Average Cost of Wedding Planner: What You Need to Know
Wedding planning can be extremely challenging. Wedding planners can help. These wedding industry professionals can help you realize your wedding vision, holding your hand through the wedding planning process from the moment you get engaged right up until the wedding day.
However, suppose you know your total wedding budget is modest. In that case, you might wonder if a wedding planner is a luxury you can afford. How much do wedding planners charge?
Here’s everything you need to know about the average cost of wedding planner services and how to decide if this is a cost your budget can accommodate.
What You Will Learn
How Much is a Wedding Planner?
According to The Knot’s 2023 Real Wedding Study, the average cost of a wedding planner is $2,100. However, remember that this is an average, and wedding planner fees can vary wildly.
Some couples may spend over $10,000 for a wedding planner, depending on factors like services offered and location. For example, the study states that the wedding planner cost was higher for a destination wedding.
Other factors that may influence the total cost of hiring a wedding planner include:
- Size of your event
- Any travel necessary
- Extent of design services offered
- Whether or not the planner is taking on other vendor responsibilities (such as clean-up)
Suppose you spend $35,000 on your wedding, the average per the Knot study. In that case, the wedding planner costs are a minimal portion of your budget.
What All Do You Get for the Wedding Planner Fee?
Some wedding planners charge a flat fee, an hourly fee, or a mix of both. However, for the fee, you’ll typically get wedding planner services like:
- Several consultations throughout the process
- Assistance picking a vendor and venues
- Vendor and venue management
- Day-of coordination
You may be able to save money by eliminating some of these services, and opting for a partial wedding planner instead of a full-service wedding planner. You may also ask about any wedding planning packages that wedding planners offer.
The Cheaper Alternative: A Day of Wedding Coordinator
If you do not want to pay for a full-on planner but want some extra help from a professional wedding planner, there is an alternative. A day-of coordinator can help just in the weeks leading up to the big day and manage the event itself rather than planning it.
So, the wedding coordinator won’t help you choose a venue or find the right vendors, but they will perform day-of coordination tasks. They can help you by ensuring the vendors are on time, that they do what they need to do, and that the wedding runs on schedule, exactly as it should.
According to Thumbtack, the average cost for day-of wedding planner coordination is less than $1,000, with the average wedding coordinator costing between $600 and $950.
How to Decide if a Wedding Planner's Fee Will Be Worth it for You
First, how much do wedding planners cost in your area, and what services do they offer? This question can help you decide if the wedding planner rates are comparable to your needs and fit your wedding budget. Let’s look at a few other fundamental questions to ask.
Ask yourself:
- How much room do you have in your budget?
While the average cost of a wedding may be over $30,000 now, many couples spend far less than that. If you’re working with a relatively small budget, you may struggle to find a wedding planner rate that makes sense for your big day.
For example, spending more on the wedding planner than your flowers or dress does not make sense. Think about where to best allocate your money to achieve your wedding vision.
- Can you handle most of the planning on your own?
For the organized, Type A couples or those wanting as much control of the wedding as possible, wedding planning can be a breeze, even a joy, especially if you love the thought of color-coordinated binders and spreadsheets.
For these couples, paying a wedding planner can be a needless expense because you are acting as your wedding planner. Instead of paying a wedding planner, consider hiring a day-of coordinator. They will ensure your wedding day will go off without a hitch and follow your carefully laid plans to come to fruition.
Suggested Reads:
Checklist for a Wedding Coordinator
Is a Wedding Planner Worth It?
How Much Wedding Planner Cost FAQs
What is the average cost of a wedding planner?
The overall average cost of a wedding planner is $2,100. However, the price can vary greatly depending on various factors, including location, event size, and vendors to coordinate.
How much does a wedding planner cost for a destination wedding?
Wedding planners typically charge more for destination weddings — $2,700 instead of $2,100, per The Knot. This is due to the travel required. However, a planner can be invaluable for a destination wedding, especially if the wedding is in a location you’ve never been to.
What does a wedding planner do?
A wedding planner can provide many services, starting at your engagement and continuing until your wedding day. These services include bringing your wedding vision to life, finding and managing venues and vendors, and handling day-of logistics.
How much does a wedding coordinator cost?
The average cost of a wedding coordinator is typically below $1,000.
What’s the difference between a wedding coordinator and a planner?
A wedding coordinator typically only helps ensure the event runs smoothly on the day of. A planner helps plan the wedding from the very start and then additionally helps out on the day of. Because of these differences, a planner is typically more expensive than a coordinator.
One Cost You Can’t Skip Over? Wedding Insurance
Whether you decide a wedding planner is a must for your upcoming event, there’s one cost you won’t want to overlook when wedding planning: wedding insurance. Many venues require it, and you really do need it.
Learn more about wedding insurance and get a quick, free quote now.
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