average cost of wedding coordinator

Y’all ever been in a group chat where someone says *“We hired a wedding coordinator!”* and the next reply is *“Congrats! So, full-service planner, huh?”* and you just… sigh into your coffee like, *“Bless their heart…”*? 😅 Here’s the real tea: a wedding coordinator ain’t a mini-planner—they’re a *crisis ninja*. And that difference? It shows up—loud and clear—in the average cost of wedding coordinator. Think of it like this:

• Wedding planner = architect + contractor (12–18 mos involvement)
• Wedding coordinator = air traffic controller (3–6 weeks prep + wedding-day command)

First off—“day-of” is kinda a misnomer. *Nobody* shows up cold on the morning of your wedding like, *“Hi! I’m Cheryl! Who’s the DJ? Where’s the cake? Is that smoke?!”* Nah. The average cost of wedding coordinator for a *true* day-of starts at $800–$1,500—but they’ll actually begin 2–4 weeks prior: confirming vendors, building your minute-by-minute timeline, running the rehearsal, and prepping your MOH for bouquet toss logistics. Then there’s *month-of coordination* ($1,500–$3,200), where they step in 4–6 weeks out, help finalize contracts, manage RSVP chaos, and *still* run the show on the big day. Pro tip? If your venue says *“You must hire a coordinator,”* they mean month-of—not DIY with your cousin Brenda and a Pinterest board.

Hate to break it to ya, but that viral TikTok of a bride payin’ $950 for a “dream” coordinator? She’s in Lubbock. Not Malibu. Not Brooklyn. Not *Aspen in December*. The average cost of wedding coordinator swings *hard* by region:

Here’s the thing nobody puts on the Insta quote graphic: the *base* average cost of wedding coordinator is just the appetizer. The real bill comes in extras—and they’re not always upfront. Watch for:

• Overtime fees: $75–$150/hr after 8–10 contracted hours (e.g., your reception runs late *’cause “Sweet Caroline” broke out—twice*)
• Travel surcharge: +$0.85/mile beyond 25 miles, or flat $250–$600 for outta-town
• Assistant fee: $300–$600 if your guest count >100 (’cause one person can’t be *everywhere*)
• Rehearsal dinner add-on: +$250–$500 (often overlooked!)

We talked to real humans—not influencers with ring lights and staged “candid” shots—about what they shelled out for a coordinator. Raw, unfiltered, slightly sleep-deprived truth:

• Jamal & Lena, Richmond, VA, 90 guests: $1,650 (month-of) — “She caught the florist’s delivery *at 6:47 a.m.* when they tried to drop peonies at the wrong barn. Worth every penny.”
• Taylor & Riley, Portland, OR, elopement + 40-person dinner: $925 (day-of) — “She handled the permit hiccup so we didn’t have to. Also hid our dog’s anxiety meds in the cake table.”
• Derek & Sam, Tampa, FL, 140 guests, beach wedding: $3,100 (month-of + assistant) — “Rain hit 2 hours before. She moved 140 chairs, 30 tables, *and* the arch—before the DJ even noticed.”

Nationwide, the average cost of wedding coordinator in 2025 breaks down like this:

• Day-of coordination: $900–$2,200 (median: $1,450)
• Month-of coordination: $1,700–$3,800 (median: $2,600)
• Luxury/destination add-ons: +$800–$2,500

• Catching double-booked vendors before deposits vanish
• Negotiating last-minute delivery windows (no $150 “after-hours” fees)
• Preventing $2K disasters (e.g., tent collapse, cake meltdown, groomsman lockout)

Let’s bust the biggest myth: a wedding coordinator ain’t “just there to point at things.” Here’s their *actual* D-Day checklist:

• ✅ Confirm *all* vendor arrival times (and call when they’re late)
• ✅ Set up ceremony space (align chairs, fluff petals, test mic)
• ✅ Manage timeline like a hawk (cue processional, signal cake cut, herd guests for photos)
• ✅ Handle emergencies (stain removal, zipper rescue, rogue seagull)
• ✅ Pack up gifts, decor, leftover cake (and *not* eat it… usually)

Look—we get it. When your budget’s tight, $1,800 feels like a *lot* to drop on “someone to tell people where to sit.” But ask any couple who skipped one:

“We spent the first 45 minutes of our reception untangling fairy lights and arguing about who booked the cake stand.” — Anonymous, 2024

Fun fact: “wedding organizer” *isn’t* a standardized industry term—it’s kinda like sayin’ “party wrangler” or “vibe curator.” Most pros use *planner*, *designer*, or *coordinator* based on scope. But if someone calls themselves an “organizer”? Ask *exactly* what they do. Because:

• If they book vendors + design + manage day → they’re a *planner* ($5K–$20K)
• If they only execute pre-set plans → they’re a *coordinator* ($900–$3,800)
• If they just fold programs and hand out programs → uh… that’s an intern. Or your cousin Chad.

Alright, budget-conscious besties—here’s how to keep the average cost of wedding coordinator lean *and* effective:

• Go *off-peak*: Friday or Sunday weddings = 10–20% coordinator discounts
• Bundle rehearsal dinner coordination (+$250 vs. $500 standalone)
• Hire a *rising star*: new coordinators with 1–2 yrs exp often charge 15–25% less (but check references!)
• Limit guest count to <100—no assistant fee needed

References

• https://www.theknot.com/wedding-coordinator-cost
• https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/wedding-coordinator-vs-planner
• https://www.brides.com/cost-of-wedding-coordinator-5097211
• https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/wedding-coordinator-cost