How much does a wedding planner cost?

As a wedding planner specialising in high-end weddings across Gloucestershire the Cotswolds I use a percentage based pricing model for my full planning service and wanted to share a little more about how it works, and why so many use this pricing structure.

Will a percentage based planner sell me more to make more money?

A biggie to dive in with…and not a question often asked directly, but I’m pretty sure that it is a concern for many, and made my decision to settle on this harder. But let me assure you that I would never do this. I treat your budget like its my own, being sensible with spend, and only advising you to invest in suppliers and items that will truly enhance your day and keep you within budget. I do not want you to have any regrets. My role is to support you 100%.

Plus you also get the final say on everything. Always.

So, why do some charge flat rates and other percentages?

Planners can range from £3,000 for full wedding planning up to £20,000 upwards dependant on the scale of the event. Most luxury UK based wedding planners will work on a percentage basis ranging from 12-20% of your overall budget.

Most will also have a minimum spend which is reflective of time required spent planning, site meetings, wages for supporting on the day event managers, and the general costs of running a successful business.

There are some planners that offer a low flat rate but may cap their hours of involvement and have a set number of hours on the event, leaving much of the supplier sourcing and admin to you. Please do your research to find what’s right for you.

Why we are percentage based

As the budget of a wedding creeps up and more elements are added; the scale of the event increases and the planning team needs to be scaled up to implement these and manage logistics. The percentage we takes helps to cover additional staffing and extra workload. Wedding celebrations can span across multiple days and by working this way we can ensure we are there to support you throughout without having to re-quote along the way.

Eve Dunlop Photography

A planner might not cost as much as your think

Sometimes we benefit from discounts due to our established relationships with suppliers and we pass these directly onto you, therefore a planner might not be costing as much as you think, and can help to save you money.

What to ask a wedding planner before booking

There are A LOT of new wedding planners out there that are pretty hot on social media and have a great feed with plenty of followers, but believe me you need to look beyond this. Ask what experience they have in planning and executing a wedding similar to yours and check reviews on Google. Experience is key.

Do not book a planner because they are cheap, you deserve the best wedding planner and team for your special day – you only get one shot at your wedding.

How to find out more

As a luxury planner, and your main point of contact throughout we take on a limited number of full planning clients a year to ensure we have the time to dedicate to planning your incredible celebration.

If you would love to know more about how it works and the systems we use please head to the contact page , or give me a call to chat through your requirements. I would love to hear about all your plans so far.

Let’s find the level of support that is right for you and make your celebration epic!

Loads of love,

Rach x