Business, General Tips, Your Event Career
How Much Money Do Wedding Planners Make?
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, we will discuss the salary range for wedding planners, as well as 10 strategies that can help you potentially earn $100,000+ per year in your business!
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Is Wedding Planning Lucrative?
The short answer is: yes, professional wedding planning can be quite lucrative! In fact, the average wedding planner makes approximately $32,000 per year. (We’ll touch on average salary ranges by country shortly!)
That said, experienced and successful planners can easily make upwards of $100,000+ annually.
What Do Wedding Planners Do?
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!
PRO TIP: Discover the full extent of what a wedding planner does by seeing what a typical day for them is like!
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.
How Much Does a Wedding Planner Make Per Wedding?
Again, this number can range quite a bit – anywhere from $500 to $5000+, 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 $3600-$6000 for their services.
Of course, 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, charges an average of $2000 per wedding, and spends approximately 40 hours working on each one. That would break down to $50/hour.
However, if that same planner only does 12 weddings per year, but charges an average of $4000 per wedding and spends 50 hours working on each one, their hourly rate jumps to $80!
See how those numbers can quickly add up?
How Much 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.
For example, let’s say a planner only does two weddings per month, but charges an average of $5000 per wedding. That would equate to $10000/month, or $120000/year!
Now, let’s say that same planner takes on four weddings per month, but their average fee drops to $3000 per wedding. In that case, they would only bring in $8000/month, or $96000/year.
As you can see, there is a lot of room for variation when it comes to a planner’s monthly income!
Where Do Wedding Planners Make The Most Money?
Next, let’s take a look at where wedding planners get paid the most.
Based on Location
Generally speaking, wedding planners in the United States make more money than their counterparts in other countries. For example, the average salary for a wedding planner in the US is approximately $42,800 USD/year (according to Payscale). More broadly, the typical salary range for wedding planners in the US is anywhere between $28,000 to $71,000 USD annually.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that this number can vary based on location. For example, wedding planners in larger cities (like New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco) 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 to $40,000 per year. However, those with five or more years of experience can expect to make closer to $50,000 to $60,000 annually. And those with ten or more years of experience can bring in upwards of $70,000 to $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 does play a role in how much money wedding planners make.
Fun Fact: 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
Finally, let’s take a look at how the services offered by wedding planners can affect their income.
As you might expect, 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 $2000 to $5000 or more per wedding. On the other hand, partial planners may only charge $1000 to $3000 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.
How Much Money Do Wedding Planners Make? (The Answer!)
Now let’s take a more detailed look at average salaries per country for wedding planners. Since we’ve already covered the United States, we’ll focus on different countries here.
How Much Do Wedding Planners Make in Canada?
As of August, 2022, Glassdoor reports that the average wedding planner in Canada earns approximately $33,500 CAD per year. Moreover, the average salary range per year is typically between $26,000 CAD and $43,000 CAD.
However, it’s important to keep in mind (again) that this number can vary based on location. For example, wedding planners in larger cities like Toronto or Vancouver tend to make more money than those in smaller towns. This is likely because the cost of living is higher in these areas, as well as the increased demand for wedding planners!
How Much Do Wedding Planners Make in the United Kingdom?
The average wedding planner in the UK earns approximately £21,384 GBP per year (again, according to Glassdoor’s August 2022 findings). Annually, planners here can expect to make between £16,000 GBP and £29,000 GBP.
Once again, though, you’ll be likely to earn a higher amount if you live in a larger city, such as London. This is due to the higher cost of living as well as increased demand in these areas!
How Much Do Wedding Planners Make in Australia?
SalaryExpert states that wedding planners residing in Australia tend make approximately $72,500 AUD annually. Furthermore, the typical yearly range is anywhere from $53,000 AUD to $88,000 AUD!
Wedding planners in larger cities – such as Sydney and Melbourne – are likely to make on the higher end of this spectrum. And those in smaller towns or rural areas will probably earn closer to the lower end.
How Much Do Wedding Planners Make in New Zealand?
In 2022 so far, Talent.com reports that the average wedding planner living in New Zealand can expect to make approximately $61,450 NZD per year. Payscale adds to this by stating that the typical annual salary range can be anywhere from $41,000 NZD to $73,000 NZD.
