but ensuring the correct plan execution is. That’s a typical case with smaller weddings.

Consider hiring a day-of wedding planner if you search for vendors and manage all organizational points yourself.

Day-of wedding planners, also known as coordinators, charge from $75 to $250 per hour.

With an average wedding duration of 6-8 hours, expect to pay from $450 to $2,000. The price depends on the size of the event and the coordinator’s professionalism.

Wedding Consulting

The purpose of wedding consulting is the opposite of day-of wedding coordination. While the latter is suitable for organized couples who prefer to plan the event themselves, wedding consulting is ideal if you have no event planning experience.

A wedding consultant helps the couple plan their wedding but doesn’t track the plan execution.

They advise the couple on the logistics, vendor selection, ceremony and reception timeline, and budget but don’t communicate or negotiate with the vendors directly.

In other words, wedding consulting is just that – consulting. The couple can ask advice but must manage the organizational questions on their own.

Wedding consultants usually charge an hourly rate, and it’s significantly lower than that of full-time and part-time wedding planners, ranging from $16 to $39.

Month-Of Wedding Planner

As the name suggests, a month-of wedding planner is only involved in the planning process in the last month before the big day.

The couple picks the venue and vendors, manages the guest list, and handles all organizational questions on their own.

Meanwhile, the wedding planner helps finalize last-minute details and ensures correct plan execution.

They are responsible for handling any unexpected changes, managing rehearsal, assisting with seating charts, and communicating with vendors.

Same as day-of wedding coordinators, month-of wedding planners typically charge an hourly rate of $75-$250, and the total cost largely depends on the amount of work required.

Destination Wedding Coordinator

Many brides dream of saying “I do” on a tropical beach, in scenic mountains, or in Venice, but planning a destination wedding has numerous pitfalls. Here’s where a destination wedding planner comes in handy.

Unfortunately, not every full-service or part-time planner will agree to take the responsibility of planning a destination wedding. Many planners use their local contacts to organize the event.

On the other hand, destination wedding planners have experience working in a specific location. They can advise you on visa requirements, the best hotels and restaurants, and local traditions.

Destination wedding planner hourly rates are about the same as top-tier full-time planners but also include travel expenses.

How Costs Are Calculated

Regardless of the service type, wedding planners can have different ways of pricing calculation. Some charge a flat fee, although the rate may differ for every couple because each wedding is unique.

Flat fees are the most common with full-service planners, but some part-time and day-of coordinators also offer flat-fee packages.

The benefits of a flat fee wedding planning package are apparent – you know precisely how much you’ll pay and can compare the pricing with other planners in your area.

Furthermore, flat-fee packages often end up being cheaper than hourly services.

Overall, flat fees bring no surprises to the couple unless the price severely differs from the state average. If a planner charges twice less than everyone else, there’s likely a reason for such a low price.

From the wedding planner’s perspective, a flat fee often means a limited earning potential and the need to put in extra effort without rewards.

For this reason, many wedding planners charge an hourly rate. It’s great for couples who know exactly how long they will use the planner’s services – a day, a week, or a month.

However, paying an hourly rate for full-service wedding planning may lead to unpredicted expenses.

Not that wedding planners will try to rip you off, but the communication and negotiation with vendors and plan execution don’t always go smoothly, requiring extra time.

Therefore, hourly billing isn’t a good option for couples who want to keep the costs under control – and frankly, who doesn’t?

Lastly, some wedding planners charge a set percentage of the couple’s total wedding budget, usually ranging from 10% to 20%. The percentage may be charged in addition to a flat fee.

The percentage method is arguably the most beneficial for both parties. The couple knows how much they must pay and can budget accordingly. Most importantly, the price is always justified.

Couples with a modest budget likely want a small, laid-back wedding that doesn’t require extensive planning.

In contrast, a luxury wedding with a high budget will probably be attended by hundreds of guests and requires immense attention to detail.

If your wedding budget is $15,000, you may pay about $150-$300 for a wedding planner’s services if they charge a percentage. And if your budget is $300,000, you will have to pay $3,000-$6,000.

Some wedding planners may charge extra for out-of-pocket expenses such as parking fees, tolls, mileage, and car rentals. Before signing a contract, ask your wedding planner about any additional costs to avoid surprises.

Factors Affecting The Cost

The wedding planner rates vary drastically, which may be confusing for many couples. Breaking down the factors that comprise wedding planning costs can help you understand the reason for such a price difference.

The most apparent factor affecting wedding planner rates is their experience. Like in every industry, beginners charge less than professionals. However, hiring a beginner to lead your wedding planning is risky.

Experienced planners know how to handle unexpected circumstances, have a comprehensive contact web, and can accurately estimate the wedding day timeline.

Furthermore, they are experienced in negotiation and can actually save you a lot of money on vendor services.

Another factor that plays a significant role in wedding planning pricing is your location. Professionals in cities always charge more than those from small towns due to different living costs.

The rates also differ by state – couples from New York and California tend to pay significantly more than couples from Mississippi or Oklahoma.

Of course, the higher the guest count, the higher the price. Sometimes, the rate increases disproportionately to the increase in the guest count. A larger event involves more vendors and demands greater attention to detail.

Some couples postpone booking their wedding planner, thinking they would save money by cutting hours, but that’s a mistake. If the planner is short on time, they have to work long hours or add staff, which comes at an extra fee.

Do You Need to Tip The Wedding Planner?

There’s no need to tip the wedding planner as long as they act within their service package. Wedding planners provide services for a set fee, just like lawyers or doctors.

However, sometimes, wedding planners go out of their way to help the couple. This is especially common when casualties occur, and the planner’s experience can save the day.

In this case, tipping can be appropriate. But a positive review is an equally great way to express gratitude for your wonderful wedding.