There are many factors to consider when you are determining what to charge for your wedding planning services, knowing how long it will take you to do your work is an important part of it.
Question
I’m trying to price my services. Can you please share with me the approximate amount of time it takes to plan a wedding and reception? Also, the approximate time it takes to design for a wedding and reception?
Answer
The number of hours it takes to complete these tasks is dependent on so many factors that it’s impossible for me to pin down the exact amount of time they would take for you to do.
You can calculate your time yourself based on the amount of hours these tasks have taken you to complete in the past and by taking these 10 things into consideration:
1) Your level of skill and experience
If you’ve planned many similar events, the work won’t take as much time as it will if you are inexperienced.
2) The number of staff you have and their levels of experience
The more experience your assistants you have, the faster and easier the work will go. Don’t forget to factor in their charges when you determine your rates.
3) The services you are offering
Are you the planner or the planner and designer? Does the bride want you handling every detail for her or do you only need to coordinate her vendors?
4) The size of the wedding
The larger wedding, the more time it could take you to work with your bride to make all of the plans.
5) How complicated the wedding will be
If the bride wants a wedding with over-the-top décor, entertainers, fireworks or anything that is out-of-the ordinary, it will take more time for you to plan and/or design it than a wedding with a simple ceremony and reception.
6) The number of vendors involved
The more vendors involved, the more time it will take you to coordinate their work and manage them onsite.
7) Your relationship with the vendors
If you have worked together in the past, you’ll be familiar with each other’s work style and won’t need to spend as much time meeting with them.
8) The type of venues you are using
If a venue is not all-inclusive, you’ll need to spend time with your bride designing the event and working with a party rental company, caterers, bartenders and additional staff.
9) The number of venues involved
If the ceremony and reception are in different places, you’ll need to spend time planning and coordinating transportation, events and staff at two separate locations.
10) Your bride
If you have a bride who has difficulty making decisions and questions everything you suggest, it will take you more time to plan and design her wedding and reception than it would if you have a bride who is easy-going and trusts your opinions.
Remember that tasks usually take longer than you anticipate so factor in extra time. And don’t offer too many services that you haven’t done in the past. You want all brides to have the weddings of their dreams, so make sure you are offering the best service possible.
And if you have a pressing question about starting or running your wedding planning business, you can send me an email at [email protected]. I will answer them on this blog or in my ezine, “Wedding Planner Tips,” which you can subscribe to here.
