How much does a wedding planner generally cost?

I am an event coordinator and I have a few tips on choosing the best wedding planner. Cost is definitely a factor, but you should not rule out a good planner due to cost. A rule of thumb is that he/she should charge no more than 15-20% of your budget. Depending on the area that you live in, you may be able to get away with a planner charging 10% of your budget. If a planner is charging a flat rate, he or she will base this off of the number of hours they will need to plan your wedding. For full service, plan on an average of 80 hours. For example, if a planner is charging $ 25 per hour, expect to pay $ 2,000. If your wedding is going to be more extensive, very original, or during peak season, expect to may a higher dollar amount per hour. If the planner has to travel, expect to pay mileage and gas fees for him/her and their staff. If you need extra assistance, plan on paying overtime. This should all be explained during the initial consultation (which is usually free) and spelled out in detail in the contract.

I would not recommend choosing planners who base their prices off of your budget. I would recommend planners who base their prices off of the actual job. Just because you have a budget of $ 50,000 does not mean that he/she will need to put in $ 10,000 worth of work. Each wedding is different, so the cost of planning each wedding should be different as well.

Most planners offer free initial consultations. He/she will use this time to get a feel for what services you need from her/him, what your overall budget is/should be, and if you are a good fit. This is also an interview process. You will be working with this person very closely for the next year or more, so you want to make sure that your personalities fit.

If the standard cost of a full service wedding planner in your areas is too high for you, consider using the best planner for day of or partial consulting. I recommend that every bride turn over the reigns on her wedding day to a professional and leave the orchestrating to someone else. Day of prices are usually based on 2 consultations (to get the planner up to speed on what should be happening) and about 8 hours on the day of the wedding. Partial planning is usually about 5 consultations, coordination of the rehearsal dinner and 8 hours on the wedding day. Prices are usually a flat rate, but I still recommend using a planner that bases their prices on the type of the job.