Wedding Planner Contract Guide

U ntil you have an executed (i.e. signed) contract in your hands, avoid the temptation to begin working for any bride. Without a wedding planner contract a bride is only a potential client.

No contract, no client!

Review Sample Contracts

The best way to create your own wedding planner contract is to look at several sample contracts. This is a good basis for issues you might not have considered, and reviewing other contracts can provide strong, standard, language for your own wedding planning contract.

Send your Wedding Planner Contract ASAP!

Once a couple tells you that they want to move ahead and hire you as their wedding planner, send a contract within 24-48 hours. If you wait longer than that it may be too late and the couple may have already made the decision to work with someone else. The key is to have a standard version–Microsoft Word makes sense–of your contract on file. This way you simply fill-in-the-blanks with the details that are specific for each new client.

If you’re emailing the contract, convert into a PDF file before sending. This way there are no concerns about any of the wording being changed in any way. If you are sending the contract to your clients using the regular postal service, it’s helpful to include a self-addressed stamped envelope to make it easy for your clients to return the signed document to you.

Include a Cover Letter

This couple didn’t have to choose you, so express your appreciation to them for selecting you. Include a warm, personalized cover letter with your contract. Print both the contract and the cover letter on your company letterhead.

Wedding Planner Contract Must-Haves

Your contract should include the following items:

• Today’s Date
• Wedding Date (and time if you know it)
• Name of Bride & Groom
• Bride & Groom’s Contact Info – address, telephone, email, etc.
• Conditions – your role as wedding planner and restrictions
• Your Compensation – your total fees, initial deposit and payment schedule
• Description of Services
• Terms – include liability and legal issues
• Cancellation/Change Policy
• ‘Act of God’ clause
• Signatures of both clients

Have a Local Lawyer Review (IMPORTANT!)

Once you have created your standard contract that you will use for all of your clients, have your attorney review it. Laws vary by state, and what may apply in one state may not apply in another. A lawyer can also point out the omission of important terms or clauses that protect you.

Remember…

• A wedding planner contract protects YOU, the wedding planner. As the writer, you have the advantage of shaping things in a favorable way for your business.
• Deviating from the terms of your contract is risky! Be sure to put any changes along the way in writing.
• Advise your clients that each vendor they hire for their wedding (caterer, florist, photographer, etc.) should have their own contract.

The best wedding planner contract is one that is signed, filed, and does not have to be pulled out again, because when that happens it usually means there’s a problem.

HAPPY PLANNING!

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Q: What Should my Wedding Planner Contract Include? – WFAL387

Comments on Wedding Planner Contract Guide

The pdf file cannot be found. Could you please upload the contract again? This will be very helpful! Thank you!!

Kelli, you’re absolutely right! Sorry about that. I’ve corrected the link and the file should be available, now. Thanks.

Hello Debbie…I can’t figure out why the file isn’t accessible to certain users. Sorry Please try this link and let me know if it works, okay? https://weddingsforaliving.com/sample-wedding-planner-contract.pdf

Mari, Not sure what the problem might be. I’ve tried from various machines/computer without an issue. Here’s the direct link. I hope it works, this time:
https://weddingsforaliving.com/sample-wedding-planner-contract.pdf

Omg this contract was so helpful. I’ve just started into this business and thus far I have had the pleasure of doing 3 50th birthday parties, 2 sweet 16 and 2 weddings. The only issue I have had is collecting my money. This contact came right on time. Thank you so so much.

Hey Zena, Glad the sample contract helped. Just make sure to collect all of your money before the day of your client’s event arrives. It’s too difficult to collect after the fact. Thanks so much for writing. — Debbie

I just drafted a contract and appreciate the checklist of what the wedding planning contract must stipulate. Thanks so much Debbie,
Camille-

Hi I am completely new to the wedding business, I want to become a wedding planner but do not know from where to start. Secondly,how to i approach caterers,bakery, dress makers etc in order to make a deal with them for my clients and what contract would i have to sign with them and my clients. The most important how do i calculate the budget,my fees,commission from the florist,decorators,etc. Thank you.

Hi Geena, If you haven’t done so already, you may want to consider taking a course in wedding planning. Penn Foster career school offers a great program that deals with all of the questions you are looking for. I hope this helps!

