The Best Wedding Planners In The UK For Your Big Day: Our Expert Edit
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2 weeks ago
Leave the planning to the professionals
Congratulations are in order: you’re officially engaged to the love of your life! Now, all that’s left to do is get started on wedding prep. Organising a wedding can feel like a full-time job – and really, it is. Save yourself the trouble of exchanging emails, tracking down florists and booking the perfect DJ by teaming up with one of these amazing wedding planners.
The Best Wedding Planners For Your Big Day
Emma Joy The Wedding Planner
Since starting her event planning business in 2017, Emma Joy has become one of the UK’s most sought-after wedding planners. The London-based planner has curated marriage ceremonies for some of the city’s grandest destinations – including Kew Gardens and the V&A – but can also head out further afield for couples with a distinct vision in mind.
emmajoytheweddingplanner.co.uk
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Natalie Hewitt
‘Personal planning with a design led, calm approach.’ That’s the motto for Natalie Hewitt, who has been helping couples achieve their dream wedding day for almost 15 years. The award-winning wedding planner is known for creating timeless wedding celebrations (fuelled by plenty of collaboration with the bride and groom) with a creative streak.
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Matthew Shaw, Sauveur
If it’s a blow-out party you are dreaming of (festival wedding, anyone?), Sauveur is our top choice. A vibrant team led by industry maverick Matthew Shaw, unexpected details are this luxury events company’s bread and butter. And when it comes to your special day, that’s all the more valuable: think people-centric innovations, thoughtful moments and a seamless, considered planning process. Shaw comes armed with solutions to problems you have not even conjured in your mind yet – and what more could a busy bride want?
A wedding arranged by Sauveur
Sarah Haywood
If the goal is to have your guests’ jaws on the floor when you walk down the aisle, then this is your go-to wedding planner. The team, headed up by veteran events planner Sarah Haywood, is practiced in both intimate gatherings and large-scale celebrations – but regardless of the group size, it’s bound to be a memorable night. Known for her queen eye for detail, you can expect a wedding day (and night) like no other: elegant, stylish and bags of fun.
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Niemierko
Go big or go home with Mark Niemierko. Known as one of Britain’s leading luxury wedding planners, Mark is renowned for his attentive and detail-oriented approach to celebrations. While he only oversees five weddings a year himself (including Julia and James Corden’s). His team consider the couple’s preferences and personalities to create a show-stopping and deeply personal day.
(c) Niemierko Ltd
The Stars Inside
Destination wedding on the cards? Led by self-professed ‘hopeless romantic’ Valentina Ring, The Stars Inside specialises in intimate weddings and elopements far afield. Perfect for escapists after a dreamy, bespoke celebration.
(c) Chloe Ely Photography
Katrina Otter Weddings
Katrina has been making couples’ dreams come true for over 15 years now, organising nuptials held in quintessentially English venues. She’s the best person to hit up if your dream wedding consists of a countryside aesthetic with plenty of romance (and cute quirks).
(c) Katie Julia
ByChenai Events
Want a big party without skipping on elegance? Chenai Bukutu is an award-winning wedding planner known for curating some of the grandest ceremonies in the UK (and beyond) – from stately country homes and grand botanical gardens to a stunning stint in the Natural History Museum, no wedding is too big for this eagle-eyed professional.
ByChenai Events (c) Zeal Photography
Alice Wilkes Design (ARW)
Known for opulent (and highly Instagram-worthy) celebrations, London-based wedding planner Alice Wilkes Design is a favourite among celebrities, royals and fussy clients alike. Perfect for couples who love digging into details – and are keen to push the boundaries of a traditional wedding.
Liz Lenkleter Events
Known for steering well clear of clichés and rustling up tasteful, often understated alternatives, Liz Lenkleter Events’ bespoke wedding planning and design services are visual catnip for style-conscious couples. And, with a goal to make the chaotic logistics of a wedding look easy, brides and grooms can simply put their feet up and let the big day arrive.
Quintessentially Weddings
With over 20 years’ of experience, Quintessentially Weddings is a small but expert team of luxury wedding planners. Born from members’ club Quintessentially Group, the wedding arm brings the same white-glove ethos to nuptials of every scale: from intimate countryside celebrations to grand, multi-day affairs at some of Europe’s most coveted private estates. Having built long-lasting relationships with the world’s leading suppliers, venues, and destinations, their little black book is unmatched.
Pocketful Of Dreams
Based in the Cotswolds, Pocketful of Dreams curate boutique luxury and elegantly understated occasions across the UK and Europe. It was founded in 2010 by creative wedding and event planner Michelle Kelly, born from a belief that weddings should feel as good as they look. The planners draw inspiration from everything from art and interiors, to fashion and travel, but people and their stories are at the heart of everything they do.
Wedding Planner FAQs
What To Look For In A Wedding Planner?
Much like choosing a spouse, the perfect wedding planner will vary from person to person. Beyond an impressive portfolio, look for someone with a similar communication style to you – you’ll be exchanging a lot of emails and calls over the coming months – and someone whose vision, aesthetic and budget aligns with both you and your other half. The best wedding planners will have a contact book packed full with top tier suppliers, so do your research carefully. Also be sure to check how many weddings they take on per year, and whether they’ll be present on the big day, or hand you to a coordinator; you don’t want to be suddenly pushed to the sidelines for somebody else. Lastly, listen to your gut. Choosing a wedding planner you trust and get on with will make the whole process much more smooth.
How Much Does A Wedding Planner Cost In The UK?
Fees vary considerably depending on the level of service and the planner’s experience. Full planning packages for a senior luxury planner typically start at £5,000 and can run to £15,000–£20,000 or more for a high-profile event. On-the-day coordination is the more budget-friendly option, generally ranging from £1,000 to £3,500. Many planners charge a percentage of the total wedding budget – usually between 10 and 15 percent – rather than a flat fee.
Is It Worth Hiring A Wedding Planner?
It really depends person to person. For smaller affairs, held in a local church or family garden, you probably don’t need a wedding planner organising all the nitty gritty details. However, if you’re looking at a bigger budget bonaza, wedding planners can prove invaluable – particularly if both you and your soon-to-be spouse have busy schedules that leave little time for planning. Many planners have access to venues and suppliers not widely advertised, and their industry relationships can offset a significant portion of their fee. A good wedding planner doesn’t just save time; they prevent costly mistakes and navigate supplier disputes. Most importantly, you can relax knowing that everything is in their capable and expereienced hands.
What’s The Difference Between A Wedding Planner And A Wedding Coordinator?
Where a wedding planner will work with you from the get-go, bringing together your wedding from conception to the big day, a wedding coordinator only manage the logistics of the day itself. Wedding coordinators are often provided by the venue, or may be offered up by the wedding planner if they’re unable to attend the actual wedding. Those provided by the venue may have different priorities to your own, whilst an independent coordinator can focus on helping your special day run smoothly, without the full-planning price tag. Some brides and grooms may bring in a coordinator during the month leading up to their nuptials. This is often helpful for couples who have done the groundwork themselves but want a professional to take over in the final weeks, to ensure everything runs seamlessly.
How Far In Advance Should I Hire A Wedding Planner?
The sooner you hire a wedding planner, the better – at the very least within a month or two of getting engaged. The UK’s most sought-after planners, and the venues they work with, can book up 18 months to two years in advance, particularly for summer and early autumn Saturdays. If you have your heart set on a specific planner or a particularly popular venue, don’t wait. Even if your date is still flexible, getting the right person on board early gives you the best choice of suppliers and plenty of breathing room to plan well.
