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Wedding Planner Tipping Guide

Wedding planners put in months of work before your big day. Most couples tip them, even when they own the business. Here's what's standard.

Tip ranges last verified: January 2026

Standard Tip Range

15-20% or $100-$500

Standard tip range

15% to 20% of their planning fee is typical. For a $3,000 planning package, that's $450 to $600. If percentages seem high, a flat $100 to $500 works too. The amount should reflect how much stress they saved you and how smoothly the day went.

Owner-operated planners

Unlike photographers and DJs, tipping wedding planners who own their business is pretty standard. The industry expects it. If they made your planning process significantly less stressful, tip them well.

What about their assistants?

If your planner had assistants working your wedding day, tip them separately. $50 to $100 per assistant is reasonable. They're often doing the behind-the-scenes work that keeps everything running.

When to tip

You can tip at your final meeting before the wedding or at the end of the reception. Some couples include a heartfelt note explaining why they're grateful. Planners often keep those notes for years.

Calculate your exact tip

Use our free calculator to figure out exactly how much to tip based on your contract amount and tipping style.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is tipping a wedding planner required?

Not technically required, but very common. The vast majority of couples tip their planner. If your planner made your life easier, a tip is the right move.

What if I only had a day-of coordinator?

Same rules apply. 15% to 20% of their fee, or $100 to $300 for a day-of coordinator. They still put in significant work.

Other Tipping Guides

Last updated: January 2026