The short answer
At the time of writing, October 2026, a full wedding planner in Sydney usually costs $5,000 to $15,000 or more. Published starting prices from Sydney planners we reviewed sat between $7,000 and about $11,000. Partial planning starts from about $2,000, and a day-of coordinator costs $1,300 to $2,500 for around 8 hours. I'm a day-of coordinator, not a planner, so this guide is about helping you pick the right one.
At a glance
- Easy Weddings puts full-service planning at $5,000 to $6,000 and day-of coordination at $1,500 to $2,000 (updated February 2026).
- Published full-planning starting prices from the Sydney planners we reviewed ranged from $7,000 to about $11,000, and large or luxury weddings go well past that.
- Some planners charge a percentage of your budget, usually quoted as 10% to 15%. Others charge a flat fee.
- In our coordinator price comparison, most 8-hour day-of packages cost $1,300 to $2,500, with a middle price of about $2,000.
- A full planner makes sense if you have little time, a complex or destination wedding, or want design help. If you've booked your suppliers yourself, day-of coordination is usually enough.
How much does a wedding planner cost in Sydney?
Expect to pay $5,000 to $15,000 or more for a full wedding planner in Sydney, depending on how big and complex your wedding is and how much design work is included.
$5,000 to $6,000
Typical full-service planning, Easy Weddings (Australia-wide, 2026)
$7,000 to $11,000
Published Sydney full-planning starting prices we reviewed, October 2026
$42,322
Average NSW wedding cost, Easy Weddings 2026 industry report
The national figure from Easy Weddings is a useful floor. Sydney sits higher. When we looked at Sydney planners that publish their prices, full planning started at $7,000 to about $11,000, and those are starting prices. Guest numbers, extra events and styling push them up.
Most Sydney planners don't publish prices at all. That's frustrating, and couples notice. In Australian wedding forums, a common reaction to a supplier with no prices on their website is to move on to the next one. So we've pulled together what is public, and been clear about where each number comes from.
Planner vs coordinator: what does each cost?
A full planner costs the most because they work with you for months. Partial planning covers a set of tasks. A day-of coordinator runs the wedding you've already planned, and a venue coordinator is usually included in your venue hire.
| Option | What's included | When they start | Typical Sydney price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full wedding planner | Budget, venue search, supplier shortlists and bookings, contracts, design and styling, run sheet, and running the day | 12 to 18 months out, or from engagement | $5,000 to $15,000+ | Busy couples, big or complex weddings, destination weddings, couples who want design help |
| Partial planner | Help with set pieces of planning, such as finding a venue or booking certain suppliers, often priced per task | Whenever you need help, often mid-way through planning | From about $2,000 per piece of work | Couples who are happy planning most of it but are stuck on one or two big decisions |
| Day-of coordinator | Planning meetings, full run sheet, supplier confirmations, running the timeline and suppliers on the day, bridal party and MC coordination | 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding | $1,300 to $2,500 for about 8 hours | Couples who've booked their own venue and suppliers and want the day handed over |
| Venue coordinator | The venue's space, staff, food, drinks, layout and house rules | From when you book the venue | Usually included in venue hire | All-inclusive venues with few outside suppliers |
Full planner range drawn from Easy Weddings, Ever After Weddings and published Sydney planner prices. Day-of range from our survey of 13 Sydney and NSW coordinators. Prices change, so check with each supplier.
The venue coordinator works for the venue, and their job ends at the venue's boundary. See venue coordinator vs wedding day coordinator for who does what.
How do wedding planners set their prices?
Planners charge a flat fee, a percentage of your wedding budget, or an hourly rate. Flat fees are the most common in Sydney. Percentage pricing is usually quoted at 10% to 15% of your total budget.
- Flat fee: one price for an agreed scope, often shown as "from" a starting amount. Easiest to compare.
- Percentage of budget: Bridebook and Airtasker both put this at 10% to 15% of your total wedding spend. On the average NSW wedding of $42,322, that's about $4,200 to $6,300. On a $100,000 wedding, it's $10,000 to $15,000.
- Hourly: for one-off advice. Sydney planners we reviewed charged $230 to $260 an hour. Easy Weddings puts hourly consultations at $75 to $100 nationally.
- Per task: some partial planning is sold as separate pieces, such as a ceremony package or a venue search. Sydney examples we saw were about $2,200 to $2,750 each.
If a planner charges a percentage, ask whether it's worked out on your planned budget or your final spend. If your budget grows, so does their fee.
What affects the cost of a wedding planner?
The length of time they work with you, how much design and styling is included, guest numbers, extra events and travel move the price most.
| Factor | How it affects the price |
|---|---|
| How early they start | Planning from 12 to 18 months out means many more hours than a few months |
| Design and styling | Concept, mood boards and styling hire are often priced on top of planning |
| Guest numbers | More guests means more suppliers, seating plans and logistics |
| Extra events | Welcome drinks, rehearsals and recovery brunches each add work |
| Locations | A separate ceremony location, or a DIY venue with no in-house team, adds planning and staff |
| Destination or regional | Site visits and travel add cost, and some planners quote these separately |
| Team on the day | Bigger weddings need a lead plus assistants |
Is a wedding planner worth it?
