Most wedding planners have three common types of packages: day of service, consulting, and full-service planning. Here is a breakdown of how much a wedding planner service will cost based on its type:

• Prices for wedding planning services vary greatly by region. According to The Association of Bridal Consultants, the average total cost for a wedding consultant is $3,636 in the northeast and $2,635 in the south. The national average is $3,262.
• A day of planner: creates a wedding timeline, confirms details with vendors, and oversee the wedding day. This service typically costs around $1,200-$1,800 in larger metropolitan areas.
• A consulting planner: handles the wedding day, guides you through the planning process, and offers wedding planning advice. The couple, however, is responsible for taking care of all pre-wedding tasks, such as making phone calls to vendors. The typical hourly fee of Consulting is $40-$60 per hour for a less-experienced planner or one in a rural area. In a larger metropolitan area like Washington DC, a well-established and experienced wedding planner can charge $100-$150 per hour.
  
• A full-service planner: plans the wedding, handles almost all the wedding details, negotiates contracts and confirms logistics with vendors, and oversees the wedding day. In larger metro areas, this service typically costs around $3500-$5,000 but can costs as much as $10,000 or more, for an in-demand planner who has a minimum of 10 years of experience.

• Day of service package: wedding planner will typically confirm final details with vendors, help create a wedding day timeline for the couple, and handle all the wedding day details from beginning to end.
• Consulting package: wedding planner may recommend venues and vendors, offer tips on colors, style, and etiquette, and guide couple with staying on track with wedding planning. Planner will not be responsible for legwork and small details, but will interact with vendors on the day of the wedding and handle all the wedding day details from beginning to end, to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
• Full service package: wedding planner will typically help with setting the theme, style and color, booking the ceremony and reception venues, recommending reliable vendors with industry discounts, negotiating contracts and confirming logistics with all the vendors, and accompanying the couple to food and cake tastings. Some planners may also assist with mailing wedding invitations and keeping track of RSVPs from guests. On the wedding day, the planner will be on hand to take care of any last-minute details and ensure that everything is running on schedule, according to the wedding timeline.
• The details of packages and services will vary from planner to planner, so it is vital to clarify exactly what is expected from the wedding planning service in writing.

Although not expected, couples may choose to tip their wedding planner around 10 to 15% for excellent service, up to $500, or a nice gift.

• If you negotiate, some wedding planners may be willing to lower their fees.
• Mostwedding planners can get industry discounts from vendors, and most pass those along to their clients.
• Some wedding planners may offer a 10% discount for couples getting married in a slower month, such as January or February.

• Ask for recommendations from friends or other vendors, such as bridal salons, photographers, or caterers. Set up in-person meetings to see which consultant best fits with your needs, personality, and wedding budget.
• Make sure that hiring a wedding planner will be worthwhile by saving time, reducing stress, and getting vendor discounts.
• Begin your search for a wedding planner as soon as possible. Most wedding consultants will not be able to handle more than one wedding on a specific day, and popular dates and weekends always book months in advance!

Featured Cover Image: Lazaro Wedding Dress