Lately, there’s been a great deal of conversation about the state of the wedding industry, and more specifically, about pricing.
From my perspective as a luxury wedding planner, I’m seeing an increasing number of couples surprised by professional rates… while simultaneously being presented with dramatically lower-priced options.
So let’s talk about what’s actually happening and what those numbers really mean.
Not All Wedding Planning Is Created Equal
There has been a significant rise in what I would call “hobbyist” planners; individuals who are offering services at very low rates, often in an effort to gain experience or build a portfolio.
And while everyone has to start somewhere, it’s important to understand this:
Lower pricing does not mean equal service at a better value. It usually means a completely different level of experience, infrastructure, and responsibility.
Planning a wedding, especially a complex one, is not a casual undertaking. It is a full-scale production involving logistics, vendor management, timelines, design execution, and real-time problem solving.
It is nota part-time job or a side hustle.
Michael Romeo Creations
The Backyard Wedding Misconception
One of the most common misunderstandings I see is around backyard weddings.
On the surface, they appear simpler. More relaxed. More cost-effective.
They are often significantly more complex than traditional venue weddings.
Dyanna LaMora
When you host a wedding at home, you are responsible for:
Bringing in every single vendor
Managing power, rentals, restrooms, and layout
Creating a functional event space from the ground up
Coordinating logistics that a venue would typically handle
In my company, full-service planning for a backyard wedding begins at $15,000 and that reflects the level of involvement required to execute it properly.
When couples receive quotes far below that, it’s important to ask:
What level of oversight, experience, and accountability is actually being provided? How much experience does that person have planning backyard weddings? How many team members will be there? What about all of the necessary site visits leading up to the wedding day?
Dyanna LaMora
The Reality of “Day-Of Coordination”
Another area where pricing has become increasingly distorted is day-of coordination.
I regularly see requests for coordination services under $1,000.
Let’s put that into perspective.
Berit Bizjak Photography
A true coordinator is responsible for:
Final timeline creation and management
Vendor communication and confirmation
Rehearsal coordination
Full wedding day execution (often 10–12+ hours)
Problem-solving in real time
This is easily 40–50+ hours of work.
A professional service at that level should start around $2,500 in this market and often more depending on complexity.
Anything significantly below that raises an important question:
Is this a sustainable business… or a short-term offering? How much work are they really putting into preparing for the wedding day? Are they going it alone or will they have a team (that also needs to be paid)?
Dani Sork Photography
What You’re Actually Paying For
When you hire a professional wedding planner, you are not simply paying for time.
You are paying for:
Experience and pattern recognition
Established vendor relationships
Crisis management and contingency planning
Leadership and decision-making under pressure
The ability to execute without error
You are also paying for something less tangible, but equally important:
There is a common belief that choosing a lower-priced option is simply a way to “save money.”
But in many cases, it introduces risk.
Weddings do not allow for do-overs. There are no second chances to get it right.
And when something goes wrong, the difference between a seasoned professional and someone still learning becomes very clear, very quickly.
But, it’s too late then…and those that go cheap solely to go cheap, wind up on social media a month after their wedding listing how everything went horribly wrong at the hands of an amateur.
Dyanna LaMora
A Final Thought
Every couple has to make decisions based on their priorities and their budget and there is no judgment in that.
However, it’s important to align expectations with investment.
If you are seeking a high-level, seamless, and thoughtfully executed event, it requires a professional who is equipped and priced to deliver that experience.
Because in the end:
You’re not just paying for a wedding. You’re investing in how that day feels…and how it’s remembered.
