How to Choose a Wedding Planner in Sonoma or Napa
January 2026 — 6 min read
Portfolios tell you what a planner has photographed. Conversations tell you how they think. Interview for the second.
Ask these questions
The answers reveal experience quickly.
- How many weddings do you take per year, and who is onsite on my day?
- Walk me through a wedding where something went wrong.
- How do you structure the budget, and when do you share it?
- Which of my venue's permit constraints will shape my timeline?
- Do you take commissions from vendors?
Fee structures
Flat fee is the most transparent. Percentage-of-budget can align incentives poorly unless capped. Either is fine when it is stated clearly in writing.
Red flags
Vague scope documents, no named onsite lead, unwillingness to discuss budget in the first call, and a portfolio with no weddings at raw-land venues if yours is raw land.
Oasis Weddings & Events plans and designs weddings across Sonoma and Napa Valley. If you are dreaming of a wine country celebration, we would love to hear your story.
Frequently asked
- When should we hire a wedding planner?
- Before you book a venue. A planner's biggest financial impact happens in the venue and budget decisions made in the first two months.
