Wedding Planner - Service Fees

[MJD3]

Hi everyone! I am recently engaged and we are considering a destination wedding in Costa Rica. We have NO idea where to start - my fiance and I have large families, and will probably have at least 80 people come to CR (but it will probably be about 100). We are trying to keep costs low, as we realized we couldn't afford a 250+ person wedding in the NY/NJ area, and are trying to make this wedding an affordable alternative that's still beautiful and fun.

 

I have contacted 2 wedding planners already, and they both quoted me in the $4,000 range. I have no idea if this is high, low, standard, or if it's higher because we will likely have a fairly large wedding.

 

Would anyone mind sharing approximately how much they spent on their planner and if they felt it was worth it? I don't want to regret committing to someone before I even have a date set.

 

Thank you all!

[Mrsktobe]

I'm getting married in the Mayan, so a little different than you but 4000 seems very very steep!! I guess it would depend what they are doing for you. I spent considerably less and that's for a 53 person wedding off site.

[kmk2016]

Does their fee including set up and decor? That seems steep to me too. Most resorts will have wedding coordinators who will work with you as well- at no additional charge than what you pay the resort. Depending on what you need- you may not need to hire a 3rd party! A good TA and on resort coordinators can normally more than manage.

 

 

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[TAkathy]

Where are you considering in Costa Rica - what area and which property?

Who will be performing the ceremony?

Have you traveled to Costa Rica before?

What month are you contemplating?

[MJD3]

@@TAkathy - I haven't decided on a particular location in Costa Rica but am thinking Guanacaste. We will probably fly down our local pastor for the ceremony. We've never been to Costa Rica before, and are thinking of having a June/July wedding in 2016.

 

@@kmk2016 - the fee includes set-up but we pay for the decorations/flowers separately. And yeah, I don't want to pay 4k - but my fiance and I probably won't make a trip before the wedding so we'd be relying a lot on their knowledge and decisions.

[TAkathy]

Costa Rica is a beautiful destination but it can be described as "hard adventure" - it is still largely undeveloped. The touristy areas that are there can be tricky to get to and between as the roads are not all paved.  Established transfer transportation is essential for a group or even individual travelers.  Preparing guests for what to expect is very important.

 

June/July is considered "green" or rainy season - it can rain torrentially and often does for a few minutes to several hours in the afternoon/early evening.  Flight arrival and departure times are important as well.

 

There are few All Inclusives in Costa Rica.  With the size group you are contemplating, are you wanting/expecting to set them up in an All Inclusive?  There are great places to eat and awesome food in CR but they can be hard to get to if located outside the area of the accommodations.  Resort communities tend to want to keep guests there.  Outside of the community, it may be quite a distance to anything else. 80-100 people is a large group to manage and satisfy when confined to a small area unless it is very well appointed with food/activity options.

 

There are passport requirements and some civil requirements for marriages performed in Costa Rica so you will want to research these areas. They may also mean extra costs.

 

Is there any particular reason you thinking the Guanacaste area?

 

Where are the WCs located that you have gotten quotes from and are they affiliated with particular properties?

 

That price seems quite high to me - it would have to include a LOT to make sense.  

 

The above info is meant to inform (not dissuade) you from proceeding with this beautiful country for your DW.  Just some food for thought…..

[Mangosong]

@@MJD3 I'm in the same boat. Also decided against the NY/NJ area due to costs and I don't want a huge 200 person affair.

 

Also, welcome! And congrats!

[puravida2015]

Completely agree with @@TAkathy. Seems a bit high to me if they're asking you to also pay decorations.  We're going to Guanacaste as well but in April and I'm just doing everything at the resort. I didn't "hire" a planner I'm just letting my TA and resort wedding coordinator work out the details for me.