How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost

Hiring a wedding planner can help make one of the biggest days of your life more relaxing and less complicated. Whether the bride and groom both work full time, have children, or don’t know where to start, hiring a professional can ensure everything comes together how you want it to. But what exactly does a wedding planner do, what kind of questions should you ask, and how much does a wedding planner cost? You have come to the right place to find out!

What Does a Wedding Planner Do?

A wedding planner assists clients in planning their entire wedding or specific wedding activities. They can provide vendor lists or negotiate vendor contracts on behalf of clients. They can help work out a budget for the wedding, set the timeline for the day, and be the voice for the soon-to-be newlyweds.

They can handle things the bride and groom don’t have time for, like adjusting the temperature in the room at the reception. They can also help with stressful situations, like family mediation, when miscommunication occurs. A wedding planner will help ensure everything runs smoothly on the big day so the bride and groom can relax and enjoy this special time.

Types of Wedding Planning Services

There are different types of wedding planning services available. Find the best one that suits your needs! Some of these types are listed below. Please remember that different Wedding Planners will offer different service options, even if they fall under the same type of services.

Full-Service Wedding Planner

A full-service wedding planner helps with everything to do with your wedding. When a couple decides to get married, the full-service wedding planner can start working with them to create their ideal wedding day. They can help make and track the budget, plan the design/colour scheme, set up the ceremony and reception, organize travel to and from locations, attend appointments on behalf of the couple, and oversee almost everything regarding your wedding and may even be in charge of booking the honeymoon.

Month-Of Wedding Planner

Month-of or partial planning services are an option for clients who want to plan the entire wedding on their own. Partial wedding planners typically start four or five weeks before the big day. They gather information on what the clients have planned and booked, help create the wedding day timeline, confirm final details and times with booked vendors, coordinate the day-of events, and help with any last-minute tasks.

Wedding Weekend Coordinator

Wedding Weekend Coordinators are a mix of month-of and day-of wedding planners. If your wedding has multiple events or will take place over multiple days, this type of wedding planning service might help you. They can help with greeting guests, organizing things such as your rehearsal dinner or other non-wedding activities, and just keeping everything flowing on time.

Day-Of Wedding Coordinator

Day-of wedding coordinators don’t actually start on your wedding day. They will likely start a few weeks before the wedding with a meet and greet, followed by phone calls to touch base. Couples will still do all of the wedding planning. Still, the day-of wedding coordinator will communicate timelines with vendors, manage set up and take down of decor, and keep everything running smoothly and on time.

How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost?

The cost of a wedding planner varies depending on the type of planning services you have chosen. Most charge a flat rate for service and then can add extras to meet your specific needs. Rates vary, starting at approximately $1200 for day-of coordination and upwards of $5000 for full-service wedding planning.

Once you decide what service you would like, you can start looking around to see what is available. If you are unsure what service type you want, ask the professionals when you call around to see what they offer and what they think you might need based on your plans for the day.

Questions to Ask Potential Wedding Planners

Are you available for the date needed?

What types of wedding planning services do you offer?

Can you work within our budget?

How many weddings have you planned?

Where do you provide service – will you help with destination weddings?

When working with clients, will it be only yourself, or do you have a team?

Who are your preferred vendors?

Do you require a deposit, and if so, how much is it?

Will you be with us on our big day?

How do you keep in touch with clients, and how often?

You can ask your friends and family who they have used in the past as references from personal experience are always the best. Alternatively, we have compiled a list of some of the wedding planners in Calgary below. Contact them directly for pricing, as costs vary depending on needs.

Calgary Wedding Planners

Fiore Fine Events

Fiore Fine Events is a wedding and event management company that specializes in day-of coordination. It is set apart by its focus on the administrative and management side of weddings rather than on the design portion.

Their day-of coordination package starts at $1250 with their most inclusive package starting at $2800. There are also add-ons available as well, and all packages can be customized to your specific needs. They do have a list of preferred vendors but will work with any vendor you choose!

Blush and Co Events

Blush and Co is a boutique wedding planning and design company specializing in South Asian and Fusion Weddings. They are committed to creating refined and timeless events incorporating stylish and functional design elements. As a team, they pride themselves on producing authentic and memorable celebrations paired with amazing attention to detail and flawless execution.

At Blush and Co, they have the knowledge, passion, and resources to organize weddings of all sizes and cultures, including multi-day traditional weddings. They offer four different packages that can be tailored to your requirements. Packages start between $2000 and $5000, depending on which package you need and what you may add to such a Honeymoon booking.

Melissa Alison Events

Melissa Alison Events provides full wedding planning and, primarily, wedding day coordination for Calgary couples as well as Canmore and Banff. They help take the stress out of the wedding day so that couples can enjoy their big day. They offer wedding design, develop and distribute a master event schedule, coordinate vendors, manage timelines, set up and take down decor, and provide overall assistance with any other planning needs.

The wedding day coordination package costs $1500 with additional fees for larger weddings and/or travel to Canmore or Banff. Full day wedding planning packages start at $3500. They can also include honeymoon planning if that is what you are looking for.

They have vendors to recommend to you and will work with those you have chosen! The team at Melissa Alison Events believes in getting to know their customers on a personal level and take the invite to participate in your wedding day with genuine care and leadership.

Lynn Fletcher Weddings

Lynn Fletcher Weddings has a team of coordinators and designs with many years of experience in creating the perfect day for your biggest moment. With boundless enthusiasm of true romantics, they listen to their customers carefully, getting to know them in order to ensure their wedding day is a true reflection of who they are.

With many different package options and an a la carte add-on, Lynn Fletcher Weddings creates customized packages for each client’s specific needs. They offer full-service coordination, partial coordination, set-up and takedown services, and decor and design packages, with prices starting at $1500. They will work with any vendor a client chooses but can also provide a list of professional vendors that they have experience with.

With a passionate, dedicated attitude, the team at Lynn Fletcher Weddings genuinely cares about each couple’s vision for their day. They are dedicated to translating the love between a couple into a one-of-a-kind day, with memories to last a lifetime!

Kate Colman Weddings + Events

At Kate Colman Weddings + Events, they know what it takes to have flawless execution and work diligently to ensure that nothing is overlooked in the planning process for your wedding. They will take care of the details so you can enjoy your wedding party and celebrate one of the most incredible days of your life. They offer wedding management/coordination, partial planning and event design services.

Packages include support from the moment you book and start at $1200. Each package is customized for every client. They have a vendor list to help you plan and will also work with new vendors. Kate Colman Weddings + Events has over 10 years of wedding planning experience and will work with the bride and groom to ensure the entire process is as relaxed and stress-free as possible.

Impeccable Events

Impeccable Events Calgary has been in business for over six years and has a large, hand-picked list of top-rated vendors to ensure the highest quality and standard. They offer full wedding planning, day-of coordination services and event styling.

Packages range from $2300 to $4000, depending on the type of service you need and any add-ons you would like. They have a list of verified vendors that they will recommend to the bride and groom but are open to working with any vendors chosen. Impeccable Events strives to do just that, create an impeccable day to remember for the rest of your lives!

Additional Calgary Wedding Planners 

Beyond the Proposal

MoEvents

Everlasting Impressions

Wedding planning takes much work and involves a variety of different services. You might be in need of transportation services, looking for wedding photographers, a photobooth, wedding apparel services, a venue, a DJ service, delicious wedding cakes or need help choosing a catering service. Look for local companies and get pricing from multiple places to help you find exactly what you are looking for!