Business, General Tips, Your Event Career
How Much Money Do Wedding Planners Make?
Updated 2024.
Key Points
- The wedding industry is expected to see a surge in 2025 and 2026.
- The global wedding market is expected to reach an estimated global value of USD $505.57 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 12.6%.
- Wedding planners may charge by the wedding ($500-$5,000+ per wedding), by the hour, or as a percentage of the total wedding budget (typically ranging between 12-20%).
- The average wedding planner puts together anywhere from 8-10 weddings per year (although that number can vary, depending on the person).
- When charging by the hour, the number of weddings done per year, the amount charged per wedding, and the amount of time spent per wedding will all impact the hourly rate.
- Wedding planners living in larger cities are typically more likely to earn more than those in small, rural towns.
- In the United States, wedding planners can potentially earn as much as USD $71,000 annually.
- Wedding planners can earn as much as CAD $71,750 per year in Canada, GBP £35,420 per year in the United Kingdom, NZD $71,000 per year in New Zealand, and AUD $85,000 in Australia.
- 10 ways to increase your wedding planner salary are: becoming a certified planner, building a business website, gaining a following on social media, prioritizing SEO, offering value-added services, finding a niche, investing in ad marketing, offering client incentives, pricing wedding planning services properly, and reviewing business expenses on a regular basis.
Introduction
For the sake of setting up realistic expectations, we’ll be honest with you: there’s no one definitive answer to the question, “How much money do wedding planners make?”
Depending on experience, location, and other factors, salaries can vary widely. However, there are a number of ways that wedding planners can make a very good living in this industry. In this article, discover the salary range for wedding planners, as well as 10 strategies that can help you potentially earn $100,000+ per year in your business!
Pro Tip: Dream of being a wedding planner but have no experience – and no idea how to get started? Here’s how to become a wedding planner in 6 easy steps!
How Much Money Do Wedding Planners Make Per Wedding?
This number can range quite a bit – anywhere from $500 to $5,000+, and sometimes even more. However, most planners charge a percentage of the total wedding budget, which typically ranges from about 12-20%. So, if a couple has a $30,000 budget, the planner would make roughly $3,600-$6,000 for their services.
Of course, keep in mind that this number can fluctuate based on the size and scope of the wedding, as well as the planner’s experience and expertise.
How Much Does a Wedding Planner Make An Hour?
This number will depend on a few factors, including:
- How many weddings the planner does per year;
- How much they charge per wedding;
- If they have any other income streams (more on this later!).
For example, let’s say a planner does 20 weddings per year. They charge an average of $2,000 per wedding and they spend approximately 40 hours working on each one. This would equal $50/hour.
However, if that same planner only does 12 weddings per year, but they charge an average of $4,000 per wedding and they spend 50 hours working on each one, that hourly rate now jumps to $80! See how those numbers can quickly add up?
How Much Money Do Wedding Planners Make a Month?
This will depend on the number of weddings the planner takes on each month, as well as their average fee per wedding. That said, there’s a lot of room for variation when it comes to a planner’s monthly income.
For example, let’s say a planner only does two weddings per month. However, they charge an average of $5,000 per wedding. That would still equate to $10,000/month – or $120,000 a year!
Now, let’s say that same planner takes on four weddings per month, but their average fee drops to $3,000 per wedding. In this case, they would bring in $8,000/month (or $96,000 per year). Granted, that’s still a pretty penny!
Where Do Wedding Planners Make The Most Money?
Based on Location
In terms of countries, wedding planners all around the world tend to make a similar annual income. Salary ranges also tend to reflect similar patterns across different countries, too. For instance:
- United States: The average annual salary for a wedding planner is approx. USD $45,950, falling within a range of USD $11,000 all the way up to USD $71,000.
- Canada: The average annual salary for a wedding planner is approx. CAD $70,000, falling within a range of CAD $63,900 all the way up to CAD $71,750.
- United Kingdom: The average annual salary for a wedding planner is approx. GBP £28,000, falling within a range of GBP £24,000 all the way up to GBP £35,420.
- New Zealand: The average annual salary for a wedding planner is approx. NZD $66,000, falling within a range of NZD $60,000 all the way up to NZD $71,000.
- Australia: The average annual salary for a wedding planner is approx. AUD $77,780, falling within a range of AUD $74,650 all the way up to AUD $85,000.
Generally speaking, though, wedding planners in larger cities tend to make more money than those in smaller towns. This is likely due to the higher cost of living in these areas, as well as the increased demand for wedding planners.
