Lucrative Career Path: Wedding Planner's Salary Secrets

Wedding planning can be a lucrative career, with salaries varying depending on experience, location, and other factors. The average wedding planner makes around $32,000 per year, but this can range from $14 per hour to $420,000 per year. Experienced and successful planners can easily make upwards of $100,000 annually, with some charging a percentage of the total wedding budget, which is typically between 12% and 20%.

There are several ways to increase earnings as a wedding planner, such as getting professionally certified, building an online presence, and offering additional services. However, it's important to note that wedding planning often involves working evenings and weekends, and it can be mentally and physically challenging due to the high expectations and demands of clients.

Hourly rate

The average starting hourly rate for a wedding planner is $75 per hour, according to Wedding Wire research. Billable hours include consultations with clients, onsite visits, and planning the event. However, the number of hours spent on each wedding will vary depending on the planner's experience, the complexity of the wedding, and the services offered.

For example, a planner who charges an average of $2000 per wedding and spends approximately 40 hours working on it will earn $50 per hour. On the other hand, if a planner charges $4000 for a wedding but spends 50 hours working on it, their hourly rate jumps to $80.

It's important to note that wedding planners often offer packages or charge a percentage of the total wedding budget instead of an hourly rate. Additionally, factors such as location, experience, and target audience can also impact a wedding planner's earnings.

Percentage fee

Charging a percentage fee is standard practice in the wedding planning industry. Wedding planner Kimiko Hosaki of K.H & co states that this fee is typically 20% of the overall budget. However, the percentage can vary, with some planners charging 12% and others charging up to 20%.

For example, if a couple has a $30,000 budget, the planner would make $3,600 with a 12% fee and $6,000 with a 20% fee. This number can fluctuate depending on the size and scope of the wedding, as well as the planner's experience and expertise.

Charging a percentage fee makes sense for beginning wedding planners who may not know how long it will take to execute their tasks. This knowledge often comes with experience, so a percentage fee ensures that planners are compensated fairly for their work.

It is important for wedding planners to document the time spent on tasks and the tasks themselves accurately, especially when starting. This can be done through a simple spreadsheet or with advanced tools such as Clockify.

Experience

In addition to the number of weddings, the size and scope of the weddings also play a role in a planner's income. A wedding planner who handles larger weddings with bigger budgets will naturally earn more than someone planning smaller, more intimate weddings.

Another way experience impacts a wedding planner's income is through the development of relationships with vendors and venues. Experienced planners often have established connections with vendors and venues, which can lead to referrals and repeat business. They may also be able to negotiate better deals for their clients, resulting in cost savings or additional value.

Lastly, experience can lead to specialisation in the wedding planning industry. Some planners choose to focus on specific types of events, such as destination weddings, LGBTQIA+ weddings, or eco-friendly weddings. This specialisation can allow them to charge higher rates and attract a specific type of client.

In conclusion, experience plays a crucial role in determining a wedding planner's salary. It allows planners to take on more weddings, work with larger budgets, develop valuable connections, and specialise in specific types of events. As a result, experienced wedding planners have the potential to earn significantly more than their less experienced counterparts.

Location

The location of a wedding planner's business will play a significant role in determining their profit ceiling. For instance, the average cost of a wedding in Mississippi in 2019 was $15,475, while the average cost of a wedding in Hawaii was $29,605. This also applies to certain areas within states. Wedding planners in larger cities like New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco tend to make more money than those in smaller towns due to the higher cost of living and increased demand.

Similarly, wedding planners in larger cities in other countries tend to earn more. For example, in Australia, wedding planners in Sydney and Melbourne are likely to make more than those in smaller towns or rural areas. The same goes for Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand.

In the United States, the average salary for a wedding planner is approximately $42,800 per year, with the typical range being between $28,000 and $71,000. In Canada, the average wedding planner earns around $33,500 per year, with a range of $26,000 to $43,000. In the United Kingdom, the average salary is about £21,384, with an annual range of £16,000 to £29,000. Lastly, in Australia, wedding planners earn an average of $72,500, with a typical range of $53,000 to $88,000.

Services offered

Wedding planners can offer a variety of services, and the more comprehensive the package, the higher the rate they can charge. Here is a list of services that wedding planners can offer:

• Full-service planning: This includes everything from start to finish, such as venue selection, vendor management, budget management, and day-of coordination. Full-service planners usually charge higher rates, typically starting at $2000 per wedding and going up to $5000 or more.
• Partial planning: Wedding planners may also offer partial planning services, which can include helping with specific tasks such as creating a timeline, handling vendor contracts, or providing design services. Partial planners may charge between $1000 and $3000 per wedding.
• Month-of coordination: This service typically includes handling the final details and communications with vendors in the weeks leading up to the wedding and being on-site for the event. Month-of coordinators usually charge a few hundred dollars for their services.
• Day-of coordination: Wedding planners can also offer day-of coordination services to ensure that the event runs smoothly. This may include overseeing vendors, executing the timeline, and handling any last-minute issues that arise.
• Design services: Some wedding planners specialise in design, helping couples create a vision for their wedding and executing it through mood boards, themes, layouts, and colour palettes.
• Vendor recommendations and discounts: Wedding planners often have relationships with vendors and can offer recommendations and sometimes even discounted rates. They can also help negotiate contracts and prices.
• Budget management: Wedding planners can assist couples in creating and sticking to a budget, providing realistic expectations and helping to prioritise spending.
• Timeline creation: Planners can create a detailed timeline for the wedding day and ensure that everything runs on schedule.
• Handling logistics: This includes tasks such as tracking RSVPs, creating seating charts, addressing stationery, and setting up and breaking down decor.
• Saving time: Wedding planners can save couples time by handling the planning process, allowing them to focus on other commitments.

Frequently asked questions