How Much Does a Destination Wedding Planner Charge in India?
From quiet luxury to practical clarity — here’s what that really costs.
Planning a destination wedding in India — especially from abroad — comes with big decisions and even bigger spreadsheets.
This guide unpacks how destination wedding planners actually work, what they charge, and how that changes with scale, style, and support.
Planning gets easier when you know what to expect.
THIS STORY IS YOURS —
WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU TELL IT
✨ Because clarity builds trust. ✨
Let’s talk money.
It’s not always the easiest topic — especially when you’re planning from a time zone away, juggling vendors, timelines, and a cousin who keeps updating the guest count from 140 to “just a few more.”
You might be wondering, “What does a destination wedding planner really cost in India? And is it worth it?”
Let’s lay it out clearly. No jargon. No disappearing details.
And one important note:
Weddings in India are seasonal — with most happening between October and March. That concentrated window affects everything from availability to pricing.
First: What Does a Destination Wedding Planner Actually Do?
A planner isn’t just a vendor.
They’re the person you trust with the big picture and the fine print.
They help you make decisions, cut through the noise, and bring your vision to life — without you managing 73 moving parts.
Some planners charge ₹20 lakhs or more 💎, while others — especially newer or high-volume teams — may start around ₹2 lakhs 🌿.
There’s no right or wrong — it depends on their style, experience, and level of involvement.
During your wedding week, your planner often becomes your anchor — calm in the chaos, emotionally present, and quietly handling everything behind the scenes.
It’s a short-term relationship, but a meaningful one — like a creative collaboration or a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
At the heart of it:
You’re not just paying for logistics.
You’re investing in clarity, consistency, and creative alignment.
So, What Do Wedding Planners Actually Charge?
What they offer. How they work. What they typically charge.
We’ve seen all kinds of weddings — intimate, elaborate, design-led, traditional — and planners come in just as many styles.
How many weddings they take on, how involved they are, and how deeply they design or manage — all of that shapes what they charge.
This isn’t about categories.
It’s about fit.
What follows is a breakdown of the kinds of planners we’ve seen over the years — based on approach, involvement, and fee range. 💬
We use words like Refined and Thoughtful not to sound different, but because they are.
These aren’t mass-market labels. They reflect how a wedding feels, not just what it costs.
Some weddings are layered and quietly luxurious. Others are warm, intentional, and deeply personal.
Neither is better. Just different.
This is the landscape — as we’ve come to understand it.
💡 The Landscape of Wedding Planners in India
Not all destination wedding planners work the same way.
Some take on five weddings a year. Others take on twenty.
Some lead with design. Others with timelines.
It’s not about categories. It’s about fit.
Here’s how the landscape tends to shape up — not fixed lines, but familiar rhythms.
💎 Luxury Wedding Planners
Fee Range : 15–20% of total budget (typically ₹15L+)
Weddings per year : Fewer than 5
Best for : Large-scale, high-production weddings with layered creative direction
These planners work like creative producers.
Every detail is curated, styled, and elevated — with teams of designers, stylists, and vendors working in sync.
Perfect when you’re dreaming in scale, and nothing is off the table.
Design isn’t just visual here — it’s spatial, immersive, and cinematic.
✨ Refined Premium Planners
Fee Range : 10–15% (₹8–18L)
Weddings per year : 5–8
Best for : Destination weddings under 250 guests, where design meets structure
They manage complexity with calm.
Think full-service planning, vendor curation, and elegant details — without going overboard.
Great for couples who want a beautiful experience and room to breathe.
Every element feels connected — nothing feels excessive.
🤍 Thoughtful Premium Planners
Fee Range : 10–12% (₹6–12L)
Weddings per year : 7-10
Best for : Boutique or intimate weddings led by meaning and clarity
These planners go deep.
They may not come with celebrity names, but they bring presence, care, and creative direction — all tuned to what youvalue most.
Think fewer moving parts, but more intention in every one.
✨ Practical / Budget Planners
Fee Range : 5–10% (₹3–5L)
Weddings per year : 12+
Best for : Mid-scale or budget weddings that need structure and vendor coordination
Their strength is in getting things done.
They support hotel packages, family-managed events, or weddings where the couple already has a vision — just not the bandwidth to execute it.
They tie things together. But they may not lead the vision.
Where Do We Fit In?
We plan destination weddings that sit somewhere between Refined Premium and Thoughtful Premium.
Warm, grounded, and deeply personal — the kind of weddings that feel intentional from start to finish.
