Wedding Planner Near Me: Costs, Services & How to Choose the Best One

When looking to hire a wedding planner for your special day and searching for a wedding planner near me, the options are to look for one within your local area, a wedding planner that is closest to the location of your wedding destination, or for one who is open to traveling to the destination of the wedding. Different wedding planners meet different criteria, and they must align with the couple's specific needs and visions. This decision may seem intimidating at first but there are a few steps that you can take to ensure you’re heading in the right direction when selecting the perfect wedding planner nearest to you. Some important steps to take are reviewing a wedding planner's portfolio, digital footprint, and customer reviews to ensure that their work is quality and worth your investment. In this article, we will answer some of the most common questions when searching for the best wedding planner nearest to you.

Photography by Jack Henry, Event Planning by Ramblewood Events

How Necessary is a Wedding Planner?

A wedding planner can be an extremely valuable asset when it comes to planning the most memorable day of your life. It is not uncommon to plan your own wedding, however, having the help of a professional is going to make it so much easier on your end. They are experts in the industry and their knowledge and guidance will help ensure that your wedding turns out to be the most flawless, organized, and unforgettable event, and that ultimately makes them a great asset to your special day. If you're interested in Luxury Full-Service Wedding Planning, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

Why You Need a Wedding Planner: Essential Reasons for a Stress-Free Celebration

Your Limited Schedule – The most common reason why some couples hire a wedding planner is because of their limited schedule and how time-consuming wedding planning may be. It takes on average 200-300+ hours to plan a wedding which can become an overwhelming challenge for a lot of couples. If you and your partner have busy schedules with minimal free time then hiring a wedding planner to manage the more time-consuming tasks such as the budget, design, coordinating with the vendors, and scheduling of the wedding logistics would be so helpful and a more enjoyable process.

Dreaming of a Grand Wedding – Weddings with a larger guest list and complex details can be quite complicated to manage without the help of an experienced wedding planner. There are many moving parts and infinite details that need to be managed properly to ensure that the couple’s exact vision comes to life. Having the help of a professional will ensure that every detail is executed flawlessly and the dream wedding comes to life the way the couple envisioned it to be.

Unfamiliarity with Destination Weddings – Wedding planners are the key to executing the perfect destination weddings. Most destination weddings are at an unfamiliar location to the couple, so it is helpful to have a wedding planner’s assistance for the best vendors for the wedding destination, and to take care of the logistics of your travel to ensure that your vision is executed seamlessly.

Little to No Knowledge of the Wedding Industry – Wedding planners have spent so many hours creating and designing weddings as well as collaborating with other vendors. The talent and knowledge that they have gained over their time is something that they will share with you to help make the planning process a breeze. Their knowledge of wedding trends, vendor recommendations, and how to handle contracts will bring so much value to you and your partner’s special day.

Less Overall Stress – There are countless details associated with wedding planning and oftentimes it can create a stressful experience. Hiring a wedding planner will take a lot of the burden off of your shoulders and help alleviate stress making it a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved, especially for you and your partner.

What Is The Average Amount For a Wedding Planner?

A wedding planner cost per hour ranges from $50-$200+ and the price varies depending on their level of expertise, the scale of the event that is being planned, and also where the location of the event will be held at. A wedding planner cost in the USA ranges from $2,000-$5,000 and full-service luxury weddings or destination weddings tend to go above $10,000+.

Are Coastal Locations More Costly For Wedding Planning?

Coastal locations for weddings tend to be more expensive due to their popularity. Some coastal areas like the beaches in California or Florida are in high demand due to their limited availability, scenic beauty, and meticulous planning. Hiring a wedding planner with experience in executing coastal weddings will ensure that there is a flawless execution of the event. If you are interested in Luxury Full-Service Wedding Planning for your coastal wedding destination, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

How Much Should I Budget For a Luxury Wedding?

A luxury wedding requires a budget of $100,000-$500,000+ which is also influenced by the location, the number of guests, the elements of design, and the quality of the vendors. Luxury weddings are defined by one of a kind designs with high end services and intricate details that elevate the costs beyond most standard weddings. If you are seeking to have a luxury wedding with one-of-a-kind planning and execution, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with at Ramblewood Events!

Factors to Consider: Budgeting for a Luxury Wedding

1. Venue – Premium venues such as luxury venues, private estates, and historical landmarks tend to have higher costs associated with the rental of the event space. The price can range from $20,000-$100,000+.
2. Catering and Bar service – Premium catering services and cocktail selections are a special detail associated with a luxury wedding. The price can range from $200-$500+ per guest for catering and bar service costs.
3. Wedding Planner – Full-service luxury wedding planners are in charge of every detail from the initial designs to its execution making sure that everything turns out as planned. Full-service luxury wedding planners typically charge 20% of the final budget of the wedding. This price can range anywhere from $12,000-$75,000+.
4. Photography and Videography – Luxury photographers and videographers with grand portfolios, large social media presence, and sometimes even magazine features can cost from $5,000-$45,000+.
5. Decoration and Florals – Custom décor and floral installations are what will set your luxury wedding apart from any event. The price can range from $10,000-$100,000+.
6. Entertainment – Escalating a guest’s wedding experience by having entertainment such as live music, fireworks, and premium DJs will make the event memorable for everyone. The price can range from $5,000-$80,000+.
7. Guest Experience – Some couples like to go above and beyond for their guest experience from creating custom wedding favors and lavish transportation to make their celebration an unforgettable one. The price can range between $2,000-$60,000+.

