Wedding Planner Pay
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re considering a career in wedding planning. And why wouldn’t you be? Weddings are a joyous occasion, and as a wedding planner, you get to be a part of one of the most special days in a couple’s life. But what about the money? How much does it pay to be a wedding planner? The answer, unfortunately, is that there is no definitive answer. Like most professions, the amount of money you can make as a wedding planner depends on a variety of factors, including your experience, your location, and the size and budget of the weddings you’re planning.
Just to give you some context, the average U.S. wedding costs around $33,391. Of course, that’s just an average and doesn’t take into account all the different variables that can affect a wedding’s budget. A destination wedding in Hawaii is going to cost a lot more than a backyard affair in Kansas, for example. And weddings with 500 guests are going to require more work (and thus command a higher fee) than weddings with 50 guests. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the factors that can affect your earnings as a wedding planner.

Experience
As with most professions, your earnings as a wedding planner will increase as you gain more experience. When you’re first starting out, you can expect to earn less than someone who has been in the business for 10 years or more. However, don’t let that discourage you! The more weddings you plan, the more confident and efficient you’ll become, and your earnings will reflect that.
Location
The location of your business can also affect how much money you make as a wedding planner. If you live in New York City or another major metropolitan area, you’ll likely have access to more high-paying clients than someone who lives in a small town. That being said, there is still money to be made in small towns; it just might not be as much as what you could earn in a bigger city. If you’re ready to start planning weddings for a living, be sure to download our wedding planner pricing workbook! It includes tips on setting your rates and charging for services.

Size and Budget of Weddings
The size and budget of the weddings you’re planning will also affect your earnings. Generally speaking, the larger the wedding and the bigger the budget, the more money you’ll make. This is because larger weddings require more time and effort to plan, and thus warrant higher fees.
Wedding Planner Pay Last Words
So how much does it pay to be a wedding planner? There’s no easy answer, but hopefully this article has given you some insight into the factors that can affect your earnings. Experience, location, and the size and budget of the weddings you’re planning all play a role in how much money you can make as a wedding planner. To get an accurate idea of what you should charge for your services, it’s important to do some research and calculate your average hourly rate. We’ve created a handy worksheet that will help you do just that. So download our wedding planner pricing workbook and start charging what you’re worth!
