What it costs
Run-sheet, vendor coordination on the day(s), 2–4 coordinators, one planning meeting a month before.
Vendor shortlists for 4–6 categories, budget tracker, design direction, coordination for the main functions.
Venue search, every vendor booking and negotiation, design, guest hospitality, logistics and on-site team for all functions.
Full planning plus travel, room blocks, local permissions, recce trips and a larger on-site team.
What a wedding planner actually does
The job title covers very different services. At one end, a day-of coordinator takes the vendors you have already booked and makes sure they arrive on time, set up correctly and follow the schedule. At the other, a full-service planner finds your venue, designs the look, books and negotiates with every vendor, manages guest hospitality and runs a team of coordinators across every function. Most couples fall somewhere in between and buy partial planning: help with the big bookings and the design, plus coordination on the main days.
Be clear about which one you need before you start comparing quotes, because a ₹75,000 quote and a ₹12 lakh quote may both be fair for what they include.
How planners charge
There are three common models. A flat fee is simple and easy to budget. A percentage of the budget (usually 8–15%) scales with the size of the wedding, but make sure the agreement says whether it is a percentage of the planned budget or the final spend, and whether venue and jewellery are included in the base. A commission model, where the planner charges you little and earns from vendors, can look cheap but makes it hard to know whether recommendations are in your interest. Ask directly, and prefer planners who either do not take commissions or pass them on to you.
Use the budget calculator to see your likely total, then work out what a percentage fee would mean in rupees.
When a planner is worth it
- You are hosting 300+ guests across three or more functions.
- It is a destination wedding where you do not know the local vendors.
- Both families work full time and nobody can spend 10–15 hours a week on planning.
- Your budget is above ₹25–30 lakh, where a good planner’s vendor rates often offset much of the fee.
If none of these apply, you may be happier planning yourself with day-of help. Our planner vs self-planning guide walks through the decision.
Red flags
- Refuses to share vendor quotes directly or insists every payment goes through them.
- Cannot name who will be on site for each function.
- Takes on several large weddings on the same date with a small team.
- No written contract, or a contract with vague deliverables.
- Pushes you to increase the budget without explaining the trade-offs.
How to work with your planner
Share an honest budget from day one, including the share each family is contributing. Agree a single decision-maker on your side so the planner is not caught between relatives. Ask for a live budget tracker that shows committed, paid and pending amounts. Finally, agree a weekly call in the last two months; that is when most decisions pile up. Our planning timeline shows what should be decided when, so you can hold everyone, including yourselves, to a schedule.
Destination weddings need a different kind of planner
If your wedding is in Jaipur, Udaipur or Goa, look for a planner who has worked at your venue or at least in that city several times. They will know which local decorators, caterers and transport companies are reliable, which permissions take longest and how the venue staff like to work. A Delhi planner without local experience often has to subcontract, which adds cost and a layer of communication. Ask how many recce visits are included and who pays for them; one or two trips for the planner and the couple are normal.
All figures on this page are WeddingStreet estimates for Delhi NCR in 2026; see How we estimate.
What to look for
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Transparent fee structure | Hidden vendor commissions can quietly inflate every quote. |
| Vendor network in your city | Local relationships get better rates and more reliable vendors. |
| Team size | A 300-guest, four-function wedding needs 6–10 coordinators on the day. |
| Budget discipline | A planner who tracks every line helps you avoid a 20% overrun. |
| Calm under pressure | Things will go wrong; you want someone who fixes them quietly. |
Questions to ask before you book
- Is your fee a flat amount or a percentage, and what exactly is it a percentage of?
- Do you take commissions from vendors, and will you disclose them?
- Can we use vendors who are not on your list?
- How many weddings do you handle on the same dates as ours?
- Who will be our day-to-day contact, and will you personally be present on the wedding day?
- How many coordinators will be on site for each function?
- Can we see a full budget tracker and run-sheet from a past wedding?
- What happens if we go over budget — how do you flag it?
- What are your payment milestones and cancellation terms?
- Can we speak to two couples you planned for last season?
Example vendors
Saat Phere Planning Co.
Fictional example: a mid-size team known for detailed run-sheets and West Delhi banquet weddings of 400–800 guests.
Knot & Kin Weddings
Fictional example: a small studio focused on resort weddings on Sohna Road and design-led décor.
Rann Utsav Events
Fictional example: destination specialists for heritage hotels and forts around Jaipur.
Little Big Day
Fictional example: coordination-only team for couples who have booked their own vendors.