Nothing really makes you question your life choices more than setting up the perfect event. And so to save ourselves from any mishaps at the next few milestones in our lives, we’ve decided to find the best event planners in all of Auckland.

We’ve spent the last three months speaking to locals for suggestions and interviewing past clients. Whether it’s for a birthday or a corporate shindig, you’ll find a top-notch planner for you in our staff-reviewed list!

How much does an event planner cost in Auckland?

The cost of an event planner in Auckland ranges from $30 to $50 per hour for individual planners. Packages range from $1,500 to $10,000, depending on the type of event. Additional factors such as catering, music, and photo booths may add to the sum.

How we chose

Experience and Portfolio – We chose event planners in Auckland who have a solid track record and a portfolio full of impressive events. Seeing their past work helps us trust they’ll make our events just as amazing.

Creativity and Innovation – Event planners who bring fresh ideas and creative solutions are our top picks. We love it when they can turn a vision into a unique experience that wows guests.

Attention to Detail – We chose meticulous and detail-oriented event planners. They must ensure everything, from the seating arrangement to the lighting, is perfectly executed.

Excellent Communication – We picked planners who are easy to talk to and keep us in the loop throughout the planning process. Clear and frequent communication makes everything run smoothly!

Vendor Partners – We chose event planners with a wide network of vendor partners to make planning smoother and more stress-free. This includes contacts to caterers, florists, photography and videography needs, etc.

1. The Event Refinery

What stood out best about The Event Refinery is their ability to work closely with their clients every step of the way. We also like that they have a strong relationship with various vendors (such as florists and caterers), which makes event planning much more seamless.

They are flexible enough to meet any event style or size – in fact, they can even travel across the North Island of New Zealand, and beyond.

Also, for any virtual meetings involved, clients outside of New Zealand said that they’re able to communicate their requirements no matter the time of day. This availability ensures that any changes or emergencies get accommodated ASAP. 

Mel, one of the event experts from the Event Refinery, stood out a lot to us. In particular, we noted that Mel was able to fix even the tiniest missteps in every event—this can be slightly off-color themes or DJ playlists that don’t match the type of event. 

Clients also appreciate Mel and her team’s personal touch, which helps them go through various recommendations with ease. 

UItimately, while their high demand can make scheduling tricky, their exceptional service makes them a standout choice for any event.

Result was incredible

“We worked with Mel for a new product launch this month and the result was incredible. Mel was great to work with and I completely trusted her with our brief – which she executed perfectly! We had a small budget for this event but that didn’t seem to pose a problem. All in all, I am so happy and can’t wait to use The Event Refinery for our next corporate event.”

Emily Parks | Google Review

Fantastic experience

“We had a fantastic experience with Mel at The Event Refinery. We hired a grid stand, signage frame and brass vases, and everything was perfect. Communication with Mel was always easy, and she was incredibly helpful sorting out delivery and drop-offs. Would highly recommend!”

 Catherine Doo | Google Review 

2. Simply Events

Simply Events stands out for its capacity to cater to various celebrations, including birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, and graduations. 

In addition to personal celebrations, they also excel in hosting specific business events, which appears to be their specialty. They can plan various types of corporate events, such as conferences and training sessions. 

Many of their past clients told us about the excellent communication and support they received from the Simply Events team. From the planning stages to the event’s execution, the staff remained accommodating, professional, and attentive.

Their comprehensive service offerings also stand out among other options. Some of the additional services they provide include catering and music for the event, which lessens the hassle of finding these services separately. 

They offer two venues for different events in Tui Hills and Abel Estate (which, in peak seasons, can be fully booked). Despite this challenge, the quality of work remains consistent as we saw in their portfolio. 

Gold-standard services

“From the time I booked the venue, the reply and communication with the organisers has been gold standard. Nikki was an absolute legend to work with.”

Lillian Uluilakepa | Website

Memorable events

“We had a fantastic night and I had a large number of our staff telling me how beautiful they thought the venue was. Thank you for all your help making our Christmas party a good one.”

Sharron Meek | Website

3. Fairway Event Centre

Fairway Event Centre organises a wide range of events, such as conferences, functions, and weddings. However, it’s their level of personalisation that really got our attention. 

Looking through their portfolio, we found how seamless their planning process is—they have zero records of delays as they deal with concerns in real-time. And when clients need them, they respond to their queries within an hour of receiving the note.

However, their staff management during events could probably be improved. We checked their clients’ notes after events and it sometimes seemed like they were just pointing fingers at follow-ups. 

On the other hand, their pricing isn’t bad at all. Past clients said that they still found their fees to be competitive, as they do charge within the city’s median rate. 

On another great note, we love the welcoming and vibrant attitude of their hosts. Touches like this can’t be overlooked, so we appreciate the dedication to connecting with guests—even though it’s not a major part of the package. 

Fantastic organisation 

“Fantastic venue! This is the 2nd year we’ve come back for an annual conference and we’ll be back next year. Organising was very easy and staff on the day was fantastic. Catering 10/10 (thai noodle salad and chicken skewers were the winners!). Highly recommend this venue – great view too.”

Caroline Gallop | Google Reviews

Superb event

“The communication and assistance leading up to the event was superb, the staff at the event were friendly and their customer service was outstanding, the venue was spotless and facilities were excellent.  Highly recommend and can’t wait to return.”

Anastasia T | Google Reviews

4. Seven Events

Seven Events caught our attention because of their comprehensive services. Apart from the usual event planning lineup, they also offer brand engagement, concept development, entertainment, and financial management. 

If you want to go all out on your event, they can help with production and design, managing public relations, and security. Their repertoire extends to social media management too, which puts them above the rest of event planners. 

Apart from this range, we also love their quick responses. For instance, they can accommodate sudden changes in the number of guests to the music selection within the day of the event (or within minutes of an emergency arising, in some instances).

Unfortunately, like most planners, their availability during peak seasons can be tough. That’s why it’s generally best to reach out at least six months ahead to ensure you get the dates you want at reasonable rates. 

Great company

“Great company to work with, Peter has been doing our conference for close to 5 years with great results. Highly recommend Peter”

Gino Demeer | Google Reviews

5. Oh! Such Style

Oh! Such Style’s Full Planning + Design service is their best offering, covering every detail from design concepts to vendor management. They provide personalised assistance and manage all logistics, so clients can go hands-off with the planning. 

And if you’re particular with design and themes, their design concept consultations come in handy.  

We actually love their cohesive aesthetic, which we prefer over their vendor management process. They just don’t have that big of a network yet, which occasionally messes up the event timeline and the quoted fees. 

Oh! Such Style also specialises in weddings, so if you prefer that level of expertise, then they’re your best bet. Their partial and full planning packages will give you a lot of room for customisation and budget adjustments. 

Smooth event planning

“Danielle and Zaynah helped us to plan our very international wedding on Waiheke. The planning process was smooth and everything ran perfectly on the day. This team is a well oiled machine, and definitely people you would want on your side on your big day! Thank you both for your hard work!”

Daphne Chua | Google Reviews

Understands your vision

“RUN, DONT WALK!!! Book Danielle and her team today, you wont regret it. From the beginning 

to the end of our journey together, Danielle was so accommodating, understanding and a great laugh. She listens and knows hows to get stuff done. The process can be overwhleming, but having someone like Danielle who is so experienced and a lady who means business behind you, it’s a walk in the park. I had my dream wedding and I owe a huge amount to this lady <3 – Thank you so much Dan and Team – The Barracks x”

Victoria Rich | Google Reviews