average wedding planner cost

Y’all ever scroll TikTok at 2 a.m., sippin’ lukewarm coffee, and suddenly—boom—a video pops up: “We spent $47,000 on our wedding and still cried”? Or worse—*“Our planner charged us $18K and forgot the forks.”* 😬 Wild, right? So what’s the real deal with the average wedding planner cost? Well, buckle up, buttercup—’cause it ain’t one-size-fits-all. In the U.S., full-service planners typically clock in between $3,000 and $12,000, depending on location, experience, and how many fire drills they gotta put out for ya. Destination weddings? Honey, add a zero. Partial planners (y’know, day-of coordinators or month-of maestros)? You might snag one for $1,200–$3,500. But here’s the kicker—what you’re really payin’ for ain’t just Excel sheets and flower spreads. It’s *peace of mind*. It’s someone yellin’ “NOT THE CHAMPAGNE GLASSES, JANICE!” so *you* don’t hafta. The average wedding planner cost ain’t just a number—it’s insurance against your future self sobbin’ in a porta-potty.

Alright, let’s get granular—like, “split-the-check-at-a-brunch-with-exes” granular. Full-service wedding planning? That’s your average wedding planner cost north of $8K–$15K (sometimes even $25K+ in NYC or LA). Why? ‘Cause they’re basically your therapist, negotiator, spreadsheet wizard, *and* emergency tampon supplier—all rolled into one. They’ll book vendors, draft timelines, handle RSVP meltdowns, and—yes—even tell Aunt Carol her hat’s too big *for* you. Partial planning? Think $2,500–$6,000. You do the heavy lifting early (venue? cake flavor? *existential dread?*), and they swoop in 2–3 months pre-wedding to keep things from imploding. Day-of coordination? That’s your budget BFF at $800–$2,200—but don’t call it “just” day-of. These heroes start prepping *weeks* ahead: confirming vendors, assembling welcome bags, and memorizing your dog’s allergy list. Pro tip: if your average wedding planner cost feels steep, ask about à la carte add-ons—like rehearsal dinner planning or vendor management only. Mix ‘n’ match like a Build-A-Bear for adults (but with more champagne toasts).

Let’s be real—plannin’ a barn wedding in Boise ain’t the same as a rooftop soiree in Brooklyn. Geography *massively* shifts the average wedding planner cost. In rural or mid-tier cities (think: Austin, Nashville, Portland), full-service planners hover around $4,000–$9,000. Hit up Chicago or Miami? Add $2K–$4K easy. And New York? Bless your heart—you’re lookin’ at $10,000–$30,000 for elite planners. Why? ‘Cause rent’s high, traffic’s hell, and everyone’s got *standards*. Even vendor markups ripple down: florists in SF charge 30% more than in Spokane, and guess who negotiates that? Your planner. And don’t forget *travel fees*—if your dream is a vineyard in Napa but your planner’s based in Denver, expect a 15–25% bump for mileage, lodging, and “emotional toll from airport security.” Bottom line? The average wedding planner cost ain’t national—it’s hyperlocal. Run the numbers *before* you fall in love with that $12K planner who lives 2,000 miles away.

So you locked in a planner at $6,500—and then… surprise!—your invoice says $8,943. 😳 Cue the cold sweats. Here’s the tea: the average wedding planner cost *rarely* includes extras like travel, printing, postage, or “vendor liaison surcharges” (yeah, that’s a real thing). Some charge 15–20% admin fees for handling payments. Others tack on $200/hour for overtime (e.g., your reception runs 45 mins late *’cause Uncle Ray did karaoke*). And bless their hearts—many “flat fee” packages exclude rentals, lighting, or cake-cutting coordination. Always, *always* ask:

• Is travel included beyond 30 miles?
• Do you charge for client revisions beyond 3 rounds?
• What’s your policy on wedding-day overtime?
• Are assistant fees bundled or à la carte?

We talked to real folks—no influencers, no staged Pinterest boards—just couples who survived wedding planning and lived to tell the tale. Check this out:

Short answer? *Depends.* If you’re dreamin’ of 100 guests in, say, Asheville or Portland—yeah, $10K *can* cover it… *if* you’re scrappy. But let’s unpack it:

• Venue + catering (buffet): $4,000–$6,500
• Attire + alterations: $1,200–$2,000
• Photography (6 hrs): $2,000–$3,500
• Planner (partial/month-of): $2,500–$4,000

Remember 2019? When $25K got you lace, chandeliers, and open bar? *Bless that sweet, naive era.* In 2025? The *national median* wedding cost for 100 folks is **$33,000–$38,000** (The Knot 2024 data). Yep. And that’s *before* tips, taxes, and the “oh-crap-we-forgot-cake-knives” run. So where does the average wedding planner cost fit in? As a rule of thumb:

• Low-tier: $25K total → allocate 5–8% ($1,250–$2,000) for day-of help
• Middle-tier: $35K–$50K → 10–15% ($3,500–$6,000) for partial/full service
• Luxury: $75K+ → 12–20% ($9K–$15K+) for white-glove teams

For our mates across the Atlantic: UK wedding costs are *wild*. Average total spend? **£24,000–£32,000** (~$30K–$40K USD). But here’s the twist—planning culture’s *different*. Full-service planners? Rarer. Most Brits hire a *wedding coordinator* (day-of or month-of) for **£800–£2,500** (~$1,000–$3,200 USD). Full planners? £3,000–£8,000 (~$3,800–$10,000), but often *exclude* supplier sourcing—you handle vendors, they handle execution. Also? VAT. Always ask “is that +20% VAT?” or you’ll get a nasty surprise. Fun fact: Scottish loch weddings spike planner fees by 25% (ferries, logistics, whisky bribes?). So while the *USD-equivalent* average wedding planner cost feels similar, the *scope* ain’t. Double-check contracts—Brit planners love fine print like tea loves biscuits.

That oft-quoted “average wedding cost = $35,000”? Yeah… it’s kinda like sayin’ “the average American owns 1.8 dogs.” *Technically* true—but wildly misleading. Why? ‘Cause it’s skewed by mega-weddings (think: $200K Hamptons blowouts). The *median*? $28,000. Big diff. And regional variance? Massive:

• Midwest median: $21,500
• South median: $24,200
• West Coast median: $39,100

Alright, real talk: the best way to lower your average wedding planner cost ain’t to skip one—it’s to *hire the right one*. Counterintuitive? Maybe. True? Absolutely. A pro planner’ll negotiate 10–20% off vendors (yep, even photographers), catch hidden fees, and prevent $2K disasters (*cough* tent collapse *cough*). Other hacks?

• Go *off-season* (Jan–Mar = 15–30% venue discounts)
• Trim guest list by 20% = instant $3K–$6K savings
• Choose a planner with *in-house design*—saves $ on separate decorator
• Ask about payment plans—many split fees 3–4 ways, no interest

References

• https://www.theknot.com/wedding-cost
• https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/average-wedding-cost
• https://www.brides.com/wedding-cost-by-state-5092856
• https://www.confetti.co.uk/wedding-costs-uk