Wedding coordinators provide peace of mind. They also help you save money. It's like having a realtor or even an attorney. Bear in mind that they may charge up to 15%. But they will probably save you 40% overall.
I ADORE my wedding coordinator! Planning a wedding is no joke, so I didn't mind a little help. Plus, these professionals have great insight, and can offer many discounts on wedding essentials. Depending on your needs, some charge a percentage of your budget and others offer a flat rate. Wedding planners are quite affordable and if your budget allows, it's definitely worth a splurge!
I am posting because to offer a inside opinion. A Wedding Consultant is worth their weight in gold. Depending on how early you contract their services they can save you a lot of money on most of your wedding items, and can offer great cost saving tips.
Most planners will either charge a percentage (10-15%) of your budget for planning your whole wedding or a hourly fee that can be worked into a package. If you need help in finding one in your area or would like some questions to ask while interviewing please feel free to email me at info@lisarileyevents.com
I'm in the process of moving to Charlotte and getting Married in July, I'm planning a Theme Wedding Western Style! No Hoop......Laa just Good Food & Music. I'm looking for a Event Planner to help with Reception Decorations and Rentals. any help is appreciated.
Hey Appletini....welcome to the boards! I am also getting married in July....and just so happens that I live in Charlotte! What part of Charlotte are you moving to?...
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10100;96/st/20070818/e/our+wedding%21/k/9663/event.png[/img]
[/url]
"To be a christian without prayer is no more possible than being alive without breathing" - Dr King Jr
I didnt hire one but the one I looked into Jenny (she was from Whose Wedding Is It Anyway, she is located in Jersey near me). for the day she charged I believe $600-$1500 for the day of
I don't really know how much others charge for the day of but I charge $695 if it's in town and if it's out of town, I charge the $695 plus my hotel, car rental and round trip flight. Those are things to think about when hiring an out of state planner. The food is covered as it's customary to invite him/her to both rehearsal dinner and allow her time to eat at the reception as well.
Some can be, but I look at it as a necessary expense if you are too busy to execute every little detail. I Hired one because I was going to grad school full-time, teaching a class of 110 at my school, and working another part-time job, and doing an internship (as part of my graduate credit hours). So I was too busy. As my friend, she charged me 550.00 for any meeting I wanted including fittings, dealing with all my vendors including my church, budgeting and financing, ceremony, rehearsal, reception planning...And the use of 2 of her assistants....I think she usually charges % of the budget. Which for her would have been about less than a tenth. My DH and I agreed she was worth every cent! We would have paid more but I'm glad for the deal too!
My business is fairly new so I offer what I consider to be introductory rates. I charge anywhere from $300-$500 depending on size of wedding party and size of guest list. More people means more work and the possibility that I'll need to have an assistant for the day. Once I become certified, I'm definetly charging more.
My DOC charged me $250 which she basically got for holding on to the marriage license, clearing out the decorations at the church and lining us up at the reception to be announced. She started enjoying herself so much that somewhere along the way she became just a guest.
"I'm a work in progress, God is not through me yet"
Thast awesome Pam that you've started your own business.I plan on doing that soon as well.
Actually, my coordinator is a good friend of my FH and I. She is really good and is doing an awesome job for us. She's not certified and has only done planning for events and parties of freinds and families. We are thinking of starting a business about six months after my wedding because I have an eye for decorating and setup. So I think we will work hand in hand. I've been doing my research on what we need to do to get started.
Thanks CMT. I've been doing this for YEARS for friends and family and they were they ones who actually who made me think seriously about doing it as a business. I've always been an organized, creative & artsy type of person and I enjoy doing DIY stuff so it's weird charging someone for something you honestly enjoy doing. I'm learning though...LOL
Good luck with starting your own. Doing your research is very important. Make sure you scout out other planners in your area so you can get a sense of the competition and know what your up against.
"I'm a work in progress, God is not through me yet"
That's the way I feel too ...but then when I stay up all night doing something like painting a banner, and when I get to the party, it's no where in sight! Now it's more so charging for my time, instead of what I like to do.
[quote="Turiya"]...but then when I stay up all night doing something like painting a banner, and when I get to the party, it's no where in sight!
