Full Wedding Planning vs Partial Planning: What’s the Difference?

One of the most common questions I hear as a London wedding planner is: “Do we really need full planning, or would partial planning be enough?”

It’s an important decision, and the answer depends entirely on where you are in your wedding journey — and how much support you actually want.

Many couples assume partial planning is simply full planning at a lower cost, but in reality, they’re two very different services. Here’s what you need to know before you decide.

Full Wedding Planning in London: A Complete Service

Full wedding planning is the comprehensive option. Even if you’ve already booked your venue (which is often the case), I’ll step in to handle everything else.

That includes:

• Supplier sourcing & management – I research, book, and oversee every supplier from start to finish.

• Design & styling – a bespoke, design-led concept created from scratch around your story.

• Budget guidance – helping you make smart investments without losing sight of priorities.

• Guest logistics – RSVPs, seating plans, dietary requirements, travel and accommodation.

• Timeline creation & scheduling – bringing all the moving parts into one seamless plan.

• On-the-day coordination – so you, your family, and your guests can simply celebrate.

👉 In numbers: full planning equals roughly 300 hours of my time. That’s hundreds of emails, phone calls, supplier check-ins, design hours, and admin tasks taken off your plate.

Full wedding planning in London is the right choice if you want to hand over the stress and enjoy your engagement knowing every detail is under control.

Partial Wedding Planning in London: A Helping Hand Halfway

Partial wedding planning is designed for couples who’ve already done a significant amount of the planning themselves — usually around 50–60% of suppliers are booked — but who are now stuck, overwhelmed, or worried that the design and logistics won’t come together.

With partial planning, I will:

• Audit your existing plans and suppliers, making adjustments where needed.

• Fill in the gaps by sourcing your remaining suppliers.

• Refine and elevate your design so it feels cohesive and polished.

• Build your timeline and oversee the run-up to the wedding.

• Be there on the day itself to make sure everything runs smoothly.

👉 In numbers: partial planning involves about 150 hours of work from me — half the time of full planning. That means you’ll still do a fair share of the admin legwork (emails, chasing responses, guest details), while I step in to ensure everything aligns and looks the way it should.

Partial wedding planning in London is best for couples who’ve made a strong start but need professional guidance to finish with confidence.

Full vs Partial Wedding Planning: The Key Differences

Service Area	Full Planning London	Partial Planning London
Venue search	✅ (if needed)	❌ (venue already booked)
Supplier sourcing	✅ (all suppliers)	✅ (remaining only)
Supplier management	✅ (throughout)	✅ (from takeover point)
Budget management	✅	❌
Design & styling	✅ (from scratch)	✅ (refinement only)
Guest management	✅	❌
Timeline creation	✅	✅
On-the-day coordination	✅	✅
Planner hours	~300	~150
Couple’s admin workload	Minimal	Significant

Which Wedding Planning Service Do You Need?

• Choose Full Wedding Planning if:

  • You want complete support from start to finish.

  • You’re busy with work and life, and don’t have the hours to plan.

  • You value design and want a cohesive, elevated experience.

  • You’d prefer to enjoy your engagement without the stress.

• Choose Partial Wedding Planning if:

  • You’ve already booked 50–60% of your suppliers.

  • You’re comfortable handling some admin yourself.

  • You need help refining the design and tying everything together.

  • You want professional oversight for the final stretch.

Final Thoughts

Both services are incredibly valuable, but they’re not interchangeable. Partial planning is not a discounted version of full planning — it’s a lighter service designed for couples who’ve already done much of the work themselves.

If you want total peace of mind and a design-led celebration that feels effortless, full wedding planning in London is the service that will give you exactly that. If you’ve already made progress and simply need guidance to finish strong, partial wedding planning in London could be the perfect fit.

✨ I offer a range of planning services to suit different stages of your wedding journey — from full wedding planning to partial planning, as well as design & styling and on-the-day coordination. Each package is designed to give you the right balance of creative direction, professional support, and peace of mind. You can explore the full breakdown of my services here: [my packages page].

Not sure which is right for you? Let’s talk it through. I’ll look at where you are in the planning process and recommend the best level of support for your day.

👉 [Book a discovery call here]