I have huge respect for wedding planners. No luxury wedding should ever be without one, and I honestly believe planners are worth their weight in gold. The cost of hiring a wedding planner will vary based on experience, style and approach. We’ve done a little research into how much wedding planners cost – with help from luxury UK and destination wedding planner Elegante by Michelle J. Read on for an honest look at wedding planner prices and helpful tips in finding the best wedding planner for you.

Wedding planners often cost 10-15% of your wedding spend

This depends on experience and skill, and the most in demand wedding planners are likely to be the ones who charge the most.

Some wedding planners will have set fees for different packages (e.g. full planning, or on-the-day coordination).

In Europe more than the UK, planners may take commissions from your suppliers, meaning you’ll pay your wedding planner less, but be tied to their recommended suppliers (florists, hire items, photography, catering etc.)

Wedding planners’ experience and skill set are priceless

It should be recognised that you are paying an expert for something you don’t have the knowledge or experience to take on yourself. Just as you wouldn’t fix your own washing machine, fill your own teeth or even photograph your own wedding, it is inadvisable to try and handle the entire planning journey yourselves.

The cost of a wedding planner reflects not just the hours of work that goes into planning a wedding – anything from 100 – 250 hours is common. Planner fees account for the amazing supplier relationships they’ve built over their careers, and their in depth knowledge of venue sourcing, timelines and logistics.

Planning a large or luxury wedding without a planner would take you far longer: knowing where to hire everything from chairs to glassware, how to work with a florist and caterer and so on is a mountainous learning curve!

Understanding the percentage spend pricing structure for wedding planners

Michelle explains that wedding budgets tend to increase the more guests are invited. Bigger weddings cost more – and that’s down to:

• catering and venue hire costs per head
• styling and decor to fill a larger space
• the practicalities of inviting more guests, coordinating responses etc

A percentage fee for your wedding planner means their costs scale up with the amount of work involved: more guests, more complexity, more time spent on planning your wedding.

A note on fixed costs for wedding planner services

A wedding planner charging a fixed fee for their services will stipulate exactly what is included in their package(s) – number of hours being top of that list. If you book someone based on a smaller wedding which then escalates in size (as can often happen), you might need their help with more aspects of your day. That’s fine if they can upgrade your package to add more time and work, but if they’re fully booked with other weddings it can leave you in a bit of a fix.

Choosing a wedding planner based on price alone is unwise

This applies to any wedding supplier, from your outfits to your photographer and especially your wedding planner. You will be spending a lot of time in their company, so it’s really important you both get along with your wedding planner.

Look at previous weddings they’ve planned, to see if their styling approach matches your vision for your day. Are they pure luxury, a little boho, classic and timelessly elegant, or chic and modern?

Ask questions: does your planner speak openly and warmly to answer your concerns about the big questions, and any little worries you have? I’ve always loved Michelle’s approach to wedding planning, that her style is more a hug, not a handshake… as one of our top wedding planners she is instantly welcoming and super approachable.

Check out the suppliers they work with regularly. From wedding stationery to destination florists and favourite photographers, every supplier will have their dream team for different wedding locations and styles. Does their aesthetic fit your dream wedding vibe?

A last word: wedding stress, and fairy godmother wedding planners!

Guides for Brides offers excellent advice about the costs of not  hiring a wedding planner: if you’re planning your entire wedding yourselves (or even worse, by yourself) you’ll sacrifice quality time you could be spending together, and run the risk of overwhelm, stress and anxiety. If you already have a full time job, it’s worth acknowledging that wedding planning is another one.

---

Perhaps you stumbled across this article because you were about to choose a wedding planner based on cost. I hope I’ve helped you to see this decision in a new light! Understanding what a wedding planner is worth, for the time and stress they’ll save you, and for the effortless beauty they’ll bring to your wedding, will help you choose your perfect wedding planner for their experience, expertise and for the marvellous human being that they are!

“We cannot recommend Michelle highly enough! If you want an unforgettable wedding with zero stress and everything going to plan – be sure to work with Michelle!! Simply put she is just the best in the business, has a great network of suppliers and works tirelessly to ensure your wedding doesn’t just go smoothly, but reaches levels of excellence you don’t even expect. We couldn’t have wanted for more!” ~ Claudia & Dan (their breathtaking Avington Park wedding is on Wedding Chicks here)

Inspired by Elegante by Michelle J