Finding the best event planners in Tauranga starts with knowing whether you need full planning, styling or simply a calm pair of hands on the day. A good event planner in Tauranga handles supplier bookings, run sheets, venue set-up and on-the-day coordination for weddings, corporate functions, product launches and milestone parties. Wedding and event studio With Sophie and Tauranga planner Handcrafted Weddings are two names worth knowing.
1With Sophie
With Sophie is a wedding and event planner, stylist and coordinator based in the Bay of Plenty, working from Tauranga and travelling to Auckland, Waikato, the Coromandel and across the North Island. Sophie works directly with each client from the first conversation to the event itself, and the studio covers everything from elopements and large weddings to corporate celebrations and brand activations. It suits couples, hosts and businesses wanting design and logistics handled by one planner.
Services
- Full wedding planning and styling with on-the-day coordination
- Wedding styling, including mood boards and sourcing of décor, florals and linens
- Event styling for private celebrations and corporate events
- Event production, from first ideas through to final pack-down
- Brand styling for product launches, activations and curated dinners
Highlights
- Styling work featured in Together Journal
- Background in marketing communications, applied to brand and corporate events
- Clients deal directly with Sophie throughout the process
- Style and coordination package offered with a partner coordinator
Location & Contact
Name: With Sophie
Address: Tauranga
Phone: 027 208 9980
Website: withsophie.co.nz
2Handcrafted Weddings
Handcrafted Weddings is a Tauranga wedding planner and florist run by Odette, a certified wedding planner with a background in managing large, complex projects. The business offers partial and full planning, on-the-day coordination, styling and wedding flowers, with published package pricing and travel within 20 km of Tauranga included. It suits couples wanting a budget-conscious planner who can cover both the logistics and the florals.
Services
- Partial and full wedding planning packages, including vendor selection and booking
- On-the-day wedding coordination with ceremony and reception set-up
- Backyard wedding coordination with a two-person team
- Wedding styling, priced hourly with materials and hire extra
- Custom wedding florals and floral packages
Highlights
- Published pricing: set-up from $600, coordination $1,700, planning from $3,000
- Owner brings a project management background to budgets and timelines
- Free, no-obligation initial consultation
Location & Contact
Name: Handcrafted Weddings
Address: Tauranga
Phone: 020 4051 2951
Website: handcraftedweddings.co.nz
3Elite Parties & Events
Elite Parties & Events is a family-owned event hire, design and decorating business based in Welcome Bay, run by Paige and Steve Blair. Alongside its hire range, the team offers onsite event planning, design and execution for corporate events, themed events and weddings, taking a brief from concept through to delivery on the day. It suits businesses planning awards nights, gala dinners or staff functions, and hosts who want theming and logistics handled together.
Services
- Corporate event planning for awards nights, product launches, gala dinners and staff functions
- Event design, planning and decoration
- Wedding planning and coordination, plus wedding décor
- Themed event props and party equipment hire
Highlights
- In-house crew designing and building bespoke one-off props
- Ice cream carts, tricycles and concession machines available for events
- Owners combine events experience with transport and logistics know-how
- Family-owned and operated
Location & Contact
Name: Elite Parties & Events
Address: Welcome Bay, Tauranga
Website: eliteparties.co.nz
4Fuller Together
Fuller Together is a Tauranga-based wedding planning and coordination service run by Beniece Fuller, who comes from an event management background. Couples deal with Beniece from start to finish, with options ranging from run sheet support to partial planning and on-the-day coordination. It suits couples who have done much of the planning themselves and want flexible, transparently priced professional help.
Services
- On-the-day wedding coordination
- Partial wedding planning
- Wedding day run sheet creation and review
- Style and coordination package
Highlights
- Published pricing, including run sheet support at $395
- Pre-wedding meeting eight to ten weeks out to finalise the details
- Owner has a background in event management
Location & Contact
Name: Fuller Together
Address: Tauranga
Phone: 027 577 5522
Website: fullertogether.com
Event Planners in Tauranga at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| With Sophie | Styling work featured in Together Journal |
| Handcrafted Weddings | Published pricing |
| Elite Parties & Events | In-house crew designing and building bespoke one-off props |
| Fuller Together | Published pricing, including run sheet support at $395 |
How to Choose the Right Event Planners in Tauranga
- Match the service level to your needs: full planning, partial planning and on-the-day coordination are priced very differently, so decide how much you want to hand over.
- Check event type experience: a wedding specialist and a corporate events team work differently, so ask for examples of events like yours.
- Ask what is included: confirm hours on the day, number of staff, site visits, run sheets and whether set-up and pack-down are covered.
- Look at styling and hire capability: some planners style in-house or supply props, florals and furniture, which can reduce the number of suppliers you manage.
- Confirm travel and location costs: venues in Mount Maunganui, Papamoa or the wider Bay of Plenty may attract travel charges beyond the planner’s base area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tauranga Event Planners
What does an event planner in Tauranga do?
An event planner manages the pieces that make an event run: budgets, supplier bookings, venue layout, styling, run sheets and on-the-day coordination. Some also handle design and décor, while others focus on logistics and timing.
How much does an event planner cost in Tauranga?
Pricing depends on the scope. Run sheet support or on-the-day coordination can cost a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars, while full wedding or event planning typically starts in the thousands. Corporate events and brand activations are usually quoted per project.
What is the difference between a wedding planner and a wedding coordinator?
A wedding planner is involved from early on, helping with budget, vendor selection and design. A coordinator usually steps in during the final weeks to confirm suppliers, manage the timeline and run the day so the couple and their families can relax.
How far ahead should I book an event planner?
For weddings, many couples book a planner 12 months or more ahead, especially for summer dates. On-the-day coordinators are often booked a few months out, and corporate events can vary from several weeks to many months depending on size.
Do I need council approval for an outdoor event in Tauranga?
Events on public land such as parks and reserves, or events involving road closures, marquees or amplified sound, may need permits or bookings. Check with Tauranga City Council early, and ask your planner whether they handle the paperwork.
Can I find event planners near Mount Maunganui or Papamoa?
Most event planners Tauranga couples and businesses use are home-based or studio-based and travel to venues across the city, including Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Welcome Bay. Some include travel within a set distance and quote separately for venues further out.
What should my contract with an event planner include?
A written agreement should set out the services, hours on the day, payment schedule, deposit terms and cancellation policy. Services bought for personal use are covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act, and Consumer Protection explains your rights.
How We Chose the Best Event Planners in Tauranga
Every business in this guide was found by searching for event planners in Tauranga, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Tauranga, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.