So, which larger cities might you want to work in, in order to ensure that you’re getting paid the bigger bucks? Auckland and Wellington are always good options!
10 Ways To Increase Your Wedding Planner Salary
Want to make a six-figure salary as a wedding planner?
Now that we’ve answered the question, “How much money do wedding planners make?”, it’s time to take a look at how you can make MORE money in this field. With these tips, there’s no reason why you can’t eventually rake in $100,000+ per year for your wedding planning business!
1. Get Professionally Certified As a 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 available, so be sure to do your research before enrolling in one. The Event & Wedding Planning Course offered by QC Event School, for example, 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 12 short weeks 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!
Once you have a website up and running, be sure to promote it on social media and through word-of-mouth. 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. Amass 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 (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc.). Then, populate your pages with content that will showcase your work and 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.
And, if you’re struggling to come up with content ideas, there are plenty of resources out there that can help. For example, SEO Design Chicago has a great blog post on social media strategies for wedding planners.
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
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of optimizing your website and content to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). And, when done correctly, it can be a powerful tool for attracting new clients and growing your business.
There are a few different things you can do to optimize your site for SEO. For starters, be sure to include relevant keywords in your content, titles, and meta descriptions. You can also take advantage of Google’s My Business platform to ensure your business is being listed correctly and showing up in local search results.
And, 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 HubSpot has a helpful blog post on 6 common SEO mistakes to avoid.
By making SEO a priority, you’ll be able to attract more potential clients – and, as a result, 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, or even destination wedding planning.
You could also offer packages that include additional services, such as catering, photography, or transportation. By offering more services, you’ll be able to attract a wider range of clients – and, as a result, make more money!
So, if you’re looking to make more money as a wedding planner, consider offering value-added services. It’s a great way to stand out from the competition and attract new clients!
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, LGBTQIA+ weddings, or even eco-friendly weddings.
Or, if you have a particular interest or expertise, you could use that to your advantage. For example, if you’re a foodie, you could specialize in planning weddings with gourmet catering. Or, if you’re an expert in event planning, you could focus on corporate events.
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, make more money!
So, if you want to make more money 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, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads.
And, if you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of resources out there that can help. For example, Hubspot has an excellent guide on how to create effective Google Ads. And, Vantage offers a helpful blog post on how to create Facebook Ads that convert.
By investing in ad marketing, you’ll be able to reach a wider audience and make more money as a wedding planner. Therefore, if you want to make more money as a wedding planner, consider investing in ad marketing!
8. Offer Incentives To Your Clients
Everyone – and we do mean 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 (i.e. catering, photography, transportation, etc.)
- Discounts on value-added services (i.e. event decorating, floral design, etc.) when your wedding planning services are booked
By offering incentives to your clients, you’ll be able to attract more business – and, as a result, make more money! So, if you want to make more money as a wedding planner, consider offering incentives to your clients. It’s a great way to attract new business and grow your wedding planning business!
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. First, you need to make sure your prices are competitive. After all, you don’t want to price yourself out of the market!
Second, you need to be creative with your pricing. For example, you could offer discounts for booking early, offer package deals, or even create a tiered pricing system.
Third, you need to make sure 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.
By keeping these things in mind, you’ll be able to price your wedding planner services competitively – and, as a result, make a killer income!
10. Review Your Business Expenses On a Regular Basis
Last but not least, one of the best ways to make more money as a wedding planner is to review your business expenses on a regular basis. By doing this, you’ll be able to see where you can cut costs and save money – without sacrificing the quality of your services!
For example, you could:
- 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
By reviewing your business expenses on a regular basis, you’ll be able to save money – and, as a result, make more money as a wedding planner. So, if you want to make more and more money over time, be sure to regularly review and keep track of your business expenses!
Conclusion
There you have it! These are just a few of the many ways you can make more money as a wedding planner. If you’re looking to boost your income and grow your business, be sure to keep these tips in mind.
And, most importantly, don’t be afraid to get creative! There are endless opportunities for wedding planners to make a great income – you just have to be willing to think outside the box!
Do you have any other tips on how wedding planners can make more money? Share them with us in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for reading!