Based on Experience
As with most professions, wedding planners tend to make more money as they gain more experience. For example, entry-level planners can expect to make an average salary of $30,000-$40,000 per year. However, those with 5+ years of experience can expect to make closer to $50,000-$60,000 annually. And those with 10+ years of experience can bring in upwards of $70,000-$80,000+ per year!
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. For example, some planners may start their own business and charge higher rates than average. Others may have a niche market that allows them to command a higher fee. Either way, it’s safe to say that experience plays a definite role in how much money wedding planners make.
Pro Tip: Having a reputable certification will also help you increase your income. Check out QC Event School’s popular self-paced, online training courses and get internationally-certified in as little as 3 short months!
Based on Wedding Planning Services Offered
Those who offer more comprehensive packages (including things like venue selection, vendor management, and day-of coordination) tend to charge higher rates than those who only offer partial planning or month-of coordination. For example, full-service planners can charge anywhere from $2,000-$5,000+ per wedding. On the other hand, partial planners may only charge $1,000-$3,000 per wedding, and month-of coordinators may only charge a few hundred dollars.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule (just like with experience). But in general, the more services a planner offers, the higher their rates will be!
10 Ways To Increase Your Wedding Planner Salary
Want to make a six-figure salary as a wedding planner? With these 10 tips, there’s no reason why you can’t eventually rake in $100,000+ per year for your wedding planning business!
1. Become a Certified Wedding Planner
One of the best ways to make more money as a wedding planner is to get professionally certified. Not only will this show potential clients that you’re serious about your career – it’ll also show them that you have the skills and knowledge to back up your claims. Plus, once you’re certified, you can add this credential to all of your marketing materials. In turn, this will help you attract higher-paying clients.
There are a few different wedding planning certification programs out there. So, be sure to do your research before enrolling in one. For instance, the Event & Wedding Planning Course offered by QC Event School is a great option for those who want to get certified at their own pace, right from the comfort of their own home. Not to mention, thanks to QC’s competitive tuition rates and flexible monthly payment plan, you won’t have to go broke while you achieve your dream job!
Become an International Event and Wedding Planning Professional™ (IEWP®) in as little as 3 months by enrolling in QC’s Event & Wedding Planning Course today!
2. Build a Website For Your Wedding Planning Business
In today’s digital world, it’s essential to have an online presence for your business – and one of the best ways to do this is by building a website! Your website will serve as an online portfolio of sorts, where potential clients can learn more about your business and the services you offer. It’ll also give you a place to showcase your past work and testimonials from satisfied clients.
Building a website might sound like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite simple – especially if you use a drag-and-drop website builder like Wix or Squarespace. And once your site is up and running, be sure to include an easy-to-find contact form so that potential clients can reach out to you with any questions or bookings. If you’re not sure where to start, check out these tips for building a professional website for your business.
(Or, if you’d rather leave it to the experts, there are plenty of web design agencies out there that would be happy to build a site for you. Just be sure to get a few quotes before making your final decision!)
Either way, once you have a website up and running, be sure to promote it on social media and through word-of-mouth. Plus, you can also include your web address on business cards, flyers, and other marketing materials. By making your website easy to find, you’ll attract more potential clients – and, as a result, make more money!
3. Gain a Following on Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to promote your business and attract new clients. And, best of all, it’s completely free to use! Start by creating profiles on the major social media platforms like:
- X/Twitter
- TikTok
- YouTube
- Bluesky
- Threads
From there, populate your pages with content that will showcase your work, as well as highlight your unique selling points. Be sure to post regularly and interact with your followers to encourage engagement. You can also run social media ads to reach an even wider audience. By harnessing the power of social media, you’ll be able to reach a larger audience and make more money as a wedding planner!
4. Make SEO a Priority
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your website and content to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). When done correctly, it can be a powerful tool for attracting new clients and growing your business! There are a number of different things you can do to optimize your site for SEO:
- Include relevant keywords in your content, titles, and meta descriptions;
- Take advantage of Google’s My Business platform to ensure your business is being listed correctly and showing up in local search results;
- Write a blog and link it to your website;
- Optimize your URLS;
- Earn backlinks from other reputable sites;
- Use quality backlinks in your own webpages;
- Link internally to other pages and/or posts on your site and blog;
- Increase page speed and the overall user-friendliness of your website;
- Use ALT text and Schema.org markup;
- Optimize your website for mobile users, etc.
