The problem with that is any experienced planner worth their fee knows it is impossible to come in and execute a well planned event coming in the day before. Hourly rates for planners start at $50 per hour. So while it is tempting to hire a coordinator who charges $500 for a "day of" package, they are going to work more than 10 hours ($500 divided by $50/hour). Check out this breakdown in a recent Huffington Post article.
- Contacting your contracted vendors and obtaining their contracts -- three hours
- Reading and fully comprehending contracts -- three hours
- Venue walk-through -- two hours
- Creating a timeline to perfection -- three hours
- Assisting you in creating your ceremony order and flow -- one hour
- Rehearsal -- one (more like two) hours
- Pre-planning with the bride on ceremony lineup, guest lists, floor plans, etc. -- two hours
- Wedding day -- 10 to 12 hours
- Total hours required to PERFORM SUCCESSFULLY on the wedding day: 25 hours
25 hours X $50 = $1250.00
Would you really want to trust your special day to someone who sells themselves short? If they don't value their experience and skill set, why should you. Take the $500 you would spend on the "day of" package with an inexperienced planner and put it as a down payment on a more experienced planner. In the long run, it will be worth it.
Experienced planners have better resources and are better equipped to provide you with your dream day. Most experience planners also offer payment plans - making their packages more affordable. At the end of the day: "Don't put the success of your wedding day in the hands of the $5-an-hour wedding planner."
For our rates, or to schedule a consultation, visit our website to contact us today!
