Today, I want to talk about full-service design vs. design lite (and share a little advice on which one I think YOU should offer as a wedding planner). While both have their benefits, the “right” choice is going to look a little different to everyone. And that’s a good thing!
And before you say, “But wait – I can’t call myself a designer,” let me just tell you that whether you’re a seasoned wedding planner or just starting out, there’s a good chance you are helping design the wedding anyway. Deciding to offer it as a service just ensures you actually get PAID for it. So let’s get into it, shall we?
What is Full Service Design?
What is Full Service Design?
Full-service wedding design is all about turning a concept into reality, from the initial idea to the final touches. It ensures that every detail aligns with the chosen theme or style, blending both looks and practicality. This means taking care of everything, from the way the tent drapes to how the napkins are folded. When something can’t be made in-house, designers bring in trusted partners like graphic designers, florists, rental companies, and event production assistants to make sure everything comes together perfectly.
What’s Included in Full-Service Design
A full-service wedding design package usually covers everything from picking a theme and colors to designing the layout, flowers, and tables. It also includes things like invitations, signage, rentals, lighting, and food choices to create a beautifully cohesive event.
Plus, for full-service design, you’ll often need to create a digital mood board, a physical mood board, detailed design dossier, tablescape mock-up, and illustrations, drawings, and sketches that will help “sell” your couples on your vision for the day.
Why I Loved Offering Full-Service Design as a Wedding Planner
Personally, I loved offering full-service design for my wedding clients for several reasons. First, comprehensive services justified the premium pricing I wanted to charge, ultimately leading to higher revenue (and providing great value to my clients). Second, having greater control over the wedding day outcome meant I could ensure the event aligned perfectly with the client’s vision from start to finish. As a wedding planner, I loved that level of control. Lastly, the personalized touch of full-service design often exceeded client expectations, resulting in happy clients, glowing reviews, and more referrals.
If you know, full-service wedding design is something you want to offer, but don’t exactly know how I break down everything you need to know (in detail) in my Ultimate Guide to Wedding Design.
What is Design Lite (For Wedding Planners)?
What is Design Lite?
If a full-scale design service isn’t a good fit for you or your clients, I always encourage wedding planners to offer a design-lite option. With design-lite, you still get to influence the creative direction, but it’s not a full-on service. This is great for weddings with smaller budgets and clients who can’t go for the full-scale design. In a design-lite package, you might offer things like a digital inspiration board and a simple design plan vs something like full-service where you will be creating more tangible design plans (that your premium clients will expect).
Design Lite is a perfect way for clients to have a beautifully designed wedding without breaking the bank. Whether you call yourself a designer or not, chances are you are going to help your clients like this along the way. You might as well be paid for it!
It’s also great for wedding planners who want to dip their toes into design. Maybe you’re just not ready yet to offer the full wedding design service, or perhaps you believe you need just a little more experience. Design Lite can be the right way forward, giving you some experience to take your services to the next level.
Key Components of Design Lite
- Digital Inspiration Board
- Simple Design Dossier
- Simple Design Direction
You’ll still need to recommend vendors and manage rentals, but since your clients have smaller design budgets, there will be less need to source unique decor. There will also be fewer design vendors to coordinate with.
Benefits of Offering Design Lite
Beyond the fact that you deserve to be paid for work you’re likely doing anyway, I see design-lite as a great service to add for several reasons. First, it attracts budget-conscious clients who are not of the DIY variety. Since it involves fewer moving parts, it’s also less time-intensive compared to full-service design, meaning it takes less time and resources (which can be especially great if you are building your wedding business as a side hustle). And it’s perfect for a wedding planner who is just starting out with design and wants more experience.
Comparing Full-Service Design and Design Lite
Cost and Pricing Structure
Because Full Service Design is all-encompassing, it comes with a higher cost. Clients need to be ready for a bigger investment, and as a wedding planner, you should consider using a percentage-based fee structure. Compared to Full Service, Design Lite is more affordable and is typically priced at a flat rate.
Client Expectations and Experience
Full-service design clients tend to expect a personalized experience, with you overseeing every aspect of the design. They usually prefer meeting in person and seeing physical samples instead of looking exclusively at mood boards and mockups online. Design Lite clients are generally fine with a less involved process and fewer customizations as long as you set clear expectations upfront.
Overall, full-service design demands more of your time and resources, while Design Lite is easier to manage, though it may not be as profitable.
