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In my experience as a day-of coordinator and a wedding sales manager, a wedding planner can be an essential asset. A wedding planner is someone who can hold your hand and walk alongside you in the planning process to help alleviate feeling overwhelmed.
A wedding planner plans your wedding from start to finish. A planner can be your inspiration for design concepts to the smallest of details to execute on the wedding day. There are different tiers a planner can be hired to assist you in the planning process based on your needs and your budget.
Here is a detailed sample list of what a wedding planner can be hired to do for you and an estimated cost for services.
What are the duties of a wedding planner?
Basic Sample Package: 5-6 Weeks Before the Wedding
~ A digital welcome packet that includes top vendor referrals and a detailed wedding planning guide is emailed upon booking this package.
~ First planning session starts 5-6 weeks prior to the wedding date.
~ Create a custom wedding timeline (4-5 pages long).
~ Build a detailed décor list, including all setup items.
~ Venue site visit (finalize venue details and floor plan).
~ Venue/vendor management and communication as the main point of contact for you.
~ Ceremony rehearsal coordination (1 hour).
~ Full management of the wedding day from beginning to end and includes:
- Managing the entire vendor team’s arrival times and their set up as per their contract includes directing your wedding party, family, and all of your guests.
- Setup all of your personal items, which include: Programs, signage, guest book, engagement photos, table numbers, place cards, seating charts, favors, menus, votive candles, family photos/memorial tables, cake topper, toasting glasses, cake knife & server.
- Pin on all boutonnieres and corsages.
- Hand out all final payments and vendor gratuities (keep in marked and sealed envelopes).
- Clean up of your personal items (Each vendor cleans up their own items.)
- Typically 2-4 members of the wedding planning team are present based on the guest count, which is reflected in the estimated price quote below.
- FULL day coverage from beginning to the end of the wedding.
Estimated cost of this sample basic package is: $1,800.00 – $2,000.00
Premium Sample Package: 6-8 Weeks Before the Wedding
~ Includes everything listed in the above package, in addition to the following extra items:
- After booking this package, you are emailed a digital welcome packet and a 12-Month Custom Wedding Timeline to keep you on track in the planning process.
- Unlimited email communications starting 8 months prior.
- Custom list of reliable & trusted vendor referrals.
- First in-person planning session starts 6-8 weeks prior to the wedding date.
Estimated cost of this sample premium package is: $2,200.00 – $2,500.00
*** Check out my article: Wedding Coordinator Duties: What you need to know ***
Story Time Wedding
Make sure you hire a reputable wedding planner with solid referrals. When I was a wedding sales manager (sold wedding packages at a venue). I worked with a couple in 2017 who paid $1,500.00 for a planner for a team of two, and they never showed up on the day of the wedding. Fortunately, I was able to step in and help, but WOW!
The couple told me a week later that the planner had been arrested for assault and battery charges, and that was why she never showed up for the wedding.
Conclusion
Is it worth getting a wedding planner?
Yes! A wedding planner’s services can be tailored to fit your needs and budget. If you are considering hiring a planner for your wedding, review their packages and see which level of planning services you require. Also, it’s important you “mesh” well with the planning team since it could be several months you are collaborating together. Check out my article on Best Wedding Vendors.
~ Happy planning and enjoy your wedding day steps ~