Thanks, for the suggestion, Latoya. Are you a former student, instructor or rep for Penn Foster? Would love to hear more about their wedding planning program. What can you tell us? 🙂

Deb, I took the Wedding Planner course at Penn Foster back in 2012. I can testify that they have a very good program for anyone who is interested in becoming a Wedding Planner. The program outline is a 12 month course, however you can finish early depending on how fast you progress from one course to the next. The course is cost efficient with low monthly payments. It teaches you the basics of becoming a wedding planner from consulting, budgeting, vendor/client relationship, phone & email etiquette etc. After I finished the course I started my business planning weddings and I love doing it. I have planned three weddings this far and I’m working on my fourth. They have all been very successful and unique. Now I’m looking to draft a contract cause I need to cover myself and my client. Thank You

Thank you so mnuch,this made my life easy speCial after I lost a lot of money and conflicts between me and clients.much appreciated.Please keep us updating and grow our skills.God bless you.

Hello Palesa. Sorry to hear about what you’ve experienced in the past. Yes, a written contract is a must when you’re in this industry. Happy to hear things are headed in the right direction, now. Love and Success. –Deb

Hello: Thank you so much for the tips and sharing your expertise. to be able to get mor information on your website, Do I need to pay for the membership? and how much is it?
Thank you
Martha

Hello: Thank you so much for the tips and sharing your expertise. to be able to get more information on your website, Do I need to pay for the membership? and how much is it?
Thank you
Martha

Martha, great to know that the tips are helping you. The content on this site is free. If you need more hand-holding with getting your wedding planning business off the ground, the Wedding Business Guide provides much more comprehensive info in the form of audio and video tutorials, live monthly teleseminars, etc. There is a fee to access the info, however, I think you’ll agree that it’s really affordable. 🙂 You can learn more here: http://WeddingBusinessGuide.com. Also, if you can, join us for the LIVE broadcast of CONFETTI, the wedding planning business talk show, every other Tuesday at 7PM US/Eastern (not sure where you’re located). It’s a great way to ask your wedding planning business question and interact with some great people, around the globe who have the same goal…the desire to plan weddings for a living. I hope this helps.

Thank you for the sample letter of agreement, I didn’t have any luck finding one until now and had no problem downloading it.

Appreciate this site … I will be launching my new business by March 2012. Ive been doing alot of research so I’m glad I ran across this website.

Really great news, Athena! Looking forward to hearing more about your company. If you can make it, stop by on a Tuesday, and chat live on the wedding planning business talk show, CONFETTI…would love to ‘meet’ you. http://blogtalkradio.com/confetti

I just started my own wedding planning business and this form is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you so much!

This is fantastic! Very clear and concise for people just starting out and jumping in feet first! Thank you!!

This Sample REALLY helped me out. I was getting a little frustrated because I didnt know how I was going to word my contract. I really appreciate you providing a contract that I will be able to utilize for my business. Thanks

Thank you for the sample contract. What I did was visit other wedding venues and took bits and pieces that worked for my business.Both of these businesses have been in business for at least 10 years.However, your sample contract gave me another idea.

Thanks Debbie, these last couple of years I have been saying I need to do a business contract, I have been looking this week for sample event planners contracts but I have been seening wedding contracts instead. Thanks your sample of agreement form has help me

[…] Wedding Planner’s Contract – get a free copy of the wedding planner’s contract/letter of agreement, here. […]

Doret, The key is to try and take some sort of action on a consistent basis. I promise you, you’ll see results! Thanks so much. –Debbie

couldn’t wait to work with her again! And I did, with one of my favorite brdies Lisa, for her coastal wedding in Maine earlier this summer. I knew that she was the perfect person to help me with my hair when

Thank you so much. I’m on my second wedding and trying to make it a profession. Please if there’s anything you can send via email to keep me on point I would gladly appreciate it.

Hello Debbie, I want to say a huge thank you for providing us all with such important information. I qualified as a wedding planner in April 2012…And just trying to make sure im doing everything right before i do take on any clients, if theres any information you could provide me with il truly appreciate it. Ive help with one wedding already but i was still studying and only provided two contacts to the couple (never charged for my services as was still studying)
Ive got another two couples interested but havent made up their minds on dates. Im slowly getting everything (my logo, stationery, business cards etc) I guess what i am also wanting to know is, am i in the right track? Kind Regards Sharon

Hello Thank you for the sample it gave me some ideas… i opened a wedding decor business and wrote the agreement by looking at your sample. Do i have to show it to the lawyer so i can star it?

