Generally, you can expect that your wedding planner will charge between 10 and 20 percent of your overall wedding budget to work with you from start to finish. Keep in mind that this can vary greatly, however, based on the area of the country in which you live, how experienced and in demand your planner is, and also how exclusive your wedding will be.

The Bottom Line:

• The Average Cost of a Wedding Planner is between $2,700 and $5,400 to plan an event from start to finish. (This is 10 to 20 percent of the national average wedding cost of $27,000 in the US today and can be charged either as a package rate or as a percentage of the total wedding bill.)
• The average hourly rate for a planner is between $50 and $150 an hour.

Get All the Facts Up Front

A few things to keep in mind when negotiating a rate: If your planner offers you a flat-fee package for working on your event, be sure to ask if this includes a limit on the number of hours that will be spent and, if so, what hourly rate you will be charged if you exceed this timeframe. (One wedding coordinator estimated that it can take 30 to 40 hours or more to coordinate the event; but again, this can vary widely, so ask what your vendor has in mind and don’t rely strictly on this estimate!) The reality is that the time a planner spends on your event may be more than you anticipated up front, and you want to avoid any unexpected bills at the end, so be sure to keep the lines of communication open throughout the process so everyone knows what to expect. Also, be wary of planners who claim that their services are “free” but then book you with their own vendors and add in a kickback for their efforts. The truth is that few things are free today, especially not a good wedding consultant. So check with your local better business bureau and also with local and national associations of bridal vendors to be sure a planner is reputable before signing any contracts or taking his or her advice.

Further, if you find a planner you really like but believe the price is a little out of your range, don’t be afraid to tell him or her what you can afford and find out what he or she can offer you for that money. It’s possible that the planner may be able to give you the direction you need if you handle some of the details to minimize the time and work needed to be spent on the event. In addition, if it is a slow time of year in the wedding business, a planner may just be willing to negotiate a little for the work.

Expect a Big Return on Your Money

Finally, if you have your heart set on having the help of a wedding planner to guide you but aren’t sure you can find room in the budget for this expense, keep in mind that a good wedding planner will often pay for her- or himself in the cost savings you might realize. An experienced planner has relationships with various wedding vendors, and as a result can negotiate much better rates than you could get yourself. This means that even on a tight budget, you may be able to afford a professional to help you plan the perfect event.