HOW MUCH DOES A UK WEDDING PLANNER COST?

A luxury wedding planner’s fees reflect much more than just the hours we dedicate—typically 250-300+ hours per full wedding planning and design project. They also encompass their expertise in the wedding industry, extensive knowledge of a professional network, and the complexity of your event, including factors like budget, guest count, venue, and the team required to bring your vision to life. I take on a limited number of clients each year, allowing me to devote lots of time and attention to each of my couples. This personalized approach helps me truly understand my clients and plan events with exceptional detail and care.

FULL WEDDING PLANNING & DESIGN

As with most luxury services, pricing is bespoke and dependent upon the level of support you require. Most UK wedding planners charge a percentage of your total budget, or a fixed fee that reflects the wedding you are looking to plan with terms and conditions should anything dramatically change along the journey.

• The UK wedding industry average is between 10-15% of your wedding budget

• Minimum fees of reputable luxury UK wedding planners usually start from £8,000-£20,000

• Different UK wedding planning services will all vary in what's included, it's important to obtain a full breakdown of the service before comparing the prices of different planners

At In Awe Weddings & Events, I offer full wedding planning and design services at a bespoke, fixed rate based on 12-15% of your overall budget, with a minimum fee which relates to the minimum budget we work with of £100,000. The exact percentage depends on the complexity and logistics of your event. During our initial consultation, after contacting us, I gather the details needed to provide you with an accurate quote. This pricing model fosters a transparent, trusting relationship, ensuring that my guidance is focused solely on making your planning process seamless, rather than influencing and increasing my fee.

WEDDING STYLING & DESIGN & WEDDING DAY MANAGEMENT

Because of how vastly different the scale, scope partial planning can be before quoting for these services thorough research and a detailed consultation with the couple to accurately determine the implicated cost and what will be included in the service is needed.

At In Awe Weddings & Events, we rarely offer partial wedding planning, as we prefer to provide our clients with a comprehensive, end-to-end service. This allows us to ensure that every detail is meticulously handled, leaving no room for oversight. However, for the right fit and the right needs of a couple we will still engage in this service!

COMMISSION & UNDERSTANDING QUOTES

When comparing quotes from luxury UK wedding planners, it’s important to understand that some work on a commission basis. This means they take a hidden cut—typically 5-20%—from your supplier invoices. While suppliers are supposed to absorb this fee, in many cases, they raise their prices to cover the planner's commission, ultimately increasing your costs. As a result, a planner’s initial fees may appear competitive, but their overall profit may come from these commissions, leading to a higher final cost compared to planners who do not operate this way.

At In Awe Weddings & Events, we are committed to building a strong foundation of trust with our couples. We do not operate on a commission basis, ensuring that your entire budget is transparently allocated to your wedding day, with no hidden fees or additional costs. Any discounts we secure from our trusted network of suppliers are passed directly to you.

DEFINING YOUR BUDGET

Many initial conversations with couples begin with them unsure about providing a budget, and there are a few common reasons for this. You may not know how much a wedding typically costs or how much your vision might require. You might also hesitate to share a figure, concerned it could be misused, or you may be waiting on approval from parents or other contributors. Wedding planners use your budget as a starting point because larger budgets require more complex logistics and planning time. It's essential that we understand your budget to ensure it aligns with the services we offer and the suppliers in our network, ultimately delivering the best possible outcome of our service.

Before making an inquiry, consider these first 5 steps. Embarking on the journey of planning a wedding can feel especially overwhelming and taking the time to outline these initial steps will help you define your wedding vision and operational needs, ensuring you're well-prepared when reaching out to luxury wedding planners. This will set you on the right path for a smooth and exciting wedding planning adventure!

During your initial consultation, we will always be honest and transparent about the costs of various wedding elements and whether your budget is realistic. Often, we work with couples to establish a budget they feel comfortable with, while providing a clear outline of how our fees may adjust if the budget increases significantly throughout the planning process. This ensures full transparency and keeps you informed every step of the way.

If you would like some more information on any of my services or to enquire please drop me an email on hello@inaweweddings.co.uk