If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of resources out there that can help. Moz has a great Beginner’s Guide to SEO, and Semrush offers helpful blog post on common SEO mistakes to avoid. Ultimately, though, when you make SEO a priority, you’re better able to attract more potential clients. As a result of this, you’ll then make more money!
5. Offer Value-Added Services
In addition to traditional wedding planning services, you can also offer value-added services that will help you stand out from the competition. For example, you could offer:
- Day-of coordination;
- Design services;
- Event decorating;
- Destination wedding planning;
- Luxury wedding planning;
- Packages that include additional (complementary) services, such as catering, photography, or transportation.
Pro Tip: Check out QC Event School’s full course list to see the different variety of niches you can add to your resume!
6. Find a Niche
Another awesome way to make more money as a wedding planner is to find a niche and specialize in a certain type of event. For example, you could:
- Focus on destination weddings;
- Specialize in LGBTQIA+ weddings;
- Be the leading expert in eco-friendly weddings;
- Offer wedding planning with gourmet catering (for any foodies out there);
- Provide corporate event planning, etc.
By finding a niche, you’ll be able to attract clients who are specifically looking for someone with your skills and expertise. As a result, you’ll be able to charge more for your services – and, ultimately, increase your earnings. So, if you want to maximize your profits as a wedding planner, consider finding a niche and specializing in a certain type of event.
7. Invest in Ad Marketing For Your Wedding Planner Business
Ad marketing is a great way to reach a wider audience and grow your business. There are a few different platforms you can use to run ads, such as:
- Google Ads
- Meta Business Suite
- Instagram Ads
- Bing Ads
- Yahoo Ads
- Mediaocean
- Amazon Ads
- Adobe Advertising
- TikTok Ads
- YouTube Advertising
- Advertising on X
- LinkedIn Advertising
- Advertising on The Knot
- Advertising on WeddingWire
- Email marketing
8. Offer Incentives To Your Clients
Everyone loves a good deal. So, offer your clients incentives for booking with you! For example, you could offer:
- A discount for booking early;
- A refer-a-friend program;
- Free consultations for new clients;
- Discounts on services typically used in conjunction with wedding planning (e.g., catering, photography, transportation, etc.);
- Discounts on value-added services (e.g., event decorating, floral design, etc.) when your wedding planning services are booked.
9. Know How To Price Your Wedding Planner Services (and Get Creative With It)
When it comes to pricing your wedding planner services, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:
- Make sure your prices are competitive. After all, you don’t want to price yourself out of the market.
- Be creative with your pricing. For example, you could offer discounts for booking early, offer package deals, or even create a tiered pricing system.
- Ensure that your prices are fair. You don’t want to charge too much and risk losing business – but you also don’t want to charge too little and devalue your services.
10. Review Your Business Expenses On a Regular Basis
When you regularly evaluate your business spending, you’re able to get an accurate picture of which investments have been working for you – and which haven’t. This way, you can come up with a new strategy for whatever isn’t working. In turn, you should hopefully be able to save some money (without sacrificing the quality of your services). Or, at the very least, you can ensure that all money being spent is getting maximized in the best ways possible.
Here are a few ideas:
- Review your current contracts with vendors and suppliers to see if you can get a better deal;
- Evaluate your current marketing spend to see if you can reach your target audience for less;
- Review your current insurance policy to see if you can get a lower rate.
Wedding Planners FAQ
Q: Is wedding planning lucrative?
A: The short answer is: yes, professional wedding planning can be quite lucrative! In fact, according to WPIC: “The wedding industry is on the brink of a significant resurgence. After the pandemic, many couples delayed their wedding plans, leading to a surge in engagements in 2024. This surge is setting the stage for a massive wedding boom in 2025 and 2026.”
Moreover, LinkedIn reports that by 2030, the global wedding industry is estimated to reach a value of approx. USD $505.57 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6% between now and then!
Q: What do wedding planners do?
A: Wedding planners are responsible for helping couples plan their big day – from start to finish. This includes everything from booking vendors and managing budgets to coordinating with the wedding party and handling day-of logistics. Simply put: wedding planners wear many hats, and no two days on the job are ever the same!
Q: How many weddings do wedding planners do a year?
This, again, varies depending on the planner. Some planners only take on a handful of weddings each year (say, 15-20), whereas others only choose to book 8-10. But, of course, it’s entirely up to you! If you want to do as many weddings as possible, that’s your call! In fact, there are plenty of planners who juggle upwards of 50 or more nuptials annually.
