How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost?

All you need to know about how much to budget for a wedding planner.

There’s no getting around it, dream weddings can be stressful beasts to plan. Especially if it’s your first time organising such a big event. And if you both have full-time jobs. And possibly kids? It’s a lot. To juggle all of that and pull off a fabulous celebration, takes some superhuman abilities. So if you’re sitting there, on the sofa, Googling away, trying to find out how much a wedding planner will cost, I understand.

You’re not alone in looking for a solution to your wedding planning dilemma. According to the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners, 15-20% of couples hire a wedding planner on average each year. That’s between 35,000-47,000 weddings annually. These figures are increasing yearly, as more and more couples realise the benefit of having a professional guiding their big day plans.

One of the main stumbling blocks, however, for engaged couples, is the cost of a wedding planner. Which they feel will be prohibitive to their ability to hire one. A luxury only available to the rich and famous. And while yes, professional wedding planning is an extra cost. It is something that’ll not only save you time and stress, but also money. Experienced wedding planners have little black books full of talented contacts who’ll offer them exclusive prices and deals that you just wouldn’t be able to get on your own. Not only that, but an event planner can stop you from making any costly mistakes, and help you stick to a budget.

Now we’ve seen what some of the financial benefits of hiring a wedding planner are, let’s look at what their overall cost would be.

How Much Does a UK Wedding Planner Cost?

As a general rule, couples should set aside 10-15% of their wedding budget to cover the cost of a wedding planner. The actual percentage needed will depend on the type and style of planner you hire. Location can also be a factor, as wedding planners in the major UK cities tend to always cost more.

There are different levels of wedding planning, from full service through to on-the-day management. And the price of these different services obviously goes up or down depending on the work required.

At Anne Marie Loves, I like to make the cost of my affordable wedding planner packages as easy to understand as possible. With investment packages starting from as little as £995, I’m able to offer up to 12 weeks of support, at a price suitable for those with small to medium-sized budgets. My services are ideal for couples planning a wedding for the first time, as I’ll be able to instantly point them in the right direction, while also giving them the freedom to make creative choices.

Can a Wedding Planner Save You Money?

The main reason for hiring a wedding planner should not be to save money, or cut cost. Instead, you should look at how beneficial bringing such an experienced professional onto your wedding team will be. Their knowledge of how to decorate a space, organise multiple suppliers and keep your wedding planning on track is invaluable. However, I don’t call my planning packages ‘investments’ for nothing!

A good wedding planner will help you see what you should, and shouldn’t be investing in. Guiding you towards proven choices they know will bring big day success, and keep you within budget. When it comes to styling a space, couples can often spend a fortune filling a room with décor to match the look they were dreaming of. Whereas a wedding planner will use their knowledge of venues to find a space that already matches the required aesthetic. Saving you time and money.

A very common problem for couples is also keeping track of their budget, and subsequently overspending. Something that can lead to a lot of stress further down the line. By hiring a wedding planner, they’ll help you keep track of every cost, and provide you with the framework to stay on schedule. Something which, if not stuck to, can also cost you money later on.

Does a Wedding Planner Cost Less Than You Thought?

I hope you found this post useful, and maybe it has even inspired you to hire a wedding planner! It would be a pleasure to be that planner! Anne Marie Loves can offer you the essential help and guidance you require to plan the wedding of your dreams, at a price that’s attainable to those with small budgets.

Please take a moment to look through my various wedding planning packages. If you have any questions about the services I provide, or you’re wondering if we’re a good match, why not book a no obligation, free Zoom chat. We can get to know each other a little bit, and you can make sure that I’m the right planner for your big day.