What's Actually Included in a Wedding Planning Package?

If you've spent any time googling wedding planners, you've probably noticed something frustrating: almost nobody tells you what you're actually paying for. You get vague words like "seamless" and "bespoke," and then you're supposed to just... trust it?

We don't love that. So here's the honest, no-fluff breakdown of what a wedding planning package actually includes, and how to tell what YOU need.

First, the three main types of planning

Most planners (us included) offer some version of these three tiers. Here's what each one really means.

Full-Service Planning

This is the "we handle everything" option. If you're picturing someone who takes a huge weight off your shoulders from the very beginning, this is it.

Venue search and booking support

• Vendor recommendations and management (florist, caterer, photographer, all of it)

• Design and styling direction

• Budget tracking, so you always know where your money is going

• Full timeline creation

• Day-of coordination

PHOTOGRAPHY BY @keridanskyephotography

Partial Planning

This one's for couples who've already booked a few things (maybe a venue, maybe a photographer) but want help pulling the rest together and making sure nothing gets missed.

Vendor recommendations for whatever's still unbooked

• Design support

• Timeline creation

• Day-of coordination

PHOTOGRAPHY BY @THEINDICOLLECTIVE

Day-Of Coordination (sometimes called "month-of")

Despite the name, this almost never starts on the actual day! It usually kicks in 4 to 6 weeks out. You've planned everything yourself, and now you just need someone to take the reins so YOU don't have to be the one answering vendor calls during your own wedding.

• Final vendor confirmations

• Timeline creation and distribution

• Rehearsal coordination

• Full day-of management

PHOTOGRAPHY BY @THEINDICOLLECTIVE

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What's usually NOT included (and why that's okay)

This is the part most planners skip over, and it's exactly the part we think you deserve to know upfront:

• Vendor costs themselves (florals, catering, photography, etc.) are separate from your planning fee. Every year, we track real wedding costs across our bookings and hand that data to our clients, no matter which package they choose, so you walk in knowing what to actually expect from the industry, not just from us.

• Travel expenses are billed separately, not built into the Fee

• Add-ons like custom invitation design or welcome bag assembly are often priced separately

None of this is a bait and switch. It's just how the industry works, and we'd rather tell you now than have you find out later.

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How do you know which one is right for you?

Ask yourself honestly:

• Do I have the TIME to research and manage a dozen vendors? If not, Full-Service is probably worth it.

• Have I already got a solid handle on most of my vendors? Partial Planning might be all you need.

• Am I mostly just worried about the day itself running smoothly? Day-Of Coordination has you covered.
  

There's no wrong answer here. The right package is just the one that matches how much you actually want on your plate.

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Our honest promise

We'll never hand you a contract full of vague language and hope you don't ask questions. Every package we offer comes with a clear list of what's included, what's not, and what it costs, before you sign anything.

If you're not sure which package fits, just ask us! We'd genuinely rather have that conversation with you than let you guess.

Have questions about our packages?

Reach out and we'll walk you through it, no pressure, no sales pitch.