How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost (2023)?

Asking how much does a wedding planner cost is like asking what’s the best flavor of wedding cake. The answer is it depends on what you want. 

First, you’ll need to determine a wedding budget and then factor in how much of that you're willing to put towards the wedding planner cost.

If you’re one of those super savvy, ridiculously organized, time efficient, super-humans who already know everything about how to plan a wedding, you may think a wedding planner is redundant. 

But here’s the thing, they may cost a little extra, but a good one will be worth it. If you’re not convinced, take a look at a basic wedding planning checklist then times the stress level by ten because seeing what needs to be done is completely different than figuring out how to make it happen. 

Average Cost of Wedding Planner Guide

When you start looking into assistance on your big day, you’ll want to decide what you really need. Knowing the wedding planner cost is dependent on the services you’re looking for and all the items you’ve added to your wedding planning checklist. 

If you have no idea how to plan a wedding and want someone to be there from the initial concept, you’ll go with a full wedding planner who will hold your around for ten months or more, and you’ll pay $3,000 to $12,000 to have every detail taken care of for you. 

If that’s not quite in your wedding budget, you can opt for a partial planner who comes in about a month before the big day to help you with final details for around $1250 to $6000. 

Those of you who prefer the hands-on experience may opt for a day-of wedding planner. They will become involved the week of the wedding and have little to do with planning but play a large role in execution. Starting at $800 to $3400, this choice is best for the tight wedding budget. 

So, what is the average cost of a wedding planner? The polls are at $1000 - $2500, unless of course you choose a destination wedding package that rolls your wedding planner into their price. 

If you’re looking for this option, many of the top all inclusive resorts will provide just what you’re looking for, but be careful, they aren’t all created equally.

Check out the Advantage of Having a Destination Wedding.

Can They Save You Money?

Is the wedding planner cost worth it? Setting aside peace of mind during a high stress period of time, yes they are well worth it because they know how to plan a wedding. 

This means they not only save you stress, they save you time and money. A professional planner knows their city. They will have advice and connections for venues, caterers, florists, dress shops, and everything else on that wedding planning checklist.

When you consider how much does a wedding planner cost in relation to how much a mistake on your wedding day will cost, followed by the therapy after the big event, the average cost of a wedding planner no longer seems like a big deal. 

You may be interested in 9 Different Wedding Attire Ideas. 

The Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner

1. They save time and effort! 
2. Reduce your own levels of stress. 
3. They bring expertise and experience to the table. 
4. The can help with budgeting and negotiations with vendors.
5. They ensure smooth execution of your wedding day so that you can truly enjoy the moment.

Type of Wedding

Lastly, you’ll want to consider what type of wedding you’re planning. If it’s in your backyard with close family and friends, a day-of planner may be the easy choice, but if you’re wanting white sand beaches and blue skies, check out those who specialize in destination weddings. 

They will be worth every penny to put together the perfect day while you're a thousand miles away. 

Read about Luxury Weddings in Cabo.