Introduction
Typing “how much does a wedding planner charge” into Google is often the first step couples take when building their wedding budget. The question sounds simple, yet the answer is anything but. Every planner works differently, every celebration has its own rhythm, and costs vary widely depending on location, service level, and experience.
This guide explains how planners charge, what those fees include, and how to understand the real value behind them. Whether you are planning in London, Sicily, or somewhere in between, clarity will help you choose the right partner for your celebration.
It is completely natural to wonder what a planner costs. Weddings are personal, emotional, and significant investments. However, the industry does not have a fixed pricing model. A planner who manages intimate gatherings in Sicily will charge differently from one coordinating multi-day events across Europe. Therefore, instead of one universal rate, planners adapt their fees to reflect the scope of work, team size, and number of days involved.
The Main Ways Wedding Planners Charge
Wedding planners typically work with one of three pricing models.
- Flat fee
This is the most straightforward approach. The planner sets a single fee for a specific scope of work, such as full or partial planning. For example, a planner may charge £8,000 for a complete London wedding or £15,000 for a destination celebration in Sicily. - Percentage of the total budget
Some planners base their fee on the overall wedding budget, usually between 10-20%. For a wedding with a £60,000 budget, a 12% fee equals £7,200. This structure ensures that the planner’s compensation aligns with the event’s scale and complexity. - Hourly or day rate
This option is common for on-the-day/month-of coordination or consulting. The planner might charge £100 to £150 per hour or a flat day rate between £1,500 and £3,000.
Each model works well in different contexts. Therefore, when comparing planners, focus on what is included rather than the format of the fee.
What Is Included (and What Is Not)
A professional wedding planner’s charge usually covers the essential framework of your event. This includes project management, budget tracking, supplier sourcing, timeline creation, and overall coordination. Many planners also assist with styling and guest logistics such as transport, accommodation, and RSVPs, while others don’t. In essence, the planner acts as both creative partner and project director, connecting you with trusted suppliers and ensuring everything runs seamlessly.
However, it is important to understand what the fee does not include. Some planners include creative direction, travel, and on-site assistants within their service, while others treat these as add-ons. For this reason, always request a detailed proposal before committing. Comparing like for like helps you see what is covered, where flexibility lies, and where additional costs may appear later.
Why Costs Vary So Widely
No two planners work the same way. Some focus solely on logistics, while others create immersive experiences that blend design, storytelling, and culture. As a result, pricing can shift dramatically.
Location has a major impact on pricing. Local weddings usually require less travel, shorter setup times, and a smaller team, which helps keep costs contained. Destination weddings, on the other hand, often involve multiple days of celebration, venue exclusivity, guest accommodation, and coordination across languages and time zones. These additional layers naturally increase the overall investment but also create a richer, more immersive experience for everyone involved.
Experience also plays a meaningful role in how planners price their services. Seasoned professionals bring not only creative vision but also established relationships with trusted suppliers, which can streamline planning and reduce stress. Their expertise helps prevent costly mistakes, manage complex logistics, and anticipate challenges before they arise. In many cases, this level of guidance can save couples both time and money, while ensuring every detail feels intentional and beautifully executed.
The Value Behind the Fee
A planner’s fee represents much more than administration. It reflects creative direction, logistics management, emotional support, and the thousands of details that bring a celebration to life. In many ways, it is an investment in peace of mind.
A skilled planner orchestrates not just the schedule but the atmosphere. They anticipate issues before they arise, align every supplier with your vision, and allow you to experience your day fully present. The cost covers expertise that transforms stress into clarity and logistics into something beautiful.
Realistic Numbers and Scenarios
In the UK, full-service wedding planning typically starts around £6,000 and can reach £15,000 or more for multi-day or high-end celebrations. When it comes to weddings in Italy, full planning and design fees for planners based outside of Italy (for example, in the UK) generally range between £8,000 and £20,000, depending on the size and complexity of the event.
Local Italian planners may sometimes offer lower starting prices, usually between €3,000 and €5,000 for standard weddings, and up to €15,000 for more elaborate or multi-day celebrations. However, these lower fees can occasionally be linked to a different business model: many local planners receive commissions from venues or vendors, which aren’t always disclosed to the couple. This means the cost to the client may appear lower upfront, but not necessarily reflect the planner’s total compensation or the level of independence in supplier recommendations. To understand what a wedding commission is and how it works, read this.