Deciding to Offer Full-Service Design vs. Design Lite
Deciding whether to offer Full Service Design or Design Lite as a wedding planner really depends on your business and your clients—there’s no wrong choice here! Full Service Design is awesome if you can attract clients ready to shell out for a top-notch, all-inclusive planning experience. It lets you dive into every detail and make sure everything aligns perfectly with your client’s vision. But it’s a big commitment. You’ll need a talented team and strong vendor connections, and it can be pretty resource-heavy.
On the other hand, Design Lite is perfect for clients on a budget who still want a professional touch. It’s less time-intensive, so you can handle more clients at once and still make great money without needing to put on the white glove treatment every time. Plus, it can be a gateway for clients to experience your skills and maybe upgrade to full services later on.
In the end, it’s all about knowing your market and playing to your strengths. If you have a lot of clients willing to pay for a premium, personalized service, Full Service Design can be super rewarding both creatively and financially. But if your market is more budget-conscious or you want to scale up by serving more clients, Design Lite might be the way to go. There’s no bad option—just find what works best for you and your clients.
Offering Wedding Design as a Wedding Planner
As a wedding planner, offering design services is a no-brainer. It gives your clients a more cohesive and personalized experience, making sure their big day looks and feels just like they imagined. Plus, it boosts your portfolio with gorgeous, well-executed events. However, you need to know what you’re doing to make it all work. That’s where my Ultimate Guide to Wedding Design comes in. It’s packed with tips and insights to help you nail every detail. Grab it here and start creating beautiful, unforgettable weddings that will wow your clients and take your business to the next level!
Want more? Check out this video on my YouTube channel ↓
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Today I got to share Cue with my DI mastermind, and I’m feeling really proud. 🥹
I’ve been so busy building it that it felt good to stop for a minute and share the story with a room full of people I love and admire. So many smart, talented, generous people who I’m lucky to call my friends.
This was a special one. ❤️
Would you guys like to hear what I shared? I’m thinking about breaking it down into a series here on Instagram. Should we do it?
@ninelemonsfengshui encouraged me to share it with you all here, and I think I should. LMK in the comments if you’d be interested in my presentation from today!
Day one in Charleston for the DI Mastermind, and I spent ten hours of it in my hotel room working on Cue. I’ve been at it since 7 a.m., trying to get client portals ready, and I didn’t get as far as I’d hoped.
But I did close my laptop long enough to hug some of my mastermind friends, catch up before sessions start tomorrow, and see this.
I’d love to tell you this sunset inspired some profound revelation, but mostly I think I needed to leave my fucking room. 😂
Although maybe that’s the reminder: there will always be something that needs more of me. I’m allowed to step outside and enjoy where I am before everything is finished.
And so are you! 💜
I’ve been doing brand shoots for almost 20 years, and I have opinions 😂 Here are 9 things that make them great:
1. Hire a photographer who specializes in brand shoots. There’s a big difference in quality when you work with someone who understands how to photograph you AND your business. Go with the best you can afford.
2. Book more time than you think you need. An hour is nice for headshots, but multiple outfits and scenes take hours. If you want lots of variety, give yourself time to create it. If you’re going to do it, go big and do it right.
3. Know how you’ll use the photos. Your website, social media, launches, presentations—tell your photographer what you need. Plan for different crops, orientations, and room for text.
4. Have a creative direction. Build a mood board so everyone understands the vibe. Think about the story you want the photos to tell before you show up.
5. Dress for where your brand is going. This is your chance to show up as the version of yourself you’re stepping into. Bring outfits that make you feel like her.
6. Get your photographer involved in the planning. Ask for their input on locations, outfits, lighting, and timing. You hired an expert—let them help shape the shoot.
7. Plan actual scenes. Hosting, teaching, designing, creating—what are you doing in the photos? Build moments around your work so you leave with more than portraits.
8. Don’t spend the entire shoot behind a laptop. Your business has more personality than that. Give people something interesting to look at.
9. Bring someone to help. Someone to handle outfits, fix your hair, catch a twisted necklace, and keep things moving. Those extra hands make a difference.
Which photo from @c10ike is your favorite?
Off to spend a week in Charleston (my first time!) for @juliecchenell Digital Insiders Mastermind. I absolutely love getting to spend a week with my colleagues and business friends.
We share meals and ideas and laughs and horror stories and wins and it’s truly the best thing ever. If you’re not already in a mastermind group for your business that allows you to get together once or twice a year, I HIGHLY recommend it! I always leave these events feeling inspired and motivated.
This year I get to share with the group my journey in building @planwithcue and I’m both excited and nervous to share what I’ve been working on. Wish me luck!
To my DI crew I can’t wait to see you soon!!!!!!!
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