Full-Service Luxury Wedding Planning: What to Expect

Full-Service luxury wedding planning is an all-inclusive service from a highly skilled wedding planner who manages every detail of the wedding from its initial concept to its seamless execution. Full-service Luxury wedding planners offer exceptionally personalized, deluxe experience, based on the couple’s vision and ensure everything aligns with their lavish celebration. If you are interested in a full-service luxury wedding planner, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

The Breakdown of a Wedding Planner’s Price List

A wedding planner price list shows the different services that they have to offer from partial planning to full-service packages and any associated fees that may be included. Some full-service wedding planners specialize in an array of services so that you do not need to search for an external vendor. This eliminates how many vendors you will need to hire for your wedding day giving your planner more control over the details.

What is a Luxury Wedding Planner?

A luxury wedding planner is a seasoned professional who specializes in designing custom high-end weddings. They are accustomed to working with larger budgets at exclusive venues or destinations, with outstanding décor, and catering to a couple’s specific vision. Luxury wedding planners strive to deliver a seamless one of a kind wedding celebration by managing all aspects of the wedding planning with meticulous attention to detail. The relationships they have built with premium vendors, the quality of their design and installations, and the service that they provide for their guest experience is of the highest quality and overall exceptional. If you are interested in hiring an experienced Luxury Full-Service Wedding Planner for your special day, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

The Main Difference: Luxury vs. Standard Wedding Planner

What sets luxury wedding planners apart from standard planners is that luxury wedding planners are accustomed to handling higher budgets, creating custom designs that display refined style, paying special attention to every detail, and overall uniqueness. Luxury wedding planners go over and above to create exceptional celebrations that are specifically tailored to their clients' vision. If you are interested in hiring an experienced Luxury Full-Service Wedding Planner for your special day, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

What’s the Difference Between a Wedding Planner and a Wedding Decorator?

A wedding planner job description is they oversee the enter planning process and logistics of the wedding, however, a wedding decorator’s main focus is visual elements, executing the ambience and décor of the wedding. Their roles are going to be different, but they do join forces to help execute your wedding vision. Based on a couple’s specific needs you can hire one or hire both to make sure that your wedding day turns out to be as beautiful as possible.

Is It Necessary to Hire Both a Wedding Planner and a Decorator?

Whether you need a wedding planner and a wedding decorator to execute your wedding day depends on your budget and inspiration for the big day. For larger high-end weddings, hiring both is recommended to execute your vision flawlessly. If you are interested in both services for your big day, Ramblewood Events offers both services with their wedding package.

Wedding Planner vs. Wedding Coordinator: What’s the Difference?

A wedding planner vs coordinator is that a wedding planner is involved from the beginning of the wedding planning process by managing the budget, coordinating with vendors, and design execution which takes several months to complete. A wedding coordinator steps in closer to the date of the wedding and focuses on making sure that everything runs as planned.

Can I Plan a Wedding Without a Planner?

Planning a wedding without a wedding planner is possible but requires a lot of effort, organization, and time. For DIY weddings, a lot of couples have planned their own weddings by resourcing some help from their friends and family. Whether or not you decide to plan your own wedding should be based on your circumstances, the size of the event, and how good you feel about managing all of the logistics.

Common Challenges of DIY Wedding Planning

Planning your own wedding without the help of a planner can be fulfilling but there are many challenges that a couple should know they may face. From time management to tackling unexpected issues along the way, some common obstacles that come with DIY wedding planning is that it’s a very time consuming process, coordination with vendors can be complicated, managing the budget can be overwhelming, and solving your own unexpected problems on your wedding day can be extremely stressful. Purchasing a wedding planner book to stay organized with wedding checklists, budgeting, and vendor selections will make all of a difference for a DIY wedding.

Is it Cheaper to Plan Your Own Wedding?

It is more affordable to plan your own wedding without hiring a wedding planner because it reduces costs significantly. A wedding planner costs on average from $1,500-$20,000+ depending on your specific requirements. Not hiring a wedding planner may save you money upfront but can lead to hidden fees and the additional level of stress that arises from the amount of time invested in planning your own wedding.

Time Investment: A Major Factor of DIY Wedding Planning

The main challenge that comes with planning your own wedding is the time commitment that is needed from the initial planning to execution. The amount of time that it takes to plan a wedding is over 200+ hours and this can be extremely overwhelming for couples with busy schedules. The best way to decide if it is worth it for you to plan your own wedding is to take into account how much time you have available in your schedule, the size of your wedding, and your ability to stay organized throughout the whole entire process. A lot of couples hire a wedding planner due to the lack of time they have to invest in planning their own wedding and they immediately find value in having the extra help of a professional.

Reasons Why Some Couples Opt for a Day-Of Wedding Planner

A day-of wedding planner is ideal for couples who want to plan their wedding themselves but have an expert step at the last minute to execute everything for their special day. A day-of wedding planner is hired to make sure that the entire wedding day runs seamlessly while taking care of any last minute details. They manage the wedding day timeline, execution with vendors, and allow the couple to have a stress free experience on their special day. A day of wedding planner cost is going to range from $800-$2,500+ and the price is heavily influenced by their experience, the destination of the wedding, and the complexity of the event.

Is It Better to Hire a Wedding Planner?

Hiring a wedding planner is a better choice for most couples because they find that it adds so much value to their whole entire planning process, minimizes stress levels, and creates a seamless execution of their special day. If you can afford to, hiring a wedding planner will always be the best investment for your wedding day. If you are interested in hiring an experienced Luxury Full-Service Wedding Planner for your special day, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

Why Hiring a Wedding Planner Can Be a Smart Choice

There are so many benefits of hiring a wedding planner including how much time it will save you throughout your wedding planning process. The amount of guidance and support that you will receive from hiring a wedding planner through each step of the way will also help minimize stress levels which is a huge plus and that alone will make the planning process more enjoyable for everyone involved.