It’s one of the first questions couples ask, and one of the hardest to get a straight answer to. Wedding planner pricing varies enormously depending on what you’re actually asking them to do — so here’s a proper breakdown, not just a vague range.
The three levels of wedding planning, and what they cost
Full planning — the planner handles everything from venue sourcing to the final seating chart. Typically £2,500–£6,000+, sometimes priced as a percentage of your total budget (usually 10–15%). Worth it if you’re short on time, planning from abroad, or simply don’t want to deal with suppliers.
Partial planning — you’ve booked your venue and made the big decisions, and the planner steps in to manage suppliers, timelines, and logistics from a few months out. Typically £1,200–£2,500.
Day-of (or “month-of”) coordination — the planner takes over roughly 4–6 weeks before the wedding, confirms every supplier, builds the running order, and manages the day itself so you’re not fielding phone calls in your dress. Typically £500–£1,200. This is the most commonly booked tier in the UK, and often the best value if you’ve enjoyed planning but don’t want to manage the day itself.
What actually affects the price
- Guest count and complexity — a 200-guest multi-venue wedding takes considerably more coordination than an intimate 40-guest day.
- Location — London and the South East typically run higher than the rest of the UK.
- How close to the date you’re booking — last-minute bookings sometimes cost more due to compressed timelines.
Is it worth it?
If you’re weighing this against doing it yourself, our wedding venue checklist and full wedding planning timeline are built to cover most of what a planner would organise for you — worth working through those first to see how much you’re comfortable handling before deciding.
Or here’s a wedding planning organiser for anyone deciding to self-plan.
You don’t have to figure this out alone
The Big Day Bulletin exists to make this process feel less overwhelming and more enjoyable. Whether you’re at the very beginning like right now, or knee deep in seating plans and supplier emails, we’ve got guides, ideas, and honest advice for every stage. Browse the blog, bookmark what’s useful, and come back whenever you need it.
Found this helpful? Save it to Pinterest so you can find it again when you need it – or share it with a newly engaged friend who could do with a calm, sensible starting point.