The wedding cost you won’t have planned for
What you need to know about wedding commission
Photo: Klassen
Commission is a long standing function in the wedding industry and applies to weddings around the world. There are various models of commission.
Some wedding planners accept commission from every vendor and venue you book, this is part of their business model.
Some wedding planners do not accept commission at all.
Commission percentages can change from vendor to vendor.
The most common commission amount's requested are 10.
So what exactly is commission?
Commission is an amount of money, usually a percentage of a total cost, paid to the individual or company that got another vendor a sale.
For example, as a wedding planner I might book a photographer for a client. If I work on commission I would be asking the photographer to either give me 10% of their fee or asking them to add 10% to their fee for me.
Why commission can sneak into your budget
It’s important to clarify whether your wedding planner will be charging commission to vendors and inflate your vendor and venue prices accordingly. Some vendors and venues will already include commission in their prices so there is no inflation, it would cost the same if you booked directly or through your planner.
The inflation arises if your planner requires a 10% commission that the vendor won't absorb in to their base fee, your invoice therefore will read 10% more. That extra 10% lands on your invoice, even though it's not technically part of the photographer’s service you're choosing.
How to navigate comission
Simply ask. Don’t sign a contract until you know if commission is a requirement for your wedding planner and understand how it works in detail. If a planner requires commission and a vendor will not grant it, it can lead to that vendor being ruled out for your wedding, which can be very unfortunate if you wished to work with them.
When the planner or venue is upfront with how commission is included in quotes, you can compare costs clearly. If one wedding planner has a lower fee and adds commission, another has a higher fee and no commission, they may end up costing the same.
Commission can also be built in to costs
It’s important to note that many venues and some vendors build commission in to their costs. So a photographer costs €5,000 as a flat fee and the wedding planner is gifted €500. This is ‘built in’ commission. Almost all planners will accept this gift.
The Italian Wedding Price Guide
It’s your ultimate answer to decoding the costs, understanding commissions, ‘added’ costs and planning with confidence.
Planner fee and commission structures:
Set fee + Commission
You pay a flat fee, plus the planner accepts 10% from vendors like the photographer or florist.
Percentage fee + Commission
The planner charges, 10-15% of your total wedding budget and then adds commission from suppliers.
Straight percentage fee (No Commission)
A clean, clear percentage - say, 10–15% of the total budget, with no commission.
Flat fee only
A fixed amount with no commission at all, keeping pricing predictable.
When comparing vendors or venues, always convert proposals into a total cost which includes any commission for an accurate view.
Photo: Sara D’Ambra Photography
Don’t let commission upend your budget
1. Demand transparency from the get-go
Ask: “Do you take commission? Is it added on top of vendor costs or built in to the fee?” Have the answer written in to your wedding planning contract.
2. Understand if you can only choose from a limited list of vendors
Planners and venues like to recommend vendors that have good relationships and experience of working with them. Occasionally, a planner or venue may recommend a specific list of vendors because they will receive a commission from them. It’s okay if you’re happy with this and understand the commission model they’re using. It’s not okay if this is not presented honestly and you feel pressured to choose vendors you don’t want for your wedding, or vendors you do want are having to take a hit and absorb commission under pressure from a planner.
3. Compare apples with apples
A €4,000 flat-fee planner may sound cheaper than a €10,000 flat fee, but if they’re also earning €6,000 in commissions from vendors, then you're actually likely to be paying more.
4. Work with ethical models that align with your values
Understanding commission and how it impacts you and your vendors and venue is an important factor in how you and your team feel about your wedding.
5. Use La Lista’s vetted network
Our Directory only promotes vendors who play fair — who give clear pricing, agree to our Code of Ethics and commit to transparency for their couples.
The best advice? Simply get all the figures and facts at the beginning, so you are fully informed. For ongoing support and detail around planner contracts and how this all works, Join The Club, our planning membership and be coached through your wedding decisions by experienced planner, Lucy White. Get a planner in your pocket today.
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