Are you newly engaged and beginning to plan your dream wedding day? Typically, one of the first vendors that couples hire is a wedding planner. But there are several types of wedding planning packages, and determining the package that is right for you should come first! In this blog, we’re sharing the questions to ask yourself and which type of wedding planning package fits best based on your answers.
Wedding Planning Questions to Ask Yourself
- How much time do I realistically have to devote to planning?
- Do I enjoy managing details, contracts, and timelines, or is that stressful?
- How important is professional design and styling support for the overall look and feel of my wedding?
- What’s my budget for wedding planning services?
Photo // Hayden Jordan Photography
Most Common Wedding Planning Packages
Most wedding planners offer their variation on the following services:
- Day-of or Month-of Coordination
- Partial Planning
- Full Planning + Design
- Design Only
Day-of Coordination and Month-of Coordination
If you have a lengthy engagement and/or plenty of free time to devote to wedding planning, a day-of or month-of coordinator may be right for you. Keep in mind that this will require you to identify and book most, if not all, of your vendors yourself. You’ll also be responsible for handling the contracts and vendor communication in the months leading up to the wedding. Although your coordinator likely has wedding design experience, often their coordination packages do not include design support, so you’ll want to make sure that you feel comfortable designing the look and feel of your wedding day.
Most coordination packages begin 30-60 days before your wedding and include the following services:
- Creation of a wedding day timeline
- Final confirmations with your vendor team
- Ceremony rehearsal management
- Day-of vendor and guest management
Cost of Day-of and Month-of Wedding Coordination: $1,000 to $2,500+, depending on the services included and your wedding location
Pro Tip: Some day-of and month-of coordinators offer consulting services priced by the hour, so if you’re unsure about your vendor selection or specific design elements, they may be available for additional support outside of your contract.
Partial Planning
You may know which venue you want to get married at, and have a favorite local florist, but you also want to make sure you have wedding entertainment and food options that your guests will love. If you are unsure where to start, a partial planning package could be the best fit! Partial planning packages typically include design support, including selecting rentals and signage to bring your vision to life. If you have limited time to commit to wedding planning but still enjoy being involved in the details, this is likely the best fit for your wedding day.
Most partial planning packages begin 6-9 months before your wedding day and include the following services:
- Vendor recommendations and contract guidance
- Budget assistance and tracking
- Light design support
- Multiple planning meetings
- Creation of a wedding day timeline
- Final confirmations with your vendor team
- Ceremony rehearsal management
- Day-of vendor and guest management
Cost of Partial Planning: $2,000 to $5,000+, depending on the services included and your wedding location
Full Planning & Design
When you think about your wedding day, do you struggle to envision what it will look like? If you want a seamless, beautiful wedding experience but hope to be involved as little as possible in the logistics and creative direction, Full Planning & Design is likely an excellent fit for you! From start to finish, your wedding planner serves as your guide. They’ll assist with vendor selection, budget planning, and overall style and direction. Typically, this type of wedding planning package includes unlimited call, text, and email communication, plus a set number of in-person meetings. Your full-service wedding planner can even manage RSVPs on your behalf! Because full planning is the most comprehensive service, it also requires the highest investment level.
Most full planning and design packages begin immediately upon booking and include the following services:
- Vendor sourcing, negotiation, and management
- Budget creation and management
- Comprehensive design and styling
- Planning timeline and task management
- Creation of a wedding day timeline
- Final confirmations with your vendor team
- Guest experience and logistics
- Rehearsal, ceremony, and reception management
- Multiple team members onsite the day of your wedding
Cost of Full Planning and Design: $6,500 to $10,000+, depending on the services included and your wedding location
Design Only
Although design-only wedding planning packages are the least commonly known and used, they are an excellent choice for couples who care significantly about the look and vibe of their wedding. If you’re Type A and love organization, and will have no problem managing the logistics of vendors, contracts, and day-of tasks, this package might be the best choice for you. Design-only wedding planning packages typically include creation of mood boards, color palettes, décor sourcing, rentals, florals, floor plans, etc.
Cost of Design-Only: $2,000 to $5,000+, depending on the services included and your wedding location
Keep in mind that these wedding planning packages are not a one-size-fits-all approach! Other factors to consider include your guest count, the complexity of decor, and services included from the venue. Regardless of the package selected, your wedding planner is there to support you and ensure your big day goes off without a hitch!