A full planner is worth it if you don't have the time, your wedding is complex, or you want someone to lead the design. If you've enjoyed planning and booked your suppliers, you're mostly paying for work you've already done.
I want to be fair here, because good planners earn their fee. A planner can save you many hours of research, emails and decisions. That matters if you work long hours, live overseas or interstate, or are planning a multi-day event.
When a full planner is genuinely worth it
- You don't have the time. Demanding jobs, young kids or planning from another city.
- Destination or regional weddings. Someone local who knows the suppliers is a real help.
- Big or complex events. Large guest lists, several events across a weekend, or a DIY venue built from scratch.
- You want design. A planner who also styles will shape the whole look, not only the logistics.
When day-of coordination is usually enough
- You've booked your venue and most suppliers yourself.
- You like planning, or at least don't mind it.
- Your worry is the day itself: timings, suppliers and who everyone turns to.
- Your budget is better spent on the things guests will see.
In Australian wedding forums, couples who've had a full planner often describe it as a luxury, with one recalling a fee of about $13,000. Others point out that a planner doesn't usually get you cheaper supplier prices. What you're paying for is a project manager who knows good suppliers. A lot of couples land on a middle path: plan it themselves, then hire a coordinator to run the timeline and take over supplier contact in the final weeks.
"Most couples who call me have already done the hard part. They've found the venue, booked the photographer and chosen the flowers. What they need is someone to pull it into one run sheet, confirm every supplier and look after the day, so they don't spend it answering questions."
Sara WardFounder & Lead Wedding Day Coordinator, Hello LoveWhich do you need: a planner or a coordinator?
Match the option to where you are in planning and how much help you want. The further along you are, the less planning help you need.
| Your situation | What usually fits |
|---|---|
| Just engaged, no time, want it all handled | Full planner |
| Destination or multi-day wedding | Full planner, with a local coordinator on the day if needed |
| Happy planning, but stuck finding a venue or key suppliers | Partial planner |
| Venue and suppliers booked, want the day run for you | Day-of coordinator |
| All-inclusive venue, few outside suppliers, small wedding | Venue coordinator may be enough |
| DIY or dry-hire venue with lots of suppliers | Day-of coordinator at minimum |
Still unsure? Our guide do I need a wedding coordinator? has a short checklist, and wedding coordination vs planning explains the two roles in more detail.
What should you ask before booking a planner or coordinator?
Ask exactly what's included, how the fee is worked out, who turns up on the day and what costs extra. Get it in writing before you pay a deposit.
- Is your fee flat, hourly or a percentage? If a percentage, of what?
- When do you start working with us, and how many meetings are included?
- Who builds the run sheet, and who confirms each supplier before the day?
- Will you be there on the day yourself, and for how many hours?
- Do you bring an assistant, and is that included?
- Do you take commissions or referral fees from suppliers you recommend?
- What costs extra: travel, overtime, styling, site visits, GST?
- What happens if you're sick on the day?
What does Hello Love cost?
Hello Love offers day-of coordination only: $1,800 for 6 hours, $2,000 for 8 hours (our most popular) and $2,200 for 10 hours.
We don't offer full or partial planning. We start working with you 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding, once your suppliers are booked. Every package includes:
- Three planning meetings
- A full run sheet
- Supplier confirmations before the day
- Coordinating every supplier on the day
- Looking after your bridal party, guests and MC
- Setup support
- An emergency kit
If you're still booking suppliers, our guide to when to book wedding vendors has a timeline, and our wedding run sheet template shows what a full run sheet covers. To work out hours, see how many hours of coordination you need, view all packages or get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
How we researched this
In October 2026 we reviewed published wedding planning prices from Sydney planners, on their own websites or their wedding directory listings. Most Sydney planners only quote on enquiry, so four published a usable full or partial planning price. Full-planning starting prices ranged from $7,000 to about $11,000, per-task partial planning from about $2,200 to $2,750, and hourly consultations from $230 to $260. We haven't named other businesses. Industry ranges come from Easy Weddings, Bridebook, Airtasker and Ever After Weddings. Day-of coordinator figures are from our October 2026 survey of 13 Sydney and NSW coordinators in our coordinator cost guide. Forum comments are what couples reported in Australian wedding discussion threads and are anecdotal, not data.
- How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost? · Easy Weddings (updated 10 February 2026) · checked 7 Oct 2026
- 2026 Annual Australian Wedding Industry Report · Easy Weddings · checked 2 Oct 2026
- How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost in Australia? · Bridebook (updated 28 July 2026) · checked 7 Oct 2026
- Wedding Planner Cost Guide · Airtasker (updated 19 February 2025) · checked 7 Oct 2026
- How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost in Australia? · Ever After Weddings · checked 7 Oct 2026
About the author
Founder & Lead Wedding Day Coordinator, Hello Love
Sara Ward is the founder and lead coordinator at Hello Love, a Sydney-based wedding day coordination service. She has spent years running weddings across the Sydney CBD, Inner West, Northern Beaches, Southern Highlands and South Coast - from intimate harbourside ceremonies to 200+ guest receptions.
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