Cookie Policy
Last updated: February 2026
1. What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, to provide a better user experience, and to supply information to the website's owners.
PlanHitch uses cookies and similar technologies (such as local storage) to provide, secure, and improve our wedding planning platform. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies we use, why we use them, and how you can manage your preferences.
2. Essential Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary for the Service to function. They enable core features such as authentication, security, and session management. You cannot opt out of essential cookies, as the Service would not work without them.
| Cookie | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| __session | Maintains your authenticated session so you remain logged in as you navigate between pages. | 8 hours |
| __auth_token | Stores a secure authentication token used to verify your identity on each request. | 8 hours |
| __csrf_token | Protects against cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks by validating that form submissions originate from the PlanHitch website. | Session |
| cookie_consent | Remembers your cookie consent preferences so the consent banner is not shown again on subsequent visits. | 1 year |
3. Functional Cookies
Functional cookies allow us to remember choices you make and provide enhanced, personalised features. While the Service can function without these cookies, disabling them may result in a less optimal experience.
| Cookie | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| theme | Stores your preferred colour theme (light or dark mode) so it is applied consistently across sessions. | 1 year |
| sidebar_collapsed | Remembers whether you prefer the navigation sidebar to be expanded or collapsed. | 1 year |
| locale | Stores your preferred language and regional formatting settings. | 1 year |
4. Analytics Cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the Service by collecting information anonymously. This data helps us improve the platform, identify popular features, and diagnose issues. Analytics cookies are only set with your consent.
| Cookie | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| _ph_session | Tracks anonymous page views and feature usage within a single browsing session to help us understand navigation patterns. | 30 minutes |
| _ph_visitor | Assigns an anonymous identifier to distinguish unique visitors. No personally identifiable information is stored. | 1 year |
5. Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies are placed by third-party services that appear on our pages. We do not control these cookies and their use is governed by the privacy policies of the respective third parties.
| Provider | Purpose | More Information |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Stripe sets cookies when you interact with the payment form during checkout. These cookies are used for fraud detection, secure payment processing, and remembering your payment preferences. | Stripe Cookie Policy |
6. Managing Cookies
When you first visit PlanHitch, we will show you a cookie consent banner that allows you to choose which categories of non-essential cookies to accept. You can change your preferences at any time through your account settings.
You can also manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View what cookies are stored on your device and delete them individually or in bulk.
- Block cookies from specific websites or from all websites.
- Block third-party cookies while allowing first-party cookies.
- Clear all cookies when you close your browser.
- Open a "private browsing" or "incognito" session that does not store cookies after the session ends.
To manage cookies in common browsers, visit:
Please note that disabling essential cookies will prevent you from using the Service, as they are required for core functionality such as authentication and security.
7. Contact
If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
- Company: PlanHitch Ltd
- Email: contact@planhitch.com
For more information about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.