Hello, I was wondering if you could email me the word doc of the example so I can create my own from your version? All my best, Dawn

Hello Dawn, Thanks for writing. I don’t have a word document that I can share, I’m afraid. However, the sample letter is relatively short and shouldn’t take much time for you to adapt. –Debbie

Gloria, Within the article (inside the yellow box), there is a link to a sample letter of agreement/contract. Hope this helps. 🙂

I think the sample giving was very detail, being a event planning is my passion and viewing this information was very helpful I just added my site to be view and get business now that I have a website up and running. I would love your insight on and email me back. Thanks in advance.
K.Kornegay

Hi Debbie, I too have a very basic and standard web site for others to view. Please review if you have time and give me your feed back. http://www.triumphantevents.vpweb.com. Thanks,

Hi Debbie, I just want to thank you for providing this sample contract it’s a great help..is there any way I can contact you to ask you other questions..my business is an Event Designer and I know that a contract for me will fail into other lanes..I would love to ask you more detail questions..I thank you in advance for your time continue blessings to you.

Hello Audrey, Thanks for writing and for such kind words. Feel free to leave a voicemail message on the Confetti Listener Talkback line whenever it’s convenient: 202-681-2126 or join one of the live Confetti shows (ConfettiRadio.com is the wedding planner talkshow that I host on Tuesdays) and ask your questions(s), then. You can find the live broadcast schedule by going to http://ConfettiRadio.com/schedule. I hope this helps, Audrey. Thanks. –Debbie

Thank you so much for the information. All of it is very helpful in getting my business up and running, especially the sample contract. Events to Remember in the Las Vegas area is my life passion to get started soon. Thank you again.
Tina

Hello Debbie, I truly appreciate your words of wisdom as well as your sample contract. It really helps! God Bless,
Nicole P

Thank you in advance for your information a contract is very important in any business, thank you once again.

Hello Debbie,
I found your site to be very informative. However I am starting my business as a floral designer and event décor. What type of contract will I need for that? I have searched for many samples to no avail. Any advice or information will help me tremendously. Thank you

Hi Jamie, The key parts of a contract for floral and event design should be fairly similar. The important thing about a contract is that it needs to be as specific as possible–no guessing or misinterpretation. So, for example, instead of simply listing ‘centerpieces for wedding reception’, say ‘five centerpieces of red and white roses in square-shaped vases’. List everything that you are contracted to do, in easy-to-understand terms.

Thanks so much for sharing the sample contract. I am just starting out and this is extremely helpful.

Hi Debbie – I too (for the most part) provide floral / decor / and some planning for my brides. I have (up until my current bride) been sealing-the-deal with verbal commitments and handshake hugs — my business started out with my son’s best friend getting married, then it was family weddings, friends of family, friends of friends of family and just recently, I have contracted my first two weddings from my website. Indeed a helpful site full of information I have been searching for – I will fine tune this contract to suit my business and I do have a lawyer I can run this by. I look forward to keeping up with your blogs and comments and updates ! Kindest – Kathy

Kathy – believe me when I say that having a contract for each wedding you plan is a ‘good thing’! It’s the best way to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Good luck with your wedding biz. Thanks so much for taking the time to write. Keep going! 🙂 –Debbie

[…] consider including a clause in your wedding planner contract that states that all work on the wedding will cease if you’re unable to fulfill your role as […]

do i need a signed agreement from a client if i do weddings but I do not have a building for my buiness I work out of my home

Brenda, my answer is a resounding, “yes!”. Absolutely get a signed agreement/contract before you do ANY work for a potential client…whether you’re home-based or working from a retail/commercial location. Remember a contract makes sure that both you and your client understand who is responsible for doing what. Hope this helps. 🙂

First and foremost, I enjoyed reading everyone’s questions and your (DEBBIE QUAIN) expertise in responding to each and every individual. Happy Holidays, My question is, do you have any sample contracts, in particular, for event coordinators? Please say, YES 🙂 Thanks!