For destination weddings spanning several days, couples typically allocate around 12–15% of their total budget to planning and coordination. Therefore, a couple investing £150,000 in their celebration might expect to spend between £15,000 and £22,500 on planning.
These figures aren’t rules, but they do provide a realistic framework for couples who want to understand the market and plan with confidence.
Understanding Minimum Fees
Every professional planner sets a minimum fee for their services, whether it’s full planning, partial planning, or coordination. This fee reflects the time, expertise, and responsibility involved in designing and managing such a significant event. Running a wedding requires hundreds of hours of communication, logistics, and creative problem-solving, which simply cannot be delivered well at a cut-rate price.
When a planner’s fees seem unusually low, it usually means one of two things. They may be at the very beginning of their career and still building experience — in which case, lower pricing can be understandable for a limited period. Or, they may be supplementing their income through hidden commissions or supplier kickbacks, which can compromise transparency and impartial advice.
A clear and fair minimum fee shows that a planner values integrity, sustainability, and the client relationship. It ensures that their loyalty is fully with you, not with vendors, and that every decision is made in service of your vision, not external incentives.
How to Choose a Planner Whose Fee Makes Sense for You
The best way to approach this decision is with alignment in mind. Start by identifying what matters most to you: time saved, design quality, logistical support, or a mix of all three. Then speak openly about budget, priorities, and expectations.
Transparency builds trust. A good planner will explain not just what they charge but why. They will tailor a proposal that fits your celebration, not a generic price list. Ultimately, the right planner should feel like a creative partner, not a transaction.
How Much Does a Wedding Planner Charge?
So, how much does a wedding planner charge? The truth is that it depends on your vision, the scale of your event, and the expertise you seek. The real value of a planner lies in their ability to turn countless moving parts into one seamless experience.
A planner’s fee is not only a cost; it is a safeguard for your time, your investment, and your peace of mind. The right partnership ensures your wedding feels like you — intentional, meaningful, and beautifully orchestrated from start to finish.
Ready to Begin?
If you are planning a wedding in London, Sicily, or beyond, and want a celebration that feels effortless yet deeply personal, let’s talk. I would love to learn more about your story and help you shape it into something extraordinary.
Explore our services or enquire about your wedding planning experience.
Photo Credits:
Photographer: Joana Senkute
Florist: The Way to Bloom
Introduction
Typing “how much does a wedding planner charge” into Google is often the first step couples take when building their wedding budget. The question sounds simple, yet the answer is anything but. Every planner works differently, every celebration has its own rhythm, and costs vary widely depending on location, service level, and experience.
This guide explains how planners charge, what those fees include, and how to understand the real value behind them. Whether you are planning in London, Sicily, or somewhere in between, clarity will help you choose the right partner for your celebration.
It is completely natural to wonder what a planner costs. Weddings are personal, emotional, and significant investments. However, the industry does not have a fixed pricing model. A planner who manages intimate gatherings in Sicily will charge differently from one coordinating multi-day events across Europe. Therefore, instead of one universal rate, planners adapt their fees to reflect the scope of work, team size, and number of days involved.
The Main Ways Wedding Planners Charge
Wedding planners typically work with one of three pricing models.
- Flat fee
This is the most straightforward approach. The planner sets a single fee for a specific scope of work, such as full or partial planning. For example, a planner may charge £8,000 for a complete London wedding or £15,000 for a destination celebration in Sicily. - Percentage of the total budget
Some planners base their fee on the overall wedding budget, usually between 10-20%. For a wedding with a £60,000 budget, a 12% fee equals £7,200. This structure ensures that the planner’s compensation aligns with the event’s scale and complexity. - Hourly or day rate
This option is common for on-the-day/month-of coordination or consulting. The planner might charge £100 to £150 per hour or a flat day rate between £1,500 and £3,000.
Each model works well in different contexts. Therefore, when comparing planners, focus on what is included rather than the format of the fee.
What Is Included (and What Is Not)
A professional wedding planner’s charge usually covers the essential framework of your event. This includes project management, budget tracking, supplier sourcing, timeline creation, and overall coordination. Many planners also assist with styling and guest logistics such as transport, accommodation, and RSVPs, while others don’t. In essence, the planner acts as both creative partner and project director, connecting you with trusted suppliers and ensuring everything runs seamlessly.
However, it is important to understand what the fee does not include. Some planners include creative direction, travel, and on-site assistants within their service, while others treat these as add-ons. For this reason, always request a detailed proposal before committing. Comparing like for like helps you see what is covered, where flexibility lies, and where additional costs may appear later.
