What's the Difference: Wedding Planner Comparison
The difference between a high-level executive wedding planner & producer (KAE) and a typical wedding planner (not KAE) comes down to scope, scale, expertise, leadership, and client expectations. Here's a breakdown:
Typical Wedding Planner
Role:
- Coordinates logistics and timelines
- Manages vendors
- Helps with budgets and checklists
- Provides design advice (to an extent)
- Often works weddings under $100K budgets
Focus:
- Execution of a client's general vision
- Problem-solving on a small to mid-scale level
- Client hand-holding through standard planning steps
Clients:
- Couples planning more traditional or DIY-style weddings
- Budget-conscious or mid-range events
High-Level Executive Wedding Planner & Producer (This is Us)
Role:
- Operates like a creative director, project manager, and executive producer rolled into one
- Leads a team of planners, designers, assistants, and production staff
- Manages multiple vendors, luxury service providers, and logistics teams
- Oversees budgets starting at $100K and often in the $250K–$1M+ range
- Handles multi-day events (welcome party, rehearsal dinner, after-party, farewell brunch, etc.)
- Creates fully custom concepts, often collaborating with production companies or set designers
Focus:
- Vision creation from scratch, often with no preset venue or theme
- Full production-level execution: lighting design, guest experience design, set builds, luxury gifting, branding, etc.
- Managing complex personalities and high expectations
- Strategic leadership and discretion with VIP, high-net-worth, or celebrity clients
Clients:
- Established professionals in high-level careers and their families
- Clients who want a once-in-a-lifetime, elevated, highly designed and seamless experience
- People expecting the planner to act as an extension of their brand and lifestyle
