wedding planner & DESIGNER in washington, DC

There are a variety of types of planners and planning packages available, so there is quite a range of answers to this question on the internet. As a planner who has been in the DC market for 8 years, I can confidently say that a full-service planner will range from 10-20% of your wedding budget. The lower end of the percentages will be for planners who have less experience or are less design-oriented, while the higher percentages will be for planners who have more experience and are highly design focused.

If you are looking for full-service wedding planning, right after you are engaged is most ideal so we can create the perfect vision for your wedding together from the start. If you already have a venue booked, that is a perfect starting place too!

When most people hear “design,” they think about flowers, linens, and rentals — but true wedding design goes far beyond décor. It’s the creative thread that ties your entire celebration together.

Your design influences:

• Stationery & signage – the first impression guests receive

• Catering & cake – presentation, plating, and even flavor profiles that align with your aesthetic

• Lighting & music – the ambiance and energy throughout your event

• Photography & videography – ensuring your vision is captured in a way that feels cohesive

• Guest experience details – from welcome gifts to how your seating chart is revealed

Every vendor plays a role in bringing your design to life. That’s why in Full Planning & Design, we carefully curate and collaborate with your entire vendor team to ensure your wedding feels cohesive, intentional, and elevated from start to finish.

There is a common fear I hear among brides that if they have a full-service wedding planner, they are giving up control of their wedding. While we can’t speak for other planners, we can confidently say that our couples are at the forefront of our process and we have a collaborative approach that involves our clients in the process without them taking on so much that it becomes stressful.

This can vary between planners depending on experience level and scope of the wedding. For example, a custom tented wedding is going to take more hours than a venue with lots of in-house items. Another example is that a newer planner will take longer to create a master timeline than a seasoned planner.

Our full-service planning package is very comprehensive. The only things it does not include and can be discussed as add–ons are wedding website creation, RSVP tracking, and hotel room blocks.

The investment is broken up into three or four payments throughout the planning process. We send a secure digital link for you to pay via ACH (no fee) or credit card (3% fee).

For weddings within a 50 mile radius Washington, DC (exact address of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500), all travel costs are covered in your planning fee.

For weddings outside of that radius, we require that clients cover travel fees, and our planning contract clearly lays out these expectations upfront so there are no surprises down the road.

Fill out our inquiry form for us to review and we will schedule a time for a 1-hour complimentary consultation if we have availability for your date!