Planning a wedding in India is a grand affair and with celebrations getting more elaborate every year, hiring a wedding planner has almost become a necessity rather than a luxury. From selecting venues to managing vendors, designing the decor, coordinating events, and ensuring everything runs smoothly wedding planners take a huge load off your shoulders. But the question on everyone’s mind is: What does a wedding planner cost in India in 2025?
The cost of hiring a wedding planner can vary significantly depending on the scope of services, size of the wedding, location, and the planner’s experience. Whether you’re dreaming of a big fat Indian wedding or an intimate celebration, understanding the pricing structure helps you plan your budget more effectively. This guide offers a comprehensive overview of wedding planner cost in India for 2025, covering everything from full-service planning to partial and day-of coordination.
Understanding the Role of a Wedding Planner
Before we delve into the pricing, it’s important to understand what a wedding planner actually does. A wedding planner is not just an event manager they are the architect behind your big day. They are responsible for crafting a seamless and stress-free experience, handling everything from design to logistics. Their responsibilities include venue scouting, vendor negotiations, timeline creation, guest management, theme development, and even crisis handling.
Depending on your needs, you can hire them for complete planning or for just a few specific services. This flexibility in service offerings directly affects the wedding planner cost.
Factors That Influence Wedding Planner Cost in India
There is no one-size-fits-all price when it comes to hiring a wedding planner in India. Several factors come into play:
- Type of Services: Full-service planning costs more than partial or day-of coordination.
- Location of the Wedding: Planners in metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi or Bangalore charge more than those in smaller cities.
- Scale of the Wedding: The guest count, number of functions, and level of customization affect the cost.
- Duration of Planning: Weddings planned over a year with multiple meetings and venue visits cost more than those planned in a shorter span.
- Reputation and Experience of the Planner: Established planners with a portfolio of high-end weddings often charge premium fees.
- Destination Weddings: For outstation or international weddings, additional costs include travel, accommodation, and logistics coordination.
Now let’s break down what you can expect to pay based on the type of service.
Full-Service Wedding Planning
A full-service wedding planner is involved from start to finish. This includes everything from helping you conceptualize the wedding to final execution on the day. They manage every aspect venue booking, vendor selection, theme design, guest list planning, budgeting, catering coordination, and even handling family dynamics.
Cost Range:
- For weddings with a budget of ₹20–50 lakhs, a full-service planner may charge between ₹2 lakhs to ₹5 lakhs.
- For weddings exceeding ₹1 crore, the cost can go up to ₹10–25 lakhs, especially if the wedding involves multiple destinations and elaborate production.
Many planners work on a percentage model, charging 10% to 20% of the total wedding budget. This model ensures that their compensation aligns with the scale of the event.
Partial Wedding Planning
If you’ve already finalized your venue and vendors but need help tying up the loose ends, partial planning is a good fit. This option allows couples to be more involved while still getting professional support for critical components.
Services typically include timeline management, vendor coordination, design curation and execution oversight during the last few weeks leading to the wedding.
Cost Range:
Partial planning in India may cost anywhere between ₹75,000 to ₹2 lakhs, depending on the complexity and city. It’s a middle-ground solution that offers balance between professional expertise and DIY flexibility.
Day-of Coordination
Also known as wedding day management, this service is for couples who’ve done most of the planning themselves but want someone to ensure everything runs smoothly on the actual day. The planner steps in a few weeks prior to the event, reviews all plans, coordinates vendors, manages the timeline, and handles any last-minute glitches.
Cost Range:
Day-of coordination usually costs ₹40,000 to ₹1 lakh, depending on the number of functions and hours of coordination required. It’s a budget-friendly way to secure peace of mind on your special day.
Destination Wedding Planner Cost
India is home to beautiful wedding destinations like Udaipur, Goa, Jaipur, Kerala, and even international hotspots like Bali and Dubai. Hiring a planner for a destination wedding comes with added layers of logistics such as guest travel, accommodation management, vendor sourcing in a new city, and more.
In such cases, wedding planners often charge higher fees or a fixed package, which could include travel and accommodation for their team.
Cost Range:
Destination wedding planning can cost from ₹4 lakhs to ₹15 lakhs or more, depending on guest count, number of events and locations involved.
Are Wedding Planners Worth the Cost?
Absolutely, if you value your time, peace of mind, and want a flawless event. A good planner not only brings creative ideas to the table but also has a network of reliable vendors, strong negotiation skills and contingency plans for every situation.
In fact, many couples find that hiring a planner saves money in the long run by helping avoid costly mistakes, securing better vendor rates, and ensuring resources are allocated efficiently.
Tips for Hiring a Wedding Planner in India
To get the most value from your investment, here are a few tips:
- Start early: The best planners are booked months in advance.
- Clarify your needs: Decide if you want full-service, partial or just day-of coordination.
- Set a budget: Be clear on how much you’re willing to spend and see if the planner can work within that range.
- Ask for references and portfolios: Always review previous work and speak to past clients if possible.
- Sign a clear contract: Ensure everything scope of work, payment terms, cancellation clauses is documented.
Final Thoughts
The wedding planner cost in India in 2025 varies widely, but so does the value they bring to your big day. Whether you’re hosting a lavish destination wedding or an intimate home function, having a planner on board can make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful. Their services are not just about luxury they’re about smart planning, creativity, and seamless execution.
When budgeting for your wedding, consider a planner as an essential investment rather than an extra cost. With the right planner by your side, you can focus on making memories while leaving the stress behind.