[/quote]
LoL, I feel ya girl. People don't respect that "time is money" phrase strongly enough. LOL
"I'm a work in progress, God is not through me yet"
Considering all the hard work that goes into planning a beautiful wedding. I was a little surprised at these low figures, so I did some online research.
According to an article in iVillage, there are two ways to price your services. Some wedding planners base their fees on a percentage of the total bridal budget, taking somewhere between 10 and 15 percent. Others offer a variety of package prices, based on the services desired. For example, a package prices range from around $300 for back-up help on the wedding day to around $3,000 for full-service planning of the ceremony and reception. You can investigate the going rates and fee structures in your area.
Another iVillage article reports on the results of a 2000 Bride's Magazine survey which states that the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is $19,000, placing the consultant's earning per wedding at $1900 to $2850. According to the article, the cost of a wedding varies by region. Therefore your earnings will vary according to where you live.
The iVillage article lists the following startup costs: "$2,000 and up for a computer and software, from $100 to $5,000 to market yourself via advertisements in the yellow pages and local publications and through direct-mail campaigns; $500 and up for your wardrobe."
There are actually three ways planners can set rates: hourly, flat rate or percentage of budget. Viprincess is correct that when they use percentages, it's typically 10-15%, possibly even 20%. I beleive hourly rates are typically anywhere between $35-$50 per hour depending on type of service. Flat rates normally take into account billable hours. The rates I listed are strictly DAY OF coordination as I'm sure was the case with the others as well. Mid to full level coordination will be more expensive and full service coordination would be most expensive of them all. This is when you start getting into charging percentages.
"I'm a work in progress, God is not through me yet"
It also was a friend of hers. Sometimes as friends, we don't go as hard when giving fees as we would as someone on the street. In turn, that's where I messed up when it comes to charging ...
Another thing to remember ladies is that our business is a very competitive one. We set our price in such a way to keep up. If we overcharge, we won't have much business now, would we? I personally do all 3. I charge by the hour for "As Needed Services" and I have specific packages that are priced accordingly for a budget of $20,000 and under. Above that, I charge a percentage of the budget. I also charge for all the extras that I do at a wedding. Such as if I designed the invitations, or save the date cards etc..., then I charge for those services in addition to my fee for the coordinating package chosen.
[quote="VIPrincessBride"]Bumblebee's coordinator did much more than DAY OF, so she did get a great deal for $550.00
[/quote]
Yeah she definitely wasn't a "Day of" coordinator! She charges way more than that. But she is my friend and former work collegue. She is also working on her PhD so I help her out a lot with some work that needs to be reviewed, edited, etc. I had jsut finished shool shen she started so I was a little more fresh in that area. She had gotten her Masters 10 years ago so it has worked out well. Especially with the 2 other assistants she brought with her. So I had 3 coordinators at my wedding! God IS GREAT!
As far as fees, yes, the average is about 20K. But thats because of the Platinum weddings you see a lot of nowadays. Most brides spend much less than that, if 10K. I think that the prices you see here are MORE common. However, either way, a good one is worth their weight in Gold...I think its a worthy investment!
i would probably get one to negotiate my reception contract. also to help may sure things run smoothly for the ceremony.
Wedding coordinators provide peace of mind. They also help you save money. It's like having a realtor or even an attorney. Bear in mind that they may charge up to 15%. But they will probably save you 40% overall.
Get social and fan us on http://www.facebook.com/Vibrantbride] Facebook.
I ADORE my wedding coordinator! Planning a wedding is no joke, so I didn't mind a little help. Plus, these professionals have great insight, and can offer many discounts on wedding essentials. Depending on your needs, some charge a percentage of your budget and others offer a flat rate. Wedding planners are quite affordable and if your budget allows, it's definitely worth a splurge!
Hi-
I am posting because to offer a inside opinion. A Wedding Consultant is worth their weight in gold. Depending on how early you contract their services they can save you a lot of money on most of your wedding items, and can offer great cost saving tips.
