Wedding Planner Cost Per Hour: What to Expect & How to Budget

When it comes to planning your wedding, you may be wondering what a wedding planner cost per hour is. The cost per hour of a wedding planner will vary based on location, experience, and whether a couple wants a day-of wedding planner, a partial wedding planner, or a full-service wedding planner. Couples will seek out different types of wedding planners that match their specific needs for their memorable day, but overall the most sought out wedding planners in the industry are full-service wedding planners. Choosing full-service wedding planning packages offers much more value by saving couples a lot of time, and helps ease the entire planning process. Hiring a full-service wedding planner puts a trusting expert in charge of managing the majority of the aspects of your wedding from the beginning to the end which lets you pay attention to truly what matters, and that is enjoying your wedding day to its fullest.

Once a couple has their budget set for their wedding, their next step is to find the perfect wedding planner to fulfill their desires. Some of the most common questions associated with this step is cost so we will break down some common questions below:

How Do Wedding Planners Set Prices?

Wedding planner cost and how they set their price model are based on many contributing factors which may include the kind of service that they are used to providing, their level of experience or expertise in the industry, the complexity of the wedding, and its location. A wedding planner price list will outline the cost pertaining to the different types of services they provide and it can be tailored to a couple’s specific budget. Although costs vary extensively, the value lies in how much time a couple saves, reducing stress levels, and ensuring a perfect wedding experience.

Key Factors That Influence Wedding Planner Pricing

Level of Experience – Experienced wedding planners with an outstanding portfolio and great reputation will require premium rates compared to a less experienced wedding planner. Location – Wedding planners in popular wedding locations and metro areas charge higher rates due to their high demand. Scope of the service – Wedding planner rates will vary depending on which level of service they provide. The types of wedding planning services are usually:

1. Day-of Coordinator: Day of wedding planner cost ranges from $800-$2,500 and wedding coordinator cost per hour ranges from $50-$200 per hour. Day of wedding coordinator duties list includes focusing on executing the plan and all the details the couple prepared to execute them flawlessly on their wedding day with vendors, logistics of the wedding, and taking care of any last minute details so that the couple can thoroughly enjoy their day.
2. Partial Planner: Partial wedding planning is ideal for a couple who have planned their wedding but require additional help in order to bring the day together. They are ideal for the DIY couple because they focus on certain aspects and leave the other areas for the couple to take care of. A partial wedding planner’s average cost ranges from $1,500-$5,000+.
3. Full-Service Planning: Full-service wedding planner offers extensive support from the very early stages of wedding planning to the perfect execution of the wedding day. This service is the best selection for couples who want to hand over every detail to the industry expert so that they can enjoy a less stressful wedding experience. Full-service wedding planner cost ranges from $4,000-$10,000+ with luxury weddings exceeding $15,000-$50,000+. If you're interested in a Luxury Full-Service Wedding Planner, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

Size of The Wedding and its Complexity – The size of the wedding and its complexity will affect the overall price. Things that affect the price are:

1. Number of Guests: A larger guest count at a wedding requires more resources and coordination, therefore, rates will increase based on this.
2. Quantity of Events: The total number of events including welcome parties and rehearsal dinners demands more hours for planning and raises the fee.
3. Custom Details: Exceptionally personalized weddings at grand venues, with tailored themes, and personalized décor will need more planning and resources, which will reflect within the price.

Time Commitment – The greater the amount of hours the couple requires for their wedding planning needs will influence the price. Full-service wedding planning takes about 200-400+ hours of overall planning while the day of wedding coordinator or partial planner requires remarkably less time.

Impact of Service Levels on Wedding Planner Pricing

The more time and experience a wedding planner has is proven by their flawless execution of weddings. The rates of more experienced wedding planners will reflect that. Full-service luxury wedding planning services come at a premium amount but the value is in the flawless execution of a truly one-of-a-kind memorable day.

How Many Hours Does It Take a Planner To Plan a Wedding?

The amount of hours that it takes a wedding planner to plan a wedding depends on a few factors which include the size of the wedding, how complex the details of the wedding are, and the specific needs that the couple has requested. On average, 100-250 hours are how long a wedding planner spends with planning. However, with its time-intensive process, it takes a full-service wedding planner 200-400+ hours to plan a wedding. A luxury full-service wedding planner requires 400-600+ hours of planning, which reflects their commitment to achieving a high-end seamless experience. If you're interested in hiring a Luxury Full-Service Wedding Planner, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

Time Commitment Required for Full-Service Wedding Planning

Full-service wedding planners require more time to plan a wedding due to their utmost involvement in every aspect of the wedding planning process. It takes on average 200-400+ hours for a full-service wedding planner to plan a wedding from the earliest concept to the breakdown afterwards. It is so worth it to hire a full-service wedding planner, these professionals are dedicated to making sure that every detail turns out flawlessly. Having someone manage every detail will help to ensure a seamless execution of your vision and expectations for your wedding day.

How much does a wedding planner cost in US?

