Do We Need a Wedding Planner?

So, you’re engaged (congrats, yaaaay 🎉💍), and the adrenaline of “I said yes!” is barely starting to cool when someone asks the real question:

“Sooo… are you getting a wedding planner?”

• I love planning stuff!
• Wait, but I have a full-time job…
• How expensive is this gonna be?
• Can’t I just ask my bridesmaids?
• What does a planner even DO?!

If you’re having this little existential wedding spiral, welcome to the club. Let’s break it down like a chilled-out bridesmaid over matcha and muffins.

First: What Does a Wedding Planner Actually Do?

• Venue sourcing
• Budgeting and vendor recommendations
• Styling and mood board creation
• Timeline and scheduling
• Actual on-the-day coordination (a.k.a. the real MVPs)

Some planners offer full-service planning, while others do day-of coordination. The first is great if you want someone to handle everything. The second is ideal if you want to DIY most of it but need a pro to make sure everything goes smoothly on the actual day (and trust me—you do).

Do You Need One? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions

1. Are You Planning a Big Wedding?

If your guest list has more digits than your monthly CPF contribution and your programme includes things like outfit changes, cultural ceremonies and surprise dances—yes, a planner will save your sanity.

2. Do You Have the Time (and Energy) to Coordinate Everything?

Between venue [45. 5 Popular Wedding Venues in Singapore (2025 Q1 Edition!)] hunting, vendor emails, fitting appointments [44. What to expect at Bridal Gown Fittings?], menu tastings, mood board rabbit holes and WhatsApp group drama—you might find yourself wanting to yeet your wedding into a black hole.

If you’re working full-time (which, hi, most of us are), a planner can seriously lighten the load.

3. Are You a Control Freak?

This one’s a little spicy—but real. If you love spreadsheets, colour-coded folders and live to plan (cue Monica Geller)… you can totally DIY. But even then, a day-of coordinator is still a smart move. You shouldn’t be texting your caterer while getting your makeup [56. Wedding makeup vs day to day makeup for females] done, babe.

4. Do You Want Peace of Mind on the Big Day?

Planners are basically wedding firefighters. A guest turns up in white? They’ll handle it. The band gets stuck in traffic? They’ll juggle the timeline. You forgot the vows? They’ve got a printed copy.

When you hire a planner, you’re not just paying for a service. You’re buying calm.

But Are They Expensive?

• $3,000–$6,000+ for full-service planning
• $800–$2,000+ for day-of coordination
• Some boutique planners also offer à la carte services like mood board creation or vendor sourcing for smaller fees

Yes, it’s an investment—but for many couples, it’s worth every cent. Especially if it means not sobbing over floral [51. Floral Arrangement trends for weddings (2025) in Singapore] logistics at 2am.

Who Usually Doesn’t Need a Planner?

• Couples having a very small, chill wedding (think ROM with 30 guests at a restaurant)
• Super organised couples with flexible weekday schedules
• Those working with venues that already provide in-house coordination
• People who genuinely enjoy Excel sheets and Pinterest boards

Even then, it’s worth considering a day-of coordinator to keep things smooth while you focus on saying “I do” without sweating over the sound system.

The Verdict?

No, you don’t have to get a planner.

But will one make your life easier, your wedding smoother and your stress levels less volcanic?

Very likely, yes.

So if your budget allows and you want someone in your corner who knows the difference between fairy lights and festoon lights, who’ll keep the aunties happy and the sound check running on time—get a planner.

Because at the end of the day, the only thing you should be focused on is marrying the love of your life… not wondering why the photobooth [57. Photo Booth’s at weddings - fun or lame?] aunty disappeared with your guest list.