The Penny Pincher Planner

•Ratings include Zola and Google reviews

Service levels: Partial planning

About The Penny Pincher Planner

The Penny Pincher Planner

Lead Planner

Hi, I'm Crystal! Owner and lead planner of The Penny Pincher Planner. I found my love for weddings and events while pursuing a degree in Hospitality Management at East Carolina University (Arghh!) Upon graduating, I pursued a career as a wedding venue coordinator/ planner, where I was fortunate to build lasting relationships with amazing couples and talented vendors. When planning my wedding, I found it challenging to find ways to achieve the high-end look I envisioned within my budget. During this journey, I came to realize that I want to help other couples achieve this goal for their special day.

We are a team of event planners who believe a beautiful wedding is not about how much you spend; it is about how intentionally you spend it. We help couples create a day that feels meaningful and true to them while offering thoughtful recommendations and budget-friendly strategies along the way. Our goal is to help couples plan intentionally and focus on what truly matters, not on what tradition says they "should" do. With the right guidance, a clear plan, and a little creativity, your budget becomes a tool rather than a limitation.

In three words: Collaborative, Creative, Organized

Services by planning level

Service included in starting price
Service available for an extra cost
Partial planningDay-of coordination / wedding management
Description

We communicate with you throughout your planning journey, starting with a kickstart planning session when you book with us. As your wedding day approaches, we will take the reigns to ensure your vision is executed according to plan. This package is perfect for the couple who wants to plan their own wedding, but also likes having the peace of mind knowing we're there for you to answer any questions at any point during your planning journey.

We step in about 3 months before your wedding to make sure every detail is aligned. This package is tailored for couples who have thoughtfully planned their wedding, but are ready for someone to step in and bring it all together. We develop a clear, structured timeline, coordinate your rehearsal, and manage your wedding day to keep everything running smoothly.

Planning begins12 Months out3 Months out
Vendor Management
Final Venue Walkthrough
Timeline Creation & Management
Onsite Event Management
Venue Recommendations
Vendor Selection
Contract Review
Wedding Website
Venue Visits
PricingStarts at $2,800Starts at $1,800

Reviews

Write a review
Rating: 5.0

5.0 out of 5

7 reviews

  • SC

    Shannon C.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Jul 23, 2024

    Worth Every Penny!

    We were thrilled with our experience working with The Penny Pincher Planner. Their attentive communication style and caring approach put us at ease through the entire wedding planning process. They were fabulously efficient at creating a detailed schedule for our big day and worked seamlessly with our other vendors. We appreciated their thoughtful suggestions - they made our wedding exactly what we envisioned. On the wedding day itself, The Penny Pincher Planner coordinated everything smoothly. We didn't have to worry about a thing! Having their assistance with both the planning and day-of coordination was invaluable and worth every penny. We're so grateful to them for helping our wedding go off without a hitch.

  • DB

    Donna Brown

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Oct 19, 2022

    The Wedding Planner that is right for you!

    Crystal is a wonderful person to work with. She automatically puts you at ease with her warm personality. She is organized, keeps you informed and keeps everything moving on time. You will not regret your decision on securing Crystal for your special day!

  • AS

    addie sessoms

    Rating: 5
    •Google
    •Jul 21, 2026

    Crystal was such a great wedding planner! She thought of every detail and worked with us to create our dream day! With her- it felt like nothing went wrong! Even when the wedding stress kicked in she was there to ease my nerves!!

    The Penny Pincher Planner•Jul 22, 2026

    Thank you so much for your kind words! It was such a joy getting to be part of your wedding day and help bring your vision to life. Knowing you felt like everything went smoothly, and that I could help ease the stress along the way, means the world to me. That's exactly the experience I hope every couple has. Thank you for trusting me with such an important day, and I wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness!

  • LC

    Lindsay Casteen

    Rating: 5
    •Google
    •Jun 17, 2026

    Crystal was amazing to work with in planning my wedding. From start to finish she was thorough, personable, extremely helpful and kept me at ease when I started to panic. She was just a breath of fresh air in a very tense process and I couldn’t be more thankful for her and the knowledge she brought. 10/10

    The Penny Pincher Planner•Jun 23, 2026

    Thank you so much for this sweet review! ❤️ Wedding planning can be a lot, and there are definitely moments when it feels like the stress is winning. I'm so glad I was able to help take some of that weight off your shoulders and give you a little peace of mind along the way. It was such a joy getting to know you and being part of this season of your life. Thank you for trusting me with such an important day. Wishing you both so much happiness as you start this next chapter together!

  • SL

    Sophia Lassotovitch

    Rating: 5
    •Google
    •Jun 8, 2026

    Crystal was absolutely amazing!! She made the whole process seamless. She answered all of my questions, was super on top of everything, and made my wedding day absolutely perfect!! I couldn’t recommend her enough! If you want to have an stress-free, beautiful wedding, I recommend reaching out to Crystal!! ❤️

    The Penny Pincher Planner•Jun 8, 2026

    Thank you so much for your sweet review! 🤍 It was such a joy to be part of your wedding day. I'm so glad you felt supported throughout the planning process and were able to truly enjoy your day. Thank you for trusting me with such a special celebration, and congratulations again!

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We believe that a beautiful, stunning wedding should be possible within any budget and we strive to make the most out of our couple's budgets. You'll find most planners require or suggest a minimum budget their client's to have, we do not. A budget is just a number, but it's how you plan to spend it that makes the difference. We'll be the first to tell you if your expectations are reasonable and we'll help guide you in the direction needed to stay within budget.
Our Guided Planning Experience package is $2,200, but we also offer optional add-on services. Travel fees may apply if wedding location is beyond 50 miles from Kinston, NC.
We are based out of Kinston, NC, and most weekends you can find us in Greenville, Goldsboro, New Bern and Jacksonville. We are available to plan weddings all over the southeast in North Carolina. Travel fees (transportation and accommodations) will apply if your wedding location is more than 50 miles from Kinston.
Absolutely! We love helping our couples with all wedding related events. We find this is a great opportunity to get to know you even better, which helps us better serve you on your big day! Price is dependent several specifics, such as the type of event, guest count and location.
No! We do have an list of amazing vendors we've worked with for many years and will gladly share with you upon booking. They are only suggestions, but highly recommended!

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