Why Costs Vary So Widely
No two planners work the same way. Some focus solely on logistics, while others create immersive experiences that blend design, storytelling, and culture. As a result, pricing can shift dramatically.
Location has a major impact on pricing. Local weddings usually require less travel, shorter setup times, and a smaller team, which helps keep costs contained. Destination weddings, on the other hand, often involve multiple days of celebration, venue exclusivity, guest accommodation, and coordination across languages and time zones. These additional layers naturally increase the overall investment but also create a richer, more immersive experience for everyone involved.
Experience also plays a meaningful role in how planners price their services. Seasoned professionals bring not only creative vision but also established relationships with trusted suppliers, which can streamline planning and reduce stress. Their expertise helps prevent costly mistakes, manage complex logistics, and anticipate challenges before they arise. In many cases, this level of guidance can save couples both time and money, while ensuring every detail feels intentional and beautifully executed.
The Value Behind the Fee
A planner’s fee represents much more than administration. It reflects creative direction, logistics management, emotional support, and the thousands of details that bring a celebration to life. In many ways, it is an investment in peace of mind.
A skilled planner orchestrates not just the schedule but the atmosphere. They anticipate issues before they arise, align every supplier with your vision, and allow you to experience your day fully present. The cost covers expertise that transforms stress into clarity and logistics into something beautiful.
Realistic Numbers and Scenarios
In the UK, full-service wedding planning typically starts around £6,000 and can reach £15,000 or more for multi-day or high-end celebrations. When it comes to weddings in Italy, full planning and design fees for planners based outside of Italy (for example, in the UK) generally range between £8,000 and £20,000, depending on the size and complexity of the event.
Local Italian planners may sometimes offer lower starting prices, usually between €3,000 and €5,000 for standard weddings, and up to €15,000 for more elaborate or multi-day celebrations. However, these lower fees can occasionally be linked to a different business model: many local planners receive commissions from venues or vendors, which aren’t always disclosed to the couple. This means the cost to the client may appear lower upfront, but not necessarily reflect the planner’s total compensation or the level of independence in supplier recommendations. To understand what a wedding commission is and how it works, read this.
For destination weddings spanning several days, couples typically allocate around 12–15% of their total budget to planning and coordination. Therefore, a couple investing £150,000 in their celebration might expect to spend between £15,000 and £22,500 on planning.
These figures aren’t rules, but they do provide a realistic framework for couples who want to understand the market and plan with confidence.
Understanding Minimum Fees
Every professional planner sets a minimum fee for their services, whether it’s full planning, partial planning, or coordination. This fee reflects the time, expertise, and responsibility involved in designing and managing such a significant event. Running a wedding requires hundreds of hours of communication, logistics, and creative problem-solving, which simply cannot be delivered well at a cut-rate price.
When a planner’s fees seem unusually low, it usually means one of two things. They may be at the very beginning of their career and still building experience — in which case, lower pricing can be understandable for a limited period. Or, they may be supplementing their income through hidden commissions or supplier kickbacks, which can compromise transparency and impartial advice.
A clear and fair minimum fee shows that a planner values integrity, sustainability, and the client relationship. It ensures that their loyalty is fully with you, not with vendors, and that every decision is made in service of your vision, not external incentives.
How to Choose a Planner Whose Fee Makes Sense for You
The best way to approach this decision is with alignment in mind. Start by identifying what matters most to you: time saved, design quality, logistical support, or a mix of all three. Then speak openly about budget, priorities, and expectations.
Transparency builds trust. A good planner will explain not just what they charge but why. They will tailor a proposal that fits your celebration, not a generic price list. Ultimately, the right planner should feel like a creative partner, not a transaction.
How Much Does a Wedding Planner Charge?
So, how much does a wedding planner charge? The truth is that it depends on your vision, the scale of your event, and the expertise you seek. The real value of a planner lies in their ability to turn countless moving parts into one seamless experience.
A planner’s fee is not only a cost; it is a safeguard for your time, your investment, and your peace of mind. The right partnership ensures your wedding feels like you — intentional, meaningful, and beautifully orchestrated from start to finish.
Ready to Begin?
If you are planning a wedding in London, Sicily, or beyond, and want a celebration that feels effortless yet deeply personal, let’s talk. I would love to learn more about your story and help you shape it into something extraordinary.
Explore our services or enquire about your wedding planning experience.
Photo Credits:
Photographer: Joana Senkute
Florist: The Way to Bloom
