FULL PLANNING

Full-Service Planning: Everything Handled, Start to Finish

Full planning means your planner is involved from the moment you say yes to the moment the last guest leaves. They manage the entire process — budget, vendor selection, design concept, timeline, logistics, and day-of coordination.

What is included: Initial consultation and vision development. Budget creation and tracking. Vendor research, shortlisting, and booking. Design concept and mood board development. Timeline and floor plan creation. Invitation management support. Rehearsal coordination. Full day-of management with a team on site.

Best for: Couples who are busy, live overseas (especially Viet Kieu planning from abroad), or simply want the peace of mind that comes from having an experienced professional handle every detail. If you do not have the time or local connections to manage vendors in HCMC, full planning removes that entire burden.

Typical cost in Vietnam: 30,000,000–80,000,000 VND depending on the planner’s experience and your wedding scale. Premium planners managing large or complex weddings may charge more.

Full planning means one person holds the entire vision — and every thread that connects it

PARTIAL PLANNING For broader inspiration, see Harper’s Bazaar wedding.

Partial Planning: Support Where You Need It Most

Partial planning — sometimes called à la carte or selective coordination — means you handle the big decisions yourself but bring in a planner for specific areas where you need expertise. This is the most flexible option and increasingly popular among confident, organized couples.

What is typically included: A set number of consultation hours (usually 10–20 hours over several months). Vendor recommendations and introductions. Design review and feedback on your concepts. Timeline creation. Optional: day-of coordination as an add-on.

What you handle yourself: Day-to-day vendor communication. Budget tracking and payments. Most logistics and follow-ups. Invitation management. Guest list coordination.

Best for: Couples who enjoy the planning process, have local family support, and want professional guidance without handing over full control. Also works well for smaller weddings where the logistics are manageable but you still want an expert eye on design and flow.

Typical cost in Vietnam: 15,000,000–40,000,000 VND depending on scope and hours included.

Partial planning gives you the driver’s seat — with a navigator who knows the road

DAY-OF COORDINATION

Day-Of Coordination: The Safety Net

Day-of coordination is the minimum professional support we recommend for any wedding, regardless of size. You plan everything yourself, but a coordinator takes over on the wedding day to manage the timeline, vendors, and any issues that arise.

What is included: A pre-wedding meeting (usually 4–6 weeks before) to review your plans, timeline, and vendor contracts. A walkthrough of the venue with key vendors. Full management on the wedding day — from vendor arrival through clean-up. Emergency problem-solving.

The honest truth: “Day-of” is slightly misleading. A good coordinator starts working at least a month before your wedding, reviewing everything you have put in place. On the day itself, they are the person everyone calls — not you, not your mom, not your maid of honor.

Best for: Couples who have planned most of the wedding themselves and have strong vendor relationships, but want someone experienced to execute the day. Essential for weddings with complex timelines, multiple venues, or large guest counts.

Typical cost in Vietnam: 8,000,000–20,000,000 VND.

Day-of coordination is the difference between managing your wedding and enjoying it

HOW TO CHOOSE

Choosing the Right Package: A Decision Framework

The right planning package depends on four factors. Be honest with yourself about each one — the wrong choice creates either unnecessary expense or preventable stress.

1. Your available time. Full planning requires roughly 150–200 hours of work over 6–12 months. If you have a demanding job, live overseas, or simply do not want planning to consume your life, full-service is the right call. If you have time and enjoy the process, partial planning works beautifully.

2. Your local network. Do you have family in HCMC who can attend vendor meetings, handle logistics, and communicate in Vietnamese? If yes, partial planning or day-of coordination may be sufficient. If you are planning remotely with limited local support, full planning becomes essential.

3. Your wedding complexity. A 50-person dinner at one venue is manageable with day-of coordination. A 300-guest celebration with a morning tea ceremony, afternoon vows ceremony, and evening reception at different locations? That is a full-planning situation.

4. Your stress tolerance. Some couples thrive on the planning process and find it exciting. Others find it overwhelming from week one. There is no wrong answer — just know yourself and plan accordingly.

The best package is the one that lets you enjoy the engagement — not just survive it

OUR APPROACH

How The White Planner Structures Our Packages

At The White Planner, we offer all three tiers — but we structure them around real-world needs, not arbitrary packages. Every engagement starts with a consultation where we assess your situation and recommend the level of support that actually makes sense.

For Viet Kieu couples planning from overseas, we typically recommend full planning — not because it is more expensive, but because the logistics of remote planning in Vietnam genuinely require it. Time zones, language barriers, and vendor availability create friction that a local planner eliminates.

For local couples with strong family support, partial planning often delivers the best value: professional design guidance and vendor expertise without paying for logistics management you do not need.

Whatever package you choose, our philosophy is the same: your wedding should feel like you, not like a template. We are here to amplify your vision, not replace it.

The goal is the same regardless of package — a wedding day you are fully present for