Most planners will either charge a percentage (10-15%) of your budget for planning your whole wedding or a hourly fee that can be worked into a package. If you need help in finding one in your area or would like some questions to ask while interviewing please feel free to email me at info@lisarileyevents.com
Lisa
The Wedding Diva
Hi Wedding Diva:
Hear is my delema:
I'm in the process of moving to Charlotte and getting Married in July, I'm planning a Theme Wedding Western Style! No Hoop......Laa just Good Food & Music. I'm looking for a Event Planner to help with Reception Decorations and Rentals. any help is appreciated.
Hey Appletini....welcome to the boards! I am also getting married in July....and just so happens that I live in Charlotte! What part of Charlotte are you moving to?...
Small world isn't it! -- Welcome AppleTini!
Delight yourself in The Lord & He will give you the desires of your heart!Ps 37
Very small!
Rhony~ Did you use a wedding planner at all? The resort we are going to has one.
Welcome AppleTini!
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10100;96/st/20070818/e/our+wedding%21/k/9663/event.png[/img]
[/url]
"To be a christian without prayer is no more possible than being alive without breathing" - Dr King Jr
Where are my manners?!? Welcome Appletini! The ladies here are wonderful and will give the best advice!
I wonder how much a Day-of wedding coordinator would cost me with my 10 or so grand budget? Anybody ever hired on in here?
I didnt hire one but the one I looked into Jenny (she was from Whose Wedding Is It Anyway, she is located in Jersey near me). for the day she charged I believe $600-$1500 for the day of
I don't really know how much others charge for the day of but I charge $695 if it's in town and if it's out of town, I charge the $695 plus my hotel, car rental and round trip flight. Those are things to think about when hiring an out of state planner. The food is covered as it's customary to invite him/her to both rehearsal dinner and allow her time to eat at the reception as well.
Some can be, but I look at it as a necessary expense if you are too busy to execute every little detail. I Hired one because I was going to grad school full-time, teaching a class of 110 at my school, and working another part-time job, and doing an internship (as part of my graduate credit hours). So I was too busy. As my friend, she charged me 550.00 for any meeting I wanted including fittings, dealing with all my vendors including my church, budgeting and financing, ceremony, rehearsal, reception planning...And the use of 2 of her assistants....I think she usually charges % of the budget. Which for her would have been about less than a tenth. My DH and I agreed she was worth every cent! We would have paid more but I'm glad for the deal too!
We've been Happily Married 2 Years and Counting:)
a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/">
My business is fairly new so I offer what I consider to be introductory rates. I charge anywhere from $300-$500 depending on size of wedding party and size of guest list. More people means more work and the possibility that I'll need to have an assistant for the day. Once I become certified, I'm definetly charging more.
My DOC charged me $250 which she basically got for holding on to the marriage license, clearing out the decorations at the church and lining us up at the reception to be announced. She started enjoying herself so much that somewhere along the way she became just a guest.
"I'm a work in progress, God is not through me yet"
Thast awesome Pam that you've started your own business.I plan on doing that soon as well.
Actually, my coordinator is a good friend of my FH and I. She is really good and is doing an awesome job for us. She's not certified and has only done planning for events and parties of freinds and families. We are thinking of starting a business about six months after my wedding because I have an eye for decorating and setup. So I think we will work hand in hand. I've been doing my research on what we need to do to get started.
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10728;2/st/20090906/e/Our+1st+Anniversary/k/f5b3/event.png[/img]
[/url]
Thanks CMT. I've been doing this for YEARS for friends and family and they were they ones who actually who made me think seriously about doing it as a business. I've always been an organized, creative & artsy type of person and I enjoy doing DIY stuff so it's weird charging someone for something you honestly enjoy doing. I'm learning though...LOL
Good luck with starting your own. Doing your research is very important. Make sure you scout out other planners in your area so you can get a sense of the competition and know what your up against.
"I'm a work in progress, God is not through me yet"
Hey Pam,
That's the way I feel too ...but then when I stay up all night doing something like painting a banner, and when I get to the party, it's no where in sight! Now it's more so charging for my time, instead of what I like to do.
