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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an average wedding cost?

It (wildly) varies! On average, a traditional wedding with about 150 guests costs $30,000. I recommend a minimum budget of $10k, and closer to $75k for a luxury celebration.

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An intimate wedding with about 50 guests costs, on average, about $18,000. I recommend a minimum budget of $8,000, and closer to $50k for a luxury celebration.

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Your average elopement without a reception costs around $8,000. I recommend a minimum budget of $5,000, and closer to $20,000 for a luxury elopement.

How early should you hire a wedding planner?

As soon as you're ready to start wedding planning! Your wedding planner will help guide your most important decisions and support you from day one. A planner saves you time, money, headache, and sets you up for success. You'll get the most bang for your buck the earlier you start.

What does a wedding budget include?

Here's a quick list of what most/many couples include:

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Venue

Photography

Videography

Planner

Catering

Dessert

Flowers

Rentals (tables, chairs, linens, dishes, etc)

Decor

Music

Attire

Hair and Makeup

Jewelry

Stationary (invites, stamps, signage, vow books, etc)

Officiant

Gifts

Transportation

Do I need a wedding planner for a small wedding?

Probably!

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Small weddings require a particular skillset, with unique needs and challenges. An intimate wedding planner has the ability to find creative solutions in an industry set up for large celebrations.

How much does a wedding planner cost in Kansas City?

For a skilled professional with at least a year of experience, expect to pay...

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$1,500-3,000 for event management (aka day of coordination)

$3,500-$6,000 for partial planning

$5,000-10,000 for full planning

For luxury events, about 15% of the total cost of the celebration.

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The particulars of your celebration, as well as the skill and experience of your planner, will determine their fee. Most planners offer a payment plan and save you tons of cash throughout the process.

Do wedding planners decorate?

Yes! If you already have a design plan in place, your coordinator will take care of setting it up the day of your wedding.

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If you need help coming up with the overall design of the day or managing the details, many planners also offer design services. They can come up with a color palette, mood board, floor plan, source inventory, manage the budget for decor, and set up and tear down the day of. Many planners even have some inventory on hand to play with.

What's the difference between a wedding planner and a wedding coordinator?

In a nutshell, a wedding planner plans the wedding itself. They begin working on your wedding at least a few months before your wedding. They will come up with an overall plan, find vendors, keep your budget, determine logistics, a communication plan, and more.

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A wedding coordinator manages the production side of your wedding, and they start about a month before your wedding day. They will make sure the day goes as planned by checking in with vendors, setting up, keeping your timeline, putting out fires, and providing general assistance the day of.

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