Happy New Year, Demereo! Thanks for writing. The sample contract on this page is all I’ve got right now. Sorry. But it’s a good starting point…for event planners/coordinators and wedding planners, alike. If you simply replace the wedding planning description with each of services that you plan on providing as the event coordinator, you should be in good shape. Just remember that you need to have a local attorney review any contract that you create to make sure that it protects you and is acceptable based on wherever you’re located. Hope this helps. 🙂

[…] a destination wedding. Although I don’t have a specific destination wedding contract, you can find a sample letter of agreement, here. Use this to get started and then have a local attorney review and add the specifics that […]

Ava, Thanks for taking the time to write and for your kind words. It’s my pleasure. Happy to hear you’re finding the info helpful. Keep going! 🙂

Hi Deb.
Awesome site. I’m just starting my new wedding planning business “Happily Marrying.” To be honest I haven’t planned any weddings yet, but am very keen to do so. I’m not a stranger to organising major events though and am confident I can do a professional job. I read in other areas mainly women are wedding planners, but can’t see any reason why men can’t, so thought I’d do it. My wife and I have been married for 31 years, and would love to help people with their new start in life.
I’ve done plenty of research into planning weddings though and am currently studying the Graduate Certificate of Arts and Entertainment management.
What I would like to know is how I might begin to obtain clients? I have a page on facebook and I have a website http://www.happilymarrying.com but haven’t had any response so far.
I was thinking should I be honest and say I haven’t done any weddings, but assure them I will do a fantastic job, or just tell them if they ask? I’ve also been having trouble getting traffic to my web site, as it doesn’t come up when I search Google, only if I type the whole address in the browser. I’ve done all the verification things in Googles webmasters tools, but still nothing has happened?
Would you have any advice to get me started please?
Thank you very much 🙂
Cheers
Ken

Hello i have graduated Penn Foster and set up my on company and ready to go. I do not have a website yet. Need help with that. I already have my first paying client an im looking for a contract. I have noticed most venues have package deals that include coordinators. How do i approach this and my fee. Thank you for any help you can give me.

This is truly interesting and inspiring. I’m so late reading everything. When you find time, please provide any information that would teach, encourage and education Bridal Consultants. I am actually in the process of putting my contract together and I’m appreciative for finding your sample. I too was sharing those anxieties bout fees, so I am learning to compose everything I have to do, and based off being underpaid for the 1st Wedding I ever did and prayfully, I can come up with a suitable fee that’s comfortable.

Hello Rhonda, Thanks for writing. Take your time to look through the site; there’s a lot of information in the talk-show archives that I think you’ll find helpful. Pricing your wedding planner services is a challenge that I think each wedding planner faces. There isn’t a magic formula, but you should take the time to determine what your time is worth as you set-up your wedding business. –Debbie

Thank you, Thank you so much for the information provided on your website Debbie. This has Blessed me in many ways more than one. I’m a NEW Wedding Coordinator and Event Planner here in Florida @ Paramount Weddings & Events Planning and to see you’re so informative about Weddings overall really helps a lot. I didn’t have an contract and I was currently putting one together for a potential client and needed help in doing so. I will continue to visit your website to get more insight from your blogs daily. Once again Thank you and may God continue to Bless you in everything you do 🙂

Hello Ada, Thanks so much for writing. Happy to hear that you’re finding the info on the site helpful. Best of luck to you! 🙂 –Debbie

Hello LaQuila, A sample wedding planner contract is included in the article. You can find the link in the green box in the second paragraph. –Debbie

Howdy! Someone in my Myspaace group shared this site with us so I came to check
it out. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be
tweeting this to my followers! Fantastic blog and wonderful design and style.

Hi Debbie, I am so glad I found this website. What I have experience in this business is the brides really have an issue with the price that you offer them. However, thanks for the sample contract. I am certainly going to use the tool. I have been used for the last time now I know what my problem was. Again Thanks from the bottom of my heart

Hey Padrica, Thanks for the feedback. Happy to hear that you’ve ‘been used for the last time…’ Good for you! Keep going.

Hi! I’m trying to create a simple Cancellation/Change policy and an “Act of God clause” for a Letter of Agreement, based on the sample on this website. Could you please show me some good samples for this??

