Wedding Planners: Worth The Cost?

Planning a wedding can be a stressful and time-consuming task. Hiring a wedding planner can help ease the burden and make the process smoother. But is it cheaper to hire a wedding planner? The answer depends on various factors, including the type of planner, location, and level of service required.

The cost of a wedding planner can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, with full-service planners being the most expensive option. Couples on a tight budget may opt for partial-service planners or day-of coordinators, who charge less but still provide valuable assistance.

While hiring a wedding planner may seem like an additional expense, it can also save money by providing industry discounts and helping couples stay within their budget. Wedding planners can also save time, which is especially valuable for busy couples who may not have the bandwidth to plan every detail themselves.

Ultimately, the decision to hire a wedding planner depends on individual needs and preferences. For some, the peace of mind and convenience that comes with hiring a planner are well worth the cost. For others, a more hands-on approach may be preferable to stay within a tight budget.

Full-service wedding planner

A full-service wedding planner is an expert organizer, negotiator, planner, and coordinator who helps couples prepare for and execute their wedding. They are involved from the proposal to the honeymoon, handling everything from colour palettes to finding the perfect venue to overseeing festivities on the day.

The cost of a full-service wedding planner varies depending on location and the services required, but they are generally the most expensive type of wedding planner to hire. Prices can range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more, with some planners charging up to $25,000 or a percentage of the overall wedding investment.

When deciding whether to hire a full-service wedding planner, it's important to consider your budget, venue, guest list, and how much time you can invest in planning. Full-service planners can save you time and money, but they are a significant investment.

To find the right full-service wedding planner, it's recommended to meet with 2-4 planners to ensure a good working relationship and shared vision. Asking questions about their services, communication preferences, and experience will help determine if they are a good fit.

Partial-service wedding planner

A partial-service wedding planner is a worthy alternative for couples who don't have room in their budget for a full-time planner. Partial wedding planners (also known as à la carte pros) can help with specific tasks, like managing a wedding budget, offering advice, and organising the venue floor plan. They are typically less expensive than full-service planners, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $8,000, or even upwards of $10,000 depending on location and services.

Partial-service wedding planning can be offered in various ways. For example, a planner might offer a set number of planning hours, such as 10-20 hours of professional help during the process. Alternatively, they might offer a certain number of meetings to attend vendor meetings with the couple. Partial planning can also include monthly or quarterly check-ins with the planner to ensure the couple is on track.

A partial planning package could include creating a wedding planning checklist, supplying vendor recommendations, designing a venue diagram, constructing a detailed wedding day timeline, and confirming details with vendors. Planners can also facilitate the ceremony rehearsal, coordinate and assist with the setup, and act as a point of contact for all vendors.

Day-of wedding coordinator

A day-of wedding coordinator is a person who is responsible for making sure the wedding day or weekend is executed perfectly. They are the manager on duty, overseeing vendors' work and making sure they do their jobs according to what was contracted. They are also the primary point of contact for all wedding vendors, fielding any questions the vendors have so that the couple doesn't have to deal with them.

The day-of wedding coordinator's responsibilities include:

• Creating and sticking to timelines
• Troubleshooting problems that arise on the day of or right before the wedding
• Ensuring all decorative items are in place
• Ensuring everyone is lined up for the ceremony
• Cueing the officiant and musicians for key moments
• Overseeing the breakdown and cleanup of the venue

The cost of a day-of wedding coordinator varies depending on their responsibilities and the scale of the wedding. They typically charge between $800 and $3,000 for their services, with the higher end of that range including assistance with rehearsal dinner prep.

While a day-of wedding coordinator can be a valuable addition to your wedding planning team, it's important to note that they are not involved in the planning process from day one. If you're looking for more comprehensive assistance, you may want to consider hiring a full-service wedding planner or a month-of wedding planner.

Wedding planner costs by tier

According to Educate, Empower, Encourage, a members-only wedding vendor community and education group, wedding planner costs vary by tier.

• Budget Tier: Wedding planners in this tier work primarily on lower-budget events, and their packages are priced accordingly. Planners in this tier might charge a flat fee ranging from $5,000 to $7,000.
• Middle Tier: Vendors in this tier might charge a flat fee of $10,000 or $15,000, or take 10 to 15 percent of a larger budget.
• Luxury Tier: Vendors in this tier typically charge a percentage of the total budget, with a minimum baseline budget of $15,000, $25,000, or more. They might collect 15 to 20 percent of that as their fee.

Full-Service Wedding Planner

Full-service wedding planners are the most comprehensive option, covering everything from choosing a colour palette to finding a venue and overseeing festivities on the day. Depending on the planner's market tier, full-service wedding planners can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 or more.

Destination Wedding Planner

Destination wedding planners are usually full-service and are typically priced accordingly. According to The Knot's 2023 Real Weddings Study, the average cost of a destination wedding planner was $2,700.

Month-of Wedding Planner

Month-of wedding planners offer monthly coordination packages, which might include help with final walk-throughs, tastings, reception layouts, and more. These planners typically fall between full-service and day-of packages in terms of cost, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $8,000.

Day-of Wedding Coordinator

Day-of wedding coordinators handle logistics and solve any problems that arise on the wedding day. They are usually offered through your venue and can cost anywhere from $800 to $3,000, depending on their involvement.

Partial Wedding Planner

A partial wedding planner comes on board about a month before the wedding and assists with last-minute tasks such as confirming vendors and creating a seating chart. The average starting rate for a partial wedding planner in the US is $1,250, but rates can range from $2,300 to $6,000 for more experienced professionals.

Hourly Rate

Some wedding planners offer their services by the hour, although not all planners provide this option. The average starting hourly rate for a wedding planner is around $75, but higher-end professionals typically charge between $100 and $275 per hour.

How wedding planner costs are calculated

Wedding planner costs are calculated based on several factors, and there is no standard rate. Wedding planners may charge a flat fee, an hourly rate, or a percentage of the total wedding bill. The cost of hiring a wedding planner depends on the type of planner, location, experience, and scope of work.

Flat Fee

Flat fees for wedding planners can vary depending on the planner's market tier and the complexity of the wedding. Some professionals work on lower-budget events and offer packages priced accordingly, ranging from $5,000 to $7,000. Planners in the middle tier might charge a flat fee of $10,000 to $15,000. Vendors in the luxury market often charge a percentage of the total wedding budget, with baseline budgets starting at $15,000 to $25,000 or more.

Hourly Rate

Wedding planners may also charge an hourly rate for their services, which can vary depending on their location and experience. The average hourly rate for a planner can range from $75 to $275 per hour, with rates in some locations, such as New York City, being significantly higher than in other places, such as Oaxaca, Mexico.

Percentage of Total Wedding Bill

Wedding planners may also charge a percentage of the couple's overall wedding investment, which is typically between 20% to 25% of the total wedding budget. This method takes into account the planner's individual business model and the scope of work required for the wedding.

Other Factors

Other factors that can impact the cost of a wedding planner include the location of the wedding, the scope of work, experience, and expertise. The cost of a wedding planner can also depend on the type of planner hired, such as a full-time, partial, month-of, or day-of coordinator. Full-time planners typically charge more since they are involved from the initial planning stages, while day-of coordinators only handle logistics and day-of execution.

Frequently asked questions