One of the first decisions in booking mehendi, especially for a wedding, is how much coverage you actually want - and 'full hand' versus 'half hand' isn't just a style choice, it affects your time, budget, and how the design looks in photos. Full hand mehendi covers the entire palm, back of the hand, and extends up the forearm, sometimes past the elbow for bridal designs - this is the traditional choice for brides and typically takes 3-6+ hours per hand depending on design density. It gives the most dramatic, traditional look and photographs strongly for close-up wedding shots, but requires significant sitting time and a longer paste-drying commitment. Half hand mehendi covers the palm and fingers, stopping at or just past the wrist, without extending up the arm. It takes roughly half the time of a full hand design (1.5-3 hours), costs proportionally less, and is the more practical choice for guests, engagement ceremonies, or brides who want a strong design without committing to a multi-hour sitting. For deciding between the two, consider your outfit first - if you're wearing full sleeves or a heavily embellished blouse that will cover the forearm anyway, full hand mehendi that extends up the arm won't even be visible, making half hand the more practical (and cheaper) choice. Conversely, sleeveless or three-quarter sleeve outfits show off forearm mehendi well, making full hand designs worth the extra time and cost. Occasion matters too - brides typically go full hand for the main wedding mehendi ceremony but often choose half hand or even simpler designs for smaller pre-wedding functions like the engagement or roka, saving the elaborate look for the day it matters most. Budget-wise, expect full hand bridal mehendi to cost roughly 1.5-2x what a comparable half hand design costs from the same artist, since it's directly tied to time spent rather than a flat rate - always confirm which coverage level a quoted price includes before booking, since 'mehendi package' pricing varies a lot between artists on this exact point.