Rooted in feeling. Designed with care.
Not big for the sake of being big. Not loud for the sake of being seen.
We work closely with our couples — listening first, aligning next, and then making it happen.
It’s a shared process where we guide, refine, and lead — so the final celebration feels unmistakably like them, without needing them to manage every detail.
We plan intimate celebrations — where the decor, destination, and every supplier are in quiet conversation with each other.
No single element trying to outshine the rest. Just balance, beauty, and meaning — held together with intention.
A Quick Note on Commissions
Because how planners are paid — matters.
Let’s talk about something that rarely gets discussed: how planners are compensated.
Some charge a clear, upfront fee. Others rely on vendor commissions — especially when fees are lower. Neither is wrong. But it’s worth understanding what that means for you.
You’re always welcome to ask.
Because clarity builds trust.
🔎 How It Typically Works:
💼 Boutique & Luxury Planners
Upfront fees. No commissions.
These planners charge clear, upfront fees — and that’s it.
They don’t take vendor commissions or kickbacks.
What you pay them is what they earn.
No surprises. No behind-the-scenes earnings.
It’s about clean lines. Transparent pricing.
A clear exchange of trust and value.
🤝 Refined & Thoughtful Planners
Mostly upfront. Sometimes both.
This space is more nuanced.
Most charge an upfront fee — but some may also receive vendor commissions.
Not as a rule, but sometimes, by circumstance.
What matters most is transparency.
Whether a planner does or doesn’t, you should always feel comfortable asking.
The answer shouldn’t feel defensive — it should feel clear.
💸 Practical / Budget Planners
Lower fees, vendor commissions.
When planning fees are lower — especially under ₹3 lakhs —
commissions from vendors often help keep things viable.
It’s not wrong.
It’s just how the economics of budget weddings tend to work.
These planners may be managing more events at once,
and commissions help bridge the gap between effort and earnings.
📝 And a final note:
Some hotels (especially larger chains) offer a standard TAC — Travel Agent Commission. Others don’t.
It’s a standard industry practice that comes up occasionally, and is typically offered only to registered travel agents — not passed on to clients.
FAQs: Finding the Right Fit
The Right wedding Planner. The Right Start.
Q. Should we hire a destination wedding planner before booking the venue?
A: Yes. Especially if you’re still deciding whether India is the right destination.
A planner helps you assess feasibility, budget fit, and guest experience — long before you commit to a venue.
👉 Still debating planner first or venue first? Dive deeper into why starting with a planner can save time, money, and regret. Read it here.
Q: Do planners take over everything, or can we stay involved?
A: That’s up to you.
We lead with clarity — so you don’t get stuck in the weeds — but always keep you looped in where it counts. It’s collaborative, not overwhelming.
Q. What if we’re still unsure about having the destination wedding in India?
A: That’s okay. You don’t need to have it all figured out before reaching out.
Sometimes, a single conversation helps clarify what months of online research couldn’t.
We’re here to guide, not to push — even if the final decision is a “no.”
Q. How do we know if we’ve found the right planner?
It won’t just come down to portfolio or pricing. It’s about how they feel — the way they write, speak, and show up online.
Look at their website. Their words. Their design sensibility. That’s often the front door they’ve built for couples like you.
If it resonates, it’s a sign.
And if it doesn’t — even if their work looks incredible — it might simply mean they work at a different scale, or with a different pace and volume.
It’s not about good or bad. Just about fit.
Real Talk from a Planner
Because this is more than logistics.
You’re not choosing a service.
You’re choosing the person who’ll help shape everything that follows.
Hiring a planner isn’t just about budgets.
It’s emotional. Personal.
You’re not just hiring help — you’re choosing someone who’ll stand beside you in one of the most intense, meaningful seasons of your life. ✨
Ideally, bring them in early.
Before the venue.
Before the spiral.
Interview a few. Follow up. And trust your instincts.
India has some incredible vendors.
But it’s your planner who shapes the journey —
with their experience, their eye, and their ability to build the right team around you.
No matter who you choose — boutique, refined, thoughtful, or practical — trust their guidance.
The best ones have done the legwork.
They know the terrain.
And they’ll walk it with you. 🤍
Not everything has to be figured out upfront.
But the right conversation can bring clarity.
📩 Curious about what’s possible?
If you’re planning from abroad or just unsure where to begin, we can help you make sense of it all.
Start with a call. Ask your questions. Get a clearer view.
