Specialist UK accountants for wedding planners — fixed fees, percentage packages, coordination-only, and commission-based income.
Wedding planning is not a simple service business. You manage large client budgets, multiple suppliers, staged payments and high-value events — all with significant seasonal cash flow swings. We understand how deposits, commission and supplier costs should be treated, and we keep your accounts HMRC-compliant year-round without the guesswork.
Wedding planners can reach the £90,000 VAT threshold faster than most service businesses — especially if client event budgets pass through your accounts. The key question is whether you act as a principal (buying and reselling supplier services) or an agent (arranging on the client's behalf). The answer changes what counts towards your threshold. Book a call before you hit £90,000 — not after.
Most accountants see event income and treat it as simple self-employment. We know the difference between a planning retainer, a percentage-based fee, a coordination-only day rate, a supplier commission and pass-through costs — and how each one is treated by HMRC.
Fixed fees, percentage packages, on-the-day coordination, commission structures — we understand every income type and exactly which wedding planner expenses you can claim.
Deposits are usually taxable income when received — not when the wedding takes place. We make sure your bookkeeping reflects the correct position so you are not overstating profit in the wrong tax year or understating it in another.
Whether event budgets count towards your VAT threshold depends on whether you act as a principal or an agent. This is one of the most significant compliance questions for wedding planners and we work through it with you early — not when it is already a problem.
Got a question before a big event about how to treat a commission or supplier credit? Message us on WhatsApp and get a reply within 24 hours — no extra charges, ever.
Earning over £50,000 from your wedding business? MTD for Income Tax applies from April 2026. We set up digital records and handle all quarterly submissions for you.
No hourly rates, no surprise invoices. A clear monthly fee that covers everything — you know the cost from day one regardless of how busy the wedding season gets.
From your first Self Assessment to ongoing bookkeeping, VAT, limited company accounts and tax planning — we handle the financial side so you can focus on delivering exceptional events.
Wedding planners have a wide range of legitimate deductible costs — including some that are specific to the events industry. Read our guide to what expenses wedding planners can claim for the complete breakdown.
Deposits are generally treated as taxable income when you receive them — not when the wedding takes place. This catches many wedding planners off guard at tax time, particularly if they take large deposits in one tax year for events happening the next. Correct bookkeeping from the start prevents overstating or understating profit and keeps your Self Assessment accurate. See our guide to wedding planner expenses and income for more context.
This is the most common and consequential VAT question for wedding planners. If you act as a principal — buying supplier services in your own name and reselling them to the client — the full value counts towards your £90,000 VAT threshold. If you act as an agent — arranging on the client's behalf and only charging a planning fee — only your fee counts. Many planners sit somewhere in between. We assess your exact structure and make sure your VAT position is correct before you cross the threshold.
Styled shoots are a legitimate marketing expense for wedding planners, but HMRC expects clear evidence of their commercial purpose. We make sure shoot costs — venue hire, photography, floristry, props — are recorded correctly and supported by documentation that demonstrates the business purpose. The same applies to industry events, awards submissions and trade fair attendance.
Wedding planning businesses can move through tax thresholds more quickly than most service businesses — particularly around VAT — because of the high-value nature of events.
Unsure where you sit? Book a free discovery call and we will work through your specific income structure with you. HMRC also has official guidance on registering for Self Assessment and VAT registration.
Clear advice, plain English and a team you can actually reach — not just at deadline time.
We explain Self Assessment, deposit timing, the principal vs agent VAT question and Making Tax Digital in plain English — no jargon, no confusion about what you owe or why.
Message us on WhatsApp between events and get a reply within 24 hours — no extra charge, no waiting weeks for a simple question answered.
No hidden costs or surprise bills. You know exactly what you pay each month and what is included — whether you have one wedding or twenty in the diary.
Whether you are scaling from coordination to full planning, approaching the VAT threshold or considering a limited company, we help you plan ahead not just file backwards.
Everything you need to know before booking a call.
Knowing what you can legitimately claim is one of the most effective ways to reduce your tax bill as a wedding planner. Here is the complete guide to allowable expenses.
Read more →If you also earn from property letting alongside your wedding business, our Airbnb host page covers everything from FHL changes to DAC7 reporting and rental expense claims.
Read more →Wedding planning sits alongside a range of service businesses we work with. Explore our full small business hub to see the other niches we specialise in.
Explore →Book a free, no-obligation discovery call. We will explain exactly what we can do for you — no jargon, no surprise fees.