Hello Deb, Thanks for the information on this website. I will bookmark this site for all the information I need to get my business off the ground . I am a new wedding planner trying to start my business. I have planned events for family and myself for years, which is what made me want to start. The big question I would like to know ( If someone could help me out with) How do you calculate your fees? I understand about the class thing, but honestly I don’t have the money to go so If someone is willing to help me out with that question. i would really appreciate it.

Hi can you also help us in making a wedding planner proposal? I’m having a hard time creating one. Would really love to hear from you! 🙂

Happy Saturday! Thank you very much for all the useful information and your helpful spirit. I eat, breath and sleep event planning I have been blessed with the confidence and plenty of event planning experience on a large scale without a certificate or degree in the field of event planning. My question to you is without getting taken where is the best Los Angeles event planning school/course I can enroll in and get a credible certificate to officially start my own wedding planning business. Stay Blessed!

[…] Free Sample Wedding Planner Contract – Weddings for a … – Send your Wedding Planner Contract ASAP! Once a couple tells you that they want to move ahead and hire you as their wedding planner, send a contract within 24-48 … […]

[…] Free Sample Wedding Planner Contract – Weddings for a Living – Discover what you should include in your professional wedding planner contract and download a sample letter of agreement. […]

[…] Free Sample Wedding Planner Contract – Weddings for … – U ntil you have an executed (i.e. signed) contract in your hands, avoid the temptation to begin working for any bride. Without a wedding planner contract a bride is … […]

[…] Free Sample Wedding Planner Contract – Weddings for … – U ntil you have an executed (i.e. signed) contract in your hands, avoid the temptation to begin working for any bride. Without a wedding planner contract a bride is … […]

Do you have an example letter of appreciation to clients? I have been trying to write one but had a hard time..

Hello Leo, Are you referring to a ‘thank you’ letter for clients? If so, I don’t have a template or sample since I typically write a handwritten note with just a few heartfelt sentences. But, please let me know if you’re referring to something else entirely. Thanks. – Debbie

HALLO, IM FROM ANTONIO VITO WEDDING PLANNER & ORGANIZER IN BALI, INDONESIA.
IT WAS VERY HELPFUL ! THANKYOU FOR THIS ! GOD BLESS

Hello Antonio (…all the way from Indonesia?! How wonderful!), Thanks so much for taking the time to write. I’m happy to help. Keep going! – Debbie

You’re so interesting! I do not think I’ve read through something like this before. So wonderful to find somebody with some genuine thoughts on this subject matter. Really.. thanks for starting this up. This web site is something that is required on the internet, someone with some originality!

Hi, I have a couple that stated that my wedding planning contact did not state the follow: Legal Compliance
Terms of Compensation
Nature of Relationship It my first couple and I researched all templates around the world. nothing of those stated from them. Could you advise me? I am very lost and would want to try to understand more from where are they coming from.

Hello Eugenia, Thanks for writing. My best advice is for you to have a local attorney look at your wedding planner contract beforehand. The template provided is just a starting point. Sorry I’m unable to provide answers to the specific terms that you mentioned. Best of luck. – Debbie

Thank you Debbie,
yes we are going to get a lawyer to look closer into the contract. I just feel curious that why did they bring up such terms which I had asked around and researched.

Got it, Eugenia! In revisiting your comments (and at the risk of sounding like a complete nincompoop), ‘Terms of Compensation’ sounds like the payment arrangement portion of the contract; ‘Nature of Relationship’ may just be another way of referring to the ‘Description of Services’ and/or possibly the ‘Conditions’ area and ‘Legal Compliance’ could be another way of identifying the ‘Terms’. Of course, these are my responses as a layperson; I am NOT a lawyer. I’d love to hear what your lawyer tells you. And, BTW, am I the only person who is slightly concerned about this couple’s request to add such complex terms to a wedding planner’s contract?! 🙂 Please keep me posted. – Debbie

Hi Debbie, Thank you for your evaluation.
I believe my contract has all of those if it is based on what you had described. It may be just a different way of putting things so that they can find excuse to terminate my contract. I will re-look into my contract and then get a lawyer to go thru them.
By the way I am from Singapore. Cheers.