The planner market in San Antonio ranges roughly $2,500 to $20,000+. Here''s what you get at the common tiers, and what "day-of coordination" actually means — because it''s the most misunderstood product in the industry.
$2,500–4,000: Day-of coordination
What it is:
- Runs the wedding day itself. 8–12 hours of on-site presence.
- Confirms vendor arrivals, manages the timeline, handles last-minute fires.
- Usually includes 1–2 pre-event meetings, a final venue walk-through, and vendor contact hand-off 30 days out.
What it''s NOT:
- Planning the wedding. You do that.
- Designing the wedding. You do that too.
- Booking vendors. That''s on you.
- Anything happening before the 30-day mark.
The most common complaint about day-of coordinators is that couples expect planning-level support. Read the deliverables carefully before signing.
$4,000–7,000: Partial planning
What it is:
- Vendor recommendations and booking support for 2–5 of your core vendors.
- Timeline and logistics help throughout.
- Design guidance at a high level.
- Day-of coordination included.
- Typically 6–8 meetings from booking to event.
Good fit for: the couple who has strong taste but needs help with logistics, vendor vetting, and execution.
$7,000–12,000: Full planning
What it is:
- Complete vendor curation and booking.
- Full design concept development, mood boards, vendor style matching.
- Budget management and tracking.
- Unlimited communication.
- 12+ meetings.
- Day-of coordination included.
- Often includes rehearsal coordination.
Good fit for: destination-feel weddings, couples with limited time or out-of-state logistics, weddings with elaborate design/logistics (multi-venue, large guest counts, multi-day events).
$12,000+: Luxury / destination planning
- A dedicated lead planner plus assistants.
- Vendor negotiation on your behalf.
- Transportation, accommodations, welcome bags, guest logistics.
- Rehearsal dinner and next-day brunch coordination.
- Often includes travel-coordination if destination.
Market-rate quick sanity check
If you''re being quoted:
- Less than $2,500 for "day-of": likely undertrained or oversold. Ask for references specifically from events in the last 6 months.
- More than $6,000 for "day-of only": you''re overpaying unless it includes unusually heavy pre-day support.
- More than $15,000 for full planning on a 120-person San Antonio wedding without destination elements: ask what specifically justifies the rate.
What to ask before signing
- Can I see the exact deliverable list in writing?
- How many weddings do you plan per year? (More than 20 per planner is a red flag.)
- Who specifically runs my wedding — you, or a junior?
- What''s your backup if you''re sick the day of?
- Can I contact two references from weddings in the last 90 days?
Sources: San Antonio wedding industry pricing averages compiled from public-facing planner websites; general wedding industry guidance from WeddingWire cost guide and The Knot wedding budget data.