Ways to Make Wedding Planner Contracts Work for You

Are you curious about all the wedding planner contracts you should get? If you’re just starting out and wondering what you need to protect yourself and your brand, I highly recommend that you get a contract of some kind. A good wedding planner contract will not only protect you from any legal issues that may arise, but it will also help you set boundaries with your clients. Understanding and being firm about your boundaries will help build your brand in a positive way.

Wedding Planner Contracts

So, where to begin? Well, with all the information that is out there on the interwebs, I’m sure you can find something fast and cheap. Just remember, you often get what you pay for. When I first started out, I used a contract I got from a wedding planner book I bought from Amazon. It was simple, pretty general, and, all in all, about five pages long. As I gained more and more experience, I added more and more to my contract. For example, after my first few weddings, I learned that I didn’t want to be responsible for DIY items not completed, so I happily added that to my contract. So, what contracts will you need as a newer wedding planner?

Wedding or Event Planner Contract [Necessity]

It’s amazing to me how far the internet has come since I started out six short years ago. Nowadays you can find anything and everything online. A great place to look is The Engaged Legal Collective. Caroline is a recovering attorney who stumbled upon serving creatives. She has tons of contract templates for wedding professionals. If you want to do full-service wedding planning, this is a great place to start.

Non-Disclosure Agreement for New Hires or Collaborations [Good Idea]

Protecting the way you do things is important, and having a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a good idea when thinking of hiring help. Now, I wouldn’t call it a necessity unless you are planning to hire someone to help you with business operations or to take on weddings. If you just want someone to help you on the day of a wedding, you will want an Independent Contractor Contract. If you’re ready to hire an employee or an evolved IC, then it’s time to get an NDA. Check out The Engaged Legal Collective for more information.

Independent Contractor Contract Template [Necessity]

If you haven’t already, you will soon figure out that you will want help on the day of a wedding. There is far too much for one person to do, and you can’t be in two (or three) places at once. That is why an IC Contract is a necessity. I once had a hired hand post pictures of my wedding on her WeddingWire site. If she had read her contract carefully, she would have seen that posting those pictures was a no-no. She was asked to take them down and because I had a contract with her, there was no issue. Like I said, boundaries. Even if a good friend or neighbor is helping you, things happen and you need to make sure you’re protected.

Styled-Shoot Contract Template [Good Idea]

Styled shoots are one of the best things you can do for your brand. Why? For two reasons: 1) to get to know vendors and 2) to show clients what you can do. That being said, you might want to think about getting a styled-shoot contract. A contract will cover your expectations for vendors and clarify how they can use the pictures. For example, you don’t want a vendor to submit the photos to a blog before you’ve had your say first. Although this contract was originally designed for photographers, it can be edited to fit your needs.

Contracts are not just a good idea, they are a necessity in any type of business dealing. Wedding planning is no exception to the rule. Set boundaries with your clients and protect yourself and your brand with a good contract that you fully understand. Save 20% on any Engaged Legal contract. 

What type of legal clauses do you think are necessary in an event contract?