A wedding planner cost per hour USA depends on what kind of wedding planning service you decide meets your needs and whether you require a partial wedding planner or a full-service wedding planner. A partial wedding planner tends to run anywhere between $2,000-$5,000. A full-service wedding planner on average costs around $3,000 - $12,000+. If you want to have a full-service luxurious wedding then the price is typically $20,000-$75,000+ depending on the degree of your specifications. This rule also applies to destination weddings. If you're interested in hiring a luxury full-service wedding planner for your event, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

Factors That Influence Full-service Wedding Planning Costs

Full-service wedding pricing is influenced by the degree to which the wedding planners are involved and their expertise. A full-service wedding planner offers more services and add-ons for your special day that require extra time. Their pricing model will reflect these additional services that they’re providing and the number of hours they commit to the execution of your dream wedding.

How Much Should I Spend On a Wedding Planner?

Wedding planners' price models vary depending on experience, and location, and the general guideline is that wedding planners cost 15%-20% of the final wedding budget. The amount that you should spend on a wedding planner should be based on the budget that you’ve set aside for your wedding and the level of involvement that you want them to fulfill your specific needs. Once you’ve discussed the budget of the wedding with your loved one then it will ease the process of selecting a wedding planner.

Do Wedding Planners Work With Specific Budgets?

If you are searching for a wedding planner to meet your specific budget, you must first be upfront with them to make sure they’re the best fit for you. Some wedding planners are flexible with pre-set wedding budgets and others, due to experience, tend to work with couples with higher budgets. Whatever your financial situation may be, the wedding planner must help the couple stay within their budget when planning their wedding.

What Are The Disadvantages of Having a Wedding Planner?

Hiring a wedding planner is a lovely investment for couples who are wanting someone to help manage and execute their wedding vision. There aren’t any specific disadvantages to hiring a wedding planner unless you want to completely plan, manage, and execute your entire wedding from start to finish. There is a huge advantage to hiring a wedding planner from the guidance, unconditional support, and relief that they bring to planning the most memorable day of your life which is unmatched and truly worth it.

Main Advantages of Hiring a Wedding Planner

The main advantage of hiring a wedding planner is being able to spend extra time enjoying the wedding planning process and day of wedding moments instead of worrying about last-minute details. Another advantage of having a wedding planner is to reduce the stress levels that come with planning a wedding. The stress levels and uncertainty about wedding planning will always exist but having a wedding planner to help guide and offer assistance will reduce the worries and allow you to enjoy the process to its fullest.

Is It Worth It To Get a Wedding Planner?

Many couples believe that hiring a wedding planner is well worth the investment. Wedding planners offer valuable expertise and provide essential support, ensuring that everything runs smoothly on the big day. Planning and executing a wedding vision by yourself is very hard work and requires a lot of time and effort, so most couples do see the value in hiring a wedding planner based upon that fact alone. Besides easing the stress of wedding planning, they’re also there to guide you through every intricate detail that’ll come up along the way. If you're interested in hiring a luxury full-service wedding planner for your event, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

How Guest Experience is Enhanced by Hiring a Wedding Planner

Creating a lovely guest experience for your wedding is a detail that will make it a very memorable day for your loved ones attending. Hiring a wedding planner will enhance the overall guest experience giving the guests a more enjoyable and memorable atmosphere. Wedding planners are there to ensure a flawless flow on the whole entire wedding day with the ceremony, reception, vendors, and speeches keeping all the guests engaged and comfortable.

How Do Event Planners Pay Vendors?

Wedding planners are the main point of contact between couples and their vendors to ensure a smooth and timely delivery of payments. The exact process and arrangement that is made depends on what the couple and the planner decide is best. Wedding planners keep track of the detailed payment schedules for all the vendors that are hired and make certain that the contracts are honored.

Understanding a Vendor’s Payment Schedule

Every vendor’s payment schedule varies but one thing that is certain is they usually require an initial down payment. Most vendors require 20%-50% of a deposit of the total fee in order to secure the date, then the remaining balance is usually due closer to the wedding date as specified by the vendor. A contract is also initiated so that both parties are on the same page.

How much do event planners charge in USA?

In the USA, the amount that event planners charge is based on some factors including the extent of the event, the amount of experience the planner has, the size, and location. The national average ranges from $500-$10,000+, and luxury events costs range higher starting from $10,000-$50,000+. If you are interested in hiring an experienced luxury event planner, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

Various Event Types and Their Associated Event Planning Costs:

1. Planners for Social Events – Social events are typically considered to be simpler with less vendors and minimal guest count. Some examples of social events include birthdays and anniversaries, the cost range for social event planning are $500-$2,000+.
2. Planners for Corporate Events – Corporate events need more planning and logistics with technical setup or sponsorships which typically increases their overall cost. The cost range for a corporate event is $1,500-$10,000+.
3. Planners for Weddings – Event planning for weddings requires a lot of time, effort, and coordination, and the pricing model will reflect that. Wedding planning costs in the USA range from $3,000-$10,000+. Full-service wedding planning for luxury weddings exceeds $15,000+.
4. Planners for Luxury or Upscale Events – High-profile events with custom designs, higher guest count, and bespoke elements require a considerable amount of planning and coordinating. Luxury or upscale event planning cost ranges from $15,000-$100,000+.

If you are interested in full-service event planning with expert coordination and execution, Ramblewood Events has a proven track record and can bring any vision to life. Follow this link to schedule a meeting with us!