HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a wedding planner in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A wedding planner in Ireland costs €1,500–€6,000 per wedding, typically around €3,000. 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 a wedding planner in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers wedding planner work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — vendor Coordination — coordinating with various vendors such as florists, caterers, and photographers is a key part of a wedding planner's role.
- How does planner's experience change the price?The rate follows the depth of experience behind it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the wedding change the price?It is the reason two providers can quote very differently. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does number of services required change the price?Each addition is small, but they add up across the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Venue Selection — A wedding planner will assist you in finding the perfect venue that matches your vision and budget — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a wedding 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 wedding planner work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — vendor Coordination — coordinating with various vendors such as florists, caterers, and photographers is a key part of a wedding planner's role.
A good answer: The rate follows the depth of experience behind it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It is the reason two providers can quote very differently. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Each addition is small, but they add up across the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Venue Selection — A wedding planner will assist you in finding the perfect venue that matches your vision and budget — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a wedding 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 — theme and Design Consultation — focusing on the aesthetic aspects, this service helps couples create a cohesive theme and design for their wedding.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the wedding planner starts, and an itemised invoice after — partial Wedding Planning — this service offers assistance with specific aspects of the wedding, such as vendor selection or budget management, while the couple manages other details.
Getting the quote right
- Planner's experience — the rate follows the depth of experience behind it.
- Complexity of the wedding — it is the reason two providers can quote very differently.
- Number of services required — each addition is small, but they add up across the job.
- Complexity of the event — it is the main thing that separates a simple job from a hard one.
- 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: planner's experience — the rate follows the depth of experience behind it
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the wedding — it is the reason two providers can quote very differently
- They will not talk about it: number of services required — each addition is small, but they add up across the job
- A price for the wedding 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 wedding planner has begun
What a wedding planner costs: €1,500–€6,000 per wedding
The figures are for the job, per wedding, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Full-service wedding planning and Day-of coordination each carry their own band. Wedding 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
Wedding 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 firstPlanner's experience — the rate follows the depth of experience behind it — that is what the wedding planner is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the wedding — it is the reason two providers can quote very differently — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfNumber of services required — each addition is small, but they add up across the job — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherComplexity of the event — it is the main thing that separates a simple job from a hard one — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the wedding planner is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, number of guests — the count sets both the time and the team.
- Venue Selection
- A wedding planner will assist you in finding the perfect venue that matches your vision and budget.
- Vendor Coordination
- Coordinating with various vendors such as florists, caterers, and photographers is a key part of a wedding planner's role.
- Full-Service Wedding Planning
- This involves managing every aspect of the wedding from start to finish, including budget management, vendor coordination, and timeline creation.
- Destination Wedding Planning
- Specialised in planning weddings in locations away from the couple's home, handling logistics, travel, and local vendor selection.
- Partial Wedding Planning
- This service offers assistance with specific aspects of the wedding, such as vendor selection or budget management, while the couple manages other details.
- Theme and Design Consultation
- Focusing on the aesthetic aspects, this service helps couples create a cohesive theme and design for their wedding.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a wedding planner: questions people ask
The cost of hiring a wedding planner can vary based on factors such as the planner's experience, the complexity of the wedding, and the number of services required. High-demand seasons and unique venue requirements can also impact pricing.
Wedding planners usually work with clients from several months up to a year before the wedding date. The duration can vary based on the couple's needs and the size of the wedding.
While a general events planner can handle weddings, hiring a specialist wedding planner is recommended for their expertise in the nuances of wedding logistics, vendor relationships, and specific regulations pertaining to marriage events. Look for planners who have relevant qualifications or certifications in event management.
It is possible to find wedding planners for last-minute bookings, but availability may be limited, and costs could be higher. It's advisable to book as early as possible to secure your preferred planner.
Yes, many wedding planners offer packages that include multiple services, such as venue selection, vendor coordination, and day-of management. This can often lead to cost savings compared to booking each service separately.
While wedding planners cover a wide range of services, they typically do not provide catering, floral arrangements, or photography themselves. Instead, they facilitate the hiring of these vendors and manage their coordination.
MORE GUIDES