Gift ideas for unpaid/volunteer wedding planner

Does your mother have any suggestions? Direct payment for help can sometimes be awkward. It sort of can get in the way of someone just wanting to help into making it like she is a vendor. But certainly her help is worth what a vendor would cost. If this is at a location with a hotel stay and travel, you could cover that. Definitely do some honored guest stuff like flowers or other way to honor her.

Maybe someone will share more and better recommendations

Well thats so kind of your mom's friend! Lets see you can get a gift card to her favorite restaurant, salon, or store or you can put together a little gift bag with items such as flowers, candy, a picture frame, wine, a candle, bath stuff, Starbucks card etc. Happy shopping!