Your wedding planner knows things about your wedding that you don’t. They’ve handled the vendor drama you never saw, fixed the timeline issues that would have thrown off your day, and probably talked your future mother-in-law off a ledge at least once.
They deserve a tip. Most couples agree.
The numbers
$100 to $500, or 15-20% of their fee if you prefer percentages.
For a planner charging $3,000, that’s $450-600 at 15-20%. The flat range of $100-500 gives you flexibility based on your budget and how much they did.
About 80-90% of couples tip their wedding planner. It’s one of the higher tipping rates among wedding vendors.
But wait—most planners own their business
True. And the old etiquette rule was “don’t tip business owners since they set their prices.”
That rule has basically disappeared for wedding planners. Here’s why:
They undercharge. Many planners, especially newer ones, price themselves lower than their work is worth to stay competitive. A tip helps bridge that gap.
The emotional labor is real. Planners absorb stress you don’t see. Vendor cancellations, family conflicts, last-minute changes—they handle it so you don’t have to.
It’s an industry norm now. The majority of couples tip their planner regardless of ownership status. Not tipping stands out more than tipping does.
If you can afford it, tip your planner. Owner or employee, the gesture is appreciated.
When to give the tip
You have two good options:
At your final meeting. If you have a wrap-up meeting after the wedding to return items and get final photos organized, this is a natural time. Hand over a card with the tip and a thank-you note.
End of wedding day. If you won’t see your planner after the wedding, give them the tip before you leave the reception. Find a moment during the last hour.
Either works. The final meeting option is nice because you’re not juggling it on your wedding day.
Example scenario
Your planner charged $4,500 for full-service planning. They were responsive, handled a vendor issue you found out about later, coordinated 12 other vendors smoothly, and on the wedding day, things just… worked.
A generous tip: 18% = $810. A more standard tip: $400-500.
Both are appropriate. Base it on your budget and how exceptional they were.
What if you had a day-of coordinator instead?
Day-of coordinators are different from full-service planners. They charge less, work with you for a shorter time, but still handle an intense day.
Tip them similarly: 15-20% or $200-500. Check out our day-of coordinator guide for specific advice.
If things went wrong
Not every planning experience is perfect. If your planner dropped balls, was hard to reach, or the day had problems they should have prevented, you’re not obligated to tip (or tip as much).
But if the issues were beyond their control—weather, vendor no-shows, family drama—the planner probably did their best with a bad situation. That might deserve a tip anyway.
Calculating tips for planners and everyone else? Our free calculator covers all 18 wedding vendor types.