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10712;106/st/20081228/e/Our+Anniversary/k/5eb4/event.png[/img]
[/url]
[quote="Turiya"]...but then when I stay up all night doing something like painting a banner, and when I get to the party, it's no where in sight!
[/quote]
LoL, I feel ya girl. People don't respect that "time is money" phrase strongly enough. LOL
"I'm a work in progress, God is not through me yet"
Considering all the hard work that goes into planning a beautiful wedding. I was a little surprised at these low figures, so I did some online research.
According to an article in iVillage, there are two ways to price your services. Some wedding planners base their fees on a percentage of the total bridal budget, taking somewhere between 10 and 15 percent. Others offer a variety of package prices, based on the services desired. For example, a package prices range from around $300 for back-up help on the wedding day to around $3,000 for full-service planning of the ceremony and reception. You can investigate the going rates and fee structures in your area.
Another iVillage article reports on the results of a 2000 Bride's Magazine survey which states that the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is $19,000, placing the consultant's earning per wedding at $1900 to $2850. According to the article, the cost of a wedding varies by region. Therefore your earnings will vary according to where you live.
The iVillage article lists the following startup costs: "$2,000 and up for a computer and software, from $100 to $5,000 to market yourself via advertisements in the yellow pages and local publications and through direct-mail campaigns; $500 and up for your wardrobe."
So, in 2008, these figures have got to be much higher. The Association of Bridal Consultants should have more information.
[url=http://daisypath.com][img]http://dwdf.daisypath.com/TikiPic.php/x6JfPkg.jpg[/img][img]http://dwdf.daisypath.com/x6Jfm5.png[/img][/url]
There are actually three ways planners can set rates: hourly, flat rate or percentage of budget. Viprincess is correct that when they use percentages, it's typically 10-15%, possibly even 20%. I beleive hourly rates are typically anywhere between $35-$50 per hour depending on type of service. Flat rates normally take into account billable hours. The rates I listed are strictly DAY OF coordination as I'm sure was the case with the others as well. Mid to full level coordination will be more expensive and full service coordination would be most expensive of them all. This is when you start getting into charging percentages.
"I'm a work in progress, God is not through me yet"
Bumblebee's coordinator did much more than DAY OF, so she did get a great deal for $550.00
[url=http://daisypath.com][img]http://dwdf.daisypath.com/TikiPic.php/x6JfPkg.jpg[/img][img]http://dwdf.daisypath.com/x6Jfm5.png[/img][/url]
It also was a friend of hers. Sometimes as friends, we don't go as hard when giving fees as we would as someone on the street. In turn, that's where I messed up when it comes to charging ...
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10712;106/st/20081228/e/Our+Anniversary/k/5eb4/event.png[/img]
[/url]
Full service coordination for $550, yeah Bumble definetly got a hook up on that one.
"I'm a work in progress, God is not through me yet"
Another thing to remember ladies is that our business is a very competitive one. We set our price in such a way to keep up. If we overcharge, we won't have much business now, would we? I personally do all 3. I charge by the hour for "As Needed Services" and I have specific packages that are priced accordingly for a budget of $20,000 and under. Above that, I charge a percentage of the budget. I also charge for all the extras that I do at a wedding. Such as if I designed the invitations, or save the date cards etc..., then I charge for those services in addition to my fee for the coordinating package chosen.
[quote="VIPrincessBride"]Bumblebee's coordinator did much more than DAY OF, so she did get a great deal for $550.00
[/quote]
Yeah she definitely wasn't a "Day of" coordinator! She charges way more than that. But she is my friend and former work collegue. She is also working on her PhD so I help her out a lot with some work that needs to be reviewed, edited, etc. I had jsut finished shool shen she started so I was a little more fresh in that area. She had gotten her Masters 10 years ago so it has worked out well. Especially with the 2 other assistants she brought with her. So I had 3 coordinators at my wedding! God IS GREAT!
As far as fees, yes, the average is about 20K. But thats because of the Platinum weddings you see a lot of nowadays. Most brides spend much less than that, if 10K. I think that the prices you see here are MORE common. However, either way, a good one is worth their weight in Gold...I think its a worthy investment!
We've been Happily Married 2 Years and Counting:)
a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/">