how much will it cost is it worth it

There comes a point in every couple’s planning journey when the question inevitably arises: Do we really need a wedding planner?

It’s a fair consideration and one that most couples discuss at length —after all, planners represent a meaningful investment. But for most couples, their planner becomes one of the most worthwhile expenditures of the entire journey.

The cost of hiring a planner can vary depending on location, experience, and scope. A full-service planner—someone who guides you from the first design concept to the final sparkler exit—can cost anywhere from 10–20% of your total budget, or roughly $4,000 to $15,000+. But beyond the numbers lies the real value: you’re not just paying for coordination. You’re investing in the freedom to enjoy your engagement and the confidence that every last detail will be handled with care.

A wedding planner’s greatest gift is invisible: time. Planning a wedding can consume hundreds of hours—time spent comparing vendors, balancing budgets, and troubleshooting endless details. A seasoned planner quietly absorbs that weight, translating your vision into reality while you focus on what matters most.

Even the most meticulously planned wedding has its share of surprises. A florist running late, a boutonnière gone missing, or a sudden weather shift. On your wedding day—dressed to perfection and possibly balancing on heels—the last thing you want is to troubleshoot. That’s where your planner steps in: part strategist, part crisis manager, part calm voice of reason. They handle the fires before you even see the smoke.

Peace of mind is priceless. There’s an intangible luxury in knowing that someone else is holding the clipboard, checking the timeline, cueing the processional, and keeping the champagne flowing. A good planner lets you be a guest at your own wedding—present, relaxed, and radiant.

xx Weddings by CGM Agency

Thanks for your question! If you’ve organised all the details yourself, are managing multiple suppliers, or are planning a DIY wedding, there’s often a lot to oversee on the day. Having an on-the-day wedding coordinator means you can hand over the logistics and simply enjoy the celebration you’ve worked so hard to plan.

A wedding coordinator manages suppliers, oversees setup, keeps the schedule running smoothly, supports the celebrant and bridal party, assists guests, and handles any last-minute issues. You’ve put so much effort into creating a wonderful day – you deserve to be present for it, not managing it behind the scenes.

At LinStar Events, I specialise in providing on-the-day wedding coordination for DIY weddings – perfect for couples who might have a lot of suppliers, be bringing their own decorations, drinks and/or catering, or need support to ensure the day runs on time and don't want the stress of managing logistics and timings themselves.

As one of Melbourne’s more affordable on-the-day wedding coordinators, my services generally range from $800 to $1,200 depending on whether you’d like support for the ceremony, reception, or both, as well as any travel requirements. Every couple says it’s absolutely worth it – they don’t want to work on the day, and I help them execute their vision without the stress of doing so.

I offer a free, no-obligation online wedding consultation where we can talk through your plans, what kind of help you might need, and how coordination could best support you.

Warm regards,
Linden

It’s a great question, and honestly, one every couple should ask! Wedding planning and styling can vary a lot depending on how hands-on you want your planner to be.

Across the industry, you’ll generally find:

• On-the-day coordination from around $2,000–$4,000
• Partial planning or styling between $4,000–$7,000
• Full planning and design often starting from $7,000–$12,000+, depending on guest numbers, travel, and scale.

For Vows Then Vodka, our packages start from around $3,500 for coordination and go up to full-service planning and design where we handle everything — logistics, vendors, timelines, styling, stationery, websites — the works.

Is it worth it? 1000%. You’re not just paying for someone to turn up with a clipboard — you’re investing in:

• A stress-free lead-up (we manage the chaos)
• A cohesive design done in-house (no extra designer needed)
• Our network of tried-and-tested vendors
• A seamless, good-time flow on the day
• And ultimately, a wedding that looks like a dream and parties like a hangover.

If you’re not sure where to start, send us an enquiry and we’ll help you figure out what level of planning fits your vibe and budget.

Wedding planner pricing in Australia varies depending on the level of support — from full planning through to on-the-day coordination — but most couples spend between $1,000 and $6,000. The real value, though, isn’t just in the service — it’s in what you get back.

The average Australian couple spends around $35,000 on their wedding, which works out to roughly $7,000 per hour of the day. When you think about it, hiring a planner for $1,000–$3,000 is a small investment to make sure you actually get to enjoy that $7,000-an-hour experience. A planner takes care of last-minute questions, coordinates suppliers, and handles all the behind-the-scenes logistics — so instead of spending your wedding day answering “where should this go?” or “what time does that start?”, you’re free to be completely present.

Plus, you’re not just getting help on the day — planners spend weeks or months beforehand organising timelines, confirming vendors, and smoothing out all the details you don’t see.

I’m Jasmine from Happily Ever After Events, a Melbourne-based wedding planner helping couples across Victoria — including the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges — have a seamless, stress-free, and truly memorable day. You can find me right here on Easy Weddings to see more about my services and packages.

That’s a really good question and one that every couple asks early in the planning journey.

The truth is, wedding planning isn’t a one-size-fits-all service, and pricing can vary depending on the level of involvement, experience and quality of the planner, the style of wedding, and how much of the process you’d like to hand over.

Some couples simply want help bringing everything together in the final weeks, while others prefer a complete, done-for-you experience where every detail from budget and logistics to design, styling, and vendor management is handled seamlessly from start to finish.

What you’re really investing in isn’t just time or coordination it’s experience, quality, and peace of mind. After years in the industry and hundreds of weddings, I’ve built trusted relationships with top-tier venues and vendors, know how to negotiate the right value, prevent costly mistakes, and ensure your day runs flawlessly.

Ultimately, the investment reflects how much of the work you’d like taken off your hands.

• Coordination starts from $4,800, ideal for couples who’ve planned most of the wedding but want professional support in the final stages.
• The Luxe Edit and Signature experiences, which include full planning, design, and coordination, start from $9,800 and $12,800 respectively.
• For large-scale or multi-day weddings, The Opulent Soirée begins from $28,800 or 10% of the total wedding spend.
  
  

So, is it worth it? Absolutely,  if you value your time, want a seamless planning experience, and want your day to look and feel every bit as extraordinary as it deserves to. A Wedding Planner isnt just about the day itself, its about the journey and the experience over the months leading up to it.