HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an event planner in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An event planner in Ireland costs €800–€5,000 per event, typically around €2,000. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring an event planner in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers event planner work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — vendor Coordination — event planners manage relationships with various vendors, such as caterers, florists, and entertainers.
- How does complexity of the event change the price?The more intricate the work, the slower it has to be done. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does number of guests change the price?Each one still has to be done properly, however many there are. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does specific services required change the price?The level of service you pick is the price you pay. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Event planners typically do not provide services such as venue rental, catering, or entertainment directly — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a event planner job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Public liability insurance at the level YOUR VENUE requires — ask the venue first, then the supplier, because the venue sets the number; For anything with a structure or a ride, the inspection or test certificate; A written contract with the date, the hours, the set-up time and the overtime rate; What happens if they are ill — a named arrangement, not reassurance; Whether they have played your venue before, and what the power and access are like; PAT testing on their equipment, which many venues ask to see.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers event planner work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — vendor Coordination — event planners manage relationships with various vendors, such as caterers, florists, and entertainers.
A good answer: The more intricate the work, the slower it has to be done. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Each one still has to be done properly, however many there are. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The level of service you pick is the price you pay. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Event planners typically do not provide services such as venue rental, catering, or entertainment directly — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a event planner job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew — event Concept Development — an event planner collaborates with clients to create a unique theme and vision for the event.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the event planner starts, and an itemised invoice after — festival Organiser — plans large-scale public events such as music festivals or fairs, coordinating multiple vendors and entertainment options.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of the event — the more intricate the work, the slower it has to be done.
- Number of guests — each one still has to be done properly, however many there are.
- Specific services required — the level of service you pick is the price you pay.
- Vendor fees — it has to be seen before a firm price can be given.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the event — the more intricate the work, the slower it has to be done
- They will not talk about it: number of guests — each one still has to be done properly, however many there are
- They will not talk about it: specific services required — the level of service you pick is the price you pay
- A price for the event planner before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the event planner has begun
What an event planner costs: €800–€5,000 per event
The figures are for the job, per event, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Wedding planner and Corporate event planner each carry their own band. Event Planner price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Event planners near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstComplexity of the event — the more intricate the work, the slower it has to be done — that is what the event planner is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneNumber of guests — each one still has to be done properly, however many there are — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfSpecific services required — the level of service you pick is the price you pay — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherVendor fees — it has to be seen before a firm price can be given — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the event planner is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, venue costs — a clear answer here gets you a firmer quote.
- Event Concept Development
- An event planner collaborates with clients to create a unique theme and vision for the event.
- Vendor Coordination
- Event planners manage relationships with various vendors, such as caterers, florists, and entertainers.
- Wedding Planner
- Specialises in coordinating all elements of a wedding, including venue selection, catering, and décor.
- Corporate Event Planner
- Focuses on planning and executing corporate functions such as conferences, meetings, and team-building events.
- Party Planner
- Organises social events like birthday parties, anniversaries, and themed celebrations, handling all details from invitations to entertainment.
- Fundraising Event Planner
- Specialises in creating and executing events aimed at raising money for charities or causes, from gala dinners to fun runs.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an event planner: questions people ask
The cost of hiring an event planner can vary based on the complexity of the event, the number of guests, and the specific services required. Additional elements like location, seasonality, and vendor rates also play a significant role.
The duration for planning an event can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the size and type of event. Larger events, like weddings or corporate functions, usually require more time for detailed planning.
Many event planners offer emergency services, but availability can be limited, especially during peak seasons. It's advisable to contact planners directly to inquire about last-minute bookings.
Yes, many event planners can manage multiple related services, such as catering, entertainment, and decoration, streamlining the process for clients. This often leads to better coordination and can sometimes result in cost savings.
Event planners typically do not provide services such as venue rental, catering, or entertainment directly. Instead, they coordinate and manage these services through third-party vendors. It's important to clarify the scope of services during initial discussions.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
MORE GUIDES