A wedding planner can cost anything from a modest fee for day-of coordination to a five-figure sum for full-service planning in a big city. There is no single number that fits every wedding, and the averages published online disagree with each other.
What is consistent is how planners charge. This guide explains the three types of service, the two ways they are priced and the questions to ask before you sign.
The three types of planning service
1. Full-service planning
The planner works with you from the start: budget, venue, vendors, timeline and the wedding day. It is the most expensive option and the one that saves you the most time.
2. Partial planning
You have already booked some of the big pieces, such as the venue and the caterer. The planner takes over the rest and runs the day.
3. Day-of coordination
You plan everything. The coordinator takes your plan and runs it on the day. Most start a few weeks before the wedding to confirm vendors and timings. It is the cheapest option.
Flat fee or percentage of the budget
| Pricing model | How it works | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Flat fee | A fixed price agreed at the start. | What is included, and the cost of extra hours or meetings. |
| Percentage | Commonly 10% to 20% of the wedding budget. | Which costs the percentage is calculated on. |
| Hourly | Used for consultations or small jobs. | An estimate of total hours in writing. |
Location changes everything. A full-service planner in New York or Los Angeles charges far more than one in a smaller city. Get at least two written quotes for the same scope.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What exactly is included, and how many meetings?
- How many people from the team will be at the wedding, and for how many hours?
- If you charge a percentage, which costs is it calculated on?
- Do you receive a commission or referral fee from any vendor?
- Are travel and team meals extra?
- What happens if we change the date or cancel?
When a planner is worth it
A planner usually pays off for a destination wedding, a large guest list or a couple with little time. A good planner knows local vendors and prices, and can save more than they cost.
If you have time and enjoy it, you can plan without one. You need an order of work: our step-by-step wedding planning guide, a month-by-month wedding checklist and a wedding day timeline for whoever runs the day. To see where a planner fits in the total, read how much a wedding costs.
The part nobody should do by hand
With or without a planner, someone has to chase RSVPs and meal choices. On Wedding30s each guest replies on the site, chooses a meal and lists allergies, and you download the list for the caterer. The site costs €49, paid once, and you can build it and see it before you pay. Create your wedding website.
Frequently asked questions
How much do wedding planners charge?
It depends on the service. Day-of coordination is the cheapest. Full-service planning costs the most and is charged as a flat fee or as a percentage of the wedding budget. Prices also vary a lot between big cities and smaller towns.
What percentage of the budget does a wedding planner charge?
Planners who charge a percentage commonly quote somewhere between 10% and 20% of the wedding budget. Ask which costs the percentage is calculated on, because it does not always include every vendor.
What does a day-of coordinator do?
A day-of coordinator takes the plan you have already made and runs it on the day: timings, vendors and anything that goes wrong. Most start a few weeks before the wedding, not on the morning itself.
Do wedding planners get commission from vendors?
Some do. It is not wrong in itself, but you should know. Ask directly whether the planner receives a commission or referral fee from any vendor, and ask for it in the contract.
Is a wedding planner worth it?
Often yes for a destination wedding, a large wedding or a couple with little time. If you have time and like planning, a checklist, a budget and a wedding website with RSVP cover much of the work.