How Much Do Wedding Planners Cost?
The price tag for services of a wedding planner are affordable. This is especially true when you consider what it would cost in difficulty and displeasure if things went wrong. The bride and groom could be overwhelmed with matrimonial details without the help of a professional with nuptial know-how. Make your special day easier by hiring an experienced wedding planner.
- Full Service Wedding Planner - If you want to hire a full-service wedding planner to arrange everything from start to finish, it will cost anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of your total bridal budget. The expenditure will be upwards of $5,000 to $10,000 for a popular and experienced professional. Price will vary depending on the location, scale and extravagence of your special event.
- Day-Of Wedding Planner - For a flat fee of about $1,500, a wedding planner specifically hired for the day of the wedding will make sure the entire day goes smoothly. This professional will create a timeline, verify details and manage vendors for you. If your day planner charges by a percentage, your fee will be close to 5 percent the overall cost.
- Wedding Consultant - For help with planning, budgeting, a timeline and a schedule, your choice might be to hire a wedding consultant. Although they share their wisdom and expert advice, you will still be responsible for doing the footwork. Attending meetings, making phone calls and arranging all of the final details will be the task of the bride and groom. The cost of this service will vary according to your budget, location and the size of your wedding, but will probably run around 10 percent of the total cost.
The good news is that most wedding planners will only expect a small down payment to begin organizing the event. The balance will be billed in increments according to need, as long as the total price has been paid by the day of the ceremony. Have a well-written contract that specifies duties performed, price for services and adequate protection clauses.
Be wary of wedding planners getting commissions from vendors. Even though the cost to you might be less, you could be getting unqualified vendors. It is always advisable to pay more for a dependable consultant with credible references and high quality work.