June 22, 2022
Destination Wedding Planner
HOW MUCH IS A WEDDING PLANNER?
You might have heard about people hiring wedding planners and are wondering whether this could be something for your wedding. Read through this article to learn what a wedding planner does, why you should hire one and how much a planner costs.
WHY SHOULD I HIRE A PLANNER?
You have gotten engaged and want to get married next year of the year after? Congratulations! An incredibly special, exciting and emotional journey is ahead of you: the wedding planning. More and more couples experience difficulties of balancing their worklife, their free time and now having to add on a task that some underestimate at the beginning. This is where a wedding planner often comes into play. Hiring a planner means focusing on you as a couple. It means being able to enjoy your engagement and making the most out of a time that you will only experience once - your engagement. You should be in love, go out for dinner and test all the cakes instead of stressing over finding the right venue or photographers. Wedding planners professionalise your wedding while always keeping it personal and customised. We focus on you as a couple and are looking to make your dreams come true. If you are still not convinced, take a look at this article and find out more.
Valerie
WESTEND WEDDINGS
Picture: Lea Weber
WESTEND WEDDINGS
Picture: Lea Weber
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
If you are interested in hiring a planner, the first step usually is Google. You take a look at different planners' websites and think about who could be a good fit.
Because more and more couples tend to hire a planner, it can also be helpful to ask family and friends about who they have worked with and what experience they have had.
My advice for every couple: Think about what your wedding is supposed to represent and look out for a planner who embodies that. Although we do cater to the wishes of our couples even though it might not be our style personally, we still specialise in certain areas. There is a planner for every couple, you just have to find them!
I have specialised in high-end weddings which means that I offer a bespoke and all-inclusive service for all my couples. Locations can be vineyards, castles or orangeries but I like to think out of the box and come up with new concepts every single day. I focus on creating a harmonious design concept and working together closely with all of the vendors so that everything comes together perfectly on your wedding day. On the day of I am responsible for the coordination and your guests so that you only need to inhale, exhale and say "I Do!".
THE COST
One of the most asked questions is: How much is a wedding planner? This depends on several different factors which is why we prefer to talk about it in person. However, there are aspects that determine how much a planner is.
Fixed rate or percentage?
Some planners might ask for a certain percentage of your budget as their fee. If you want to go with someone who does that, make sure to ask them how they can ensure to act in your best interest and not try to drive your budget up so that they make more.
I work with a fixed rate. This way I can pass on any discounts from vendors directly to you. I only recommend vendors that fit your wedding style.
One fits all
Watch out for planners who have one price for different planning services. They either sell their services below value if they charge the same for a full service planning and a partial planning or they are overpriced.
For every one of my packages (Partial, Full-Service, Destination Wedding) I charge a different amount based on my services.
All-Inclusive?
Some planners work with hidden costs or add-ons. By that I do not mean planners that explicitly state that they are also an officiant or a florist. These are different businesses that should be compensated accordingly. I mean planners that do not include being present the day of in their package or charge more when you exceed a certain amount of vendors.
My packages are all-inclusive and do not include add-ons. You want to add a live painter two months before the wedding? Wonderful! Let's do it!
Certification
Keep in mind that anyone can become a wedding planner. This does not mean that someone who did not go to uni for business, accounting or event management is a bad planner. However, there are indicators that show that a planner has thought about how to run their business. Some might have gotten a special education from a well-known wedding planning agency. Also look out for reviews of other couples and always listen to your gut feeling: If you think that your planner did not tell you the truth in your first call or did not answer questions, then I would advise you to look for someone else.
I have received my certificate from Avantgarde Academy Academy in Germany. This is a 6-month education which focuses on teaching you everything you need to know. Nationally, it is the first one of its kind and one of few academies that offers an education over the course of several months.
Der Pricing
In the end, varying factors such as location, experience or the level of uniqueness make up the price. For a full-service planning package in the high-end category you should calculate with a price in the middle to upper four-digit number to get a fair price. If you are looking for a day of coordinator or want to get married abroad, the price adjusts accordingly.
Let's talk more about it in a (free;)) first conversationso that I can show you what I offer.
If you want to get married and are looking for a wedding planner, feel free to contact me.