How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost in Australia?

Planning your wedding is an exciting time, but it can also be time-consuming and stressful – not to mention overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you approach vendors? Do you know how to secure the best deal or negotiate with venues?

Of course, using Bridebook is a great way to take away a lot of the stress of planning your wedding, but there’s so much to do and so many things to remember, that it can still feel daunting at times.

That’s why many couples choose to hire a wedding planner. A wedding planner is an expert and will know exactly what to do to give you the wedding of your dreams.

That expertise does come at a cost – but it can definitely be worth it, saving you time, stress and even money. In this post, we’re going to explore how much a wedding planner costs, including what a wedding planner will do, the average amount couples might spend, and how a wedding planner could save you money.

What’s the average cost of a wedding planner in Australia?

In Australia, the cost of hiring a wedding planner typically ranges from $1,500 to $4,500, depending on the planner’s experience and the services provided. This investment can save couples time, reduce stress, and potentially lower overall expenses through expert budgeting and vendor negotiations.

According to our Ultimate Wedding Budget Breakdown, the average cost of a wedding in Australia is approximately $37,000 covering expenses such as venue, catering, attire, and entertainment. Hiring a wedding planner can help manage these costs effectively, to make sure the event aligns with your vision and budget.

While some planners may charge less, those with higher fees often bring extensive experience, strong industry connections, and refined negotiation skills, which can add significant value to your wedding planning process.

What does a wedding planner do?

A wedding planner is exactly what the name suggests: someone who takes charge and helps you organise your big day. From booking vendors and securing deals to resolving last-minute hiccups, they handle the logistics so you can focus on enjoying the process. Depending on the arrangement, your planner might also assist with setting up and managing the actual wedding day.

That said, hiring a planner doesn’t mean giving up the fun or control. You’ll collaborate closely, discussing your vision and budget to ensure everything aligns with your expectations. They handle the time-consuming tasks, leaving you free to make the exciting decisions without the hassle of the behind-the-scenes work.

Does a wedding planner help to save you money?

While at first the average cost of a wedding planner can seem like a big expense on top of an already expensive wedding, a good wedding planner can save you a lot of money.

An experienced wedding planner will have planned dozens, if not hundreds, of weddings. In that time, they’ll have made connections with venues and vendors, know all the right questions to ask and have learned how to negotiate the best rates. They’ll help you save money in ways you might not have even realised were possible.

As well as saving money, they’ll help you organise everything to avoid expensive mistakes. What might seem like an unnecessary cost could actually be one of the best decisions you make to make sure your wedding goes to plan and sticks to your budget.

On top of saving you money, a wedding planner also saves you time, which could be spent doing other more valuable things, particularly if you’re self-employed. Planning a wedding is time-consuming, so why not let someone else do the hard work?

What does it mean when a wedding planner receives a commission?

When you’re finalising the details with your wedding planner, you may notice in the paperwork that it mentions the planner may receive a commission when they make a booking. But what is that commission and where does it come from?

Don’t worry, this isn’t an additional fee you have to pay. This simply means your wedding planner may receive a small amount of commission when you book a specific venue or vendor and is usually a small percentage based on the cost. However, a good wedding planner won’t be driven by their commission, so shouldn’t allow it to sway their decisions about what is right for your wedding.

If you’re not sure about anything, just speak to your wedding planner before hiring them – they’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

What factors can affect the cost of a wedding planner?

A wedding planner will usually charge a flat fee based on the scope and scale of your wedding. What that fee is can vary depending on a number of factors, including:

Budget: Wedding planners often charge a percentage of your total wedding budget, typically ranging from 10% to 15%. This fee structure reflects the increased complexity and coordination required for higher-budget weddings.
Location: The location of your wedding significantly impacts planner costs. For instance, planners in major cities like Sydney or Melbourne may charge more than those in regional areas, due to higher living costs and demand. Hiring a local planner familiar with the area’s venues and vendors can be advantageous.
Service level: The extent of services you require affects pricing. Partial planning services, where the planner assists with specific tasks, are generally more affordable than full-service packages that cover every aspect from start to finish.
Guest count: The number of guests influences the planner’s workload. Larger guest lists require more coordination for seating, catering, and logistics, which can increase service costs.

Can a wedding planner also be your wedding coordinator?

Many wedding planners also offer a package that includes coordinating your wedding day. After all, who better to manage the big day itself than the one who helped you to plan it?

On-the-day coordination helps to reduce the stress further, make sure everyone knows what they’re doing and fixes any potential hiccups that might occur. This leaves you to enjoy your day, knowing it’s being managed by an experienced professional.

When should you hire a wedding planner?

If you’re looking to hire a wedding planner to provide a full planning service, the best time to do so is right at the start, before you’ve made any other bookings or reservations. This is so you can fully utilise their services and allow them to help you consider all options and secure the best deals.

If you’re only interested in a partial wedding planning service, you’ll need to hire them with around three or four months to go before your big day.

Is hiring a wedding planner worth it?

Planning a wedding can be a long, tiring, stressful and expensive process. That being said, it’s also a lot of fun! However, not everyone has the time and energy to spare, which is where a wedding planner shows their true value. If you find planning challenging or may struggle to find the time to spare, then you’ll definitely get a lot out of hiring a wedding planner.

A wedding planner can also be a lifesaver if you’re interested in a destination wedding. A local planner will have the knowledge and insight you might lack by getting married away from home and will save you hours and hours of avoidable research on just the area alone.

In fact, according to qualified wedding planner and wedding expert, Hamish Shephard, organising a wedding can take 200 to 300 hours of planning. When you think of it like that, the average cost of a wedding planner is actually pretty great value, especially as they can also save you a lot of money down the line.

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