Yes. Even though the term "bridal" broadly means a wedding celebration, it also can be perceived as referring specifically to a bride. In an effort to ensure that our organization is all-inclusive, we decided it was best to change the name of our company to reflect our values.

Our Wedding Planner Certification Program does not require any external materials. Everything you need will be included in the online course. After you complete your certification, you will also have access to the virtual slideshow presentation from the online program that you can reference at any time via your membership login. Both the Wedding Design Fundamentals Certification program and the Master Certified Wedding Planner Advanced Study also include digital resources that can be downloaded as you move through the course at your own pace. Either way, you will always be provided with the materials you need.

Absolutely! The program covers many concepts that apply not only to independent wedding planners, but also to those who handle events at wedding venues. We also discuss the different ways that wedding planners and venue staff can work together to make each other's jobs easier. There are many advantages to having positive relationships with independent wedding planners. After gaining your certification, you will become a part of an international community of like-minded wedding professionals, and you will be able to network with them through our private members-only forum.

After completing the Wedding Planner Certification program, you will gain LIFETIME membership with the Certified Wedding Planner Society. There are no renewal fees, no annual fees, and no hidden fees. You will gain access to our private members-only online forum, where you can connect with thousands of supportive planners to discuss your thoughts and share your experiences. This is an incredibly loving group of wedding professionals. You will also have access to our FREE business workshops, which cover a wide variety of topics within the wedding industry. For a more thorough list of the membership benefits you will receive after becoming certified, click here.

Earning your Wedding Planner Certification will advance your career by giving you a wealth of practical information specific to the wedding industry. Your internationally recognized certification will set you apart as someone who is serious about their career and who places value in continuing education.

Your internationally recognized Wedding Planner Certification is valid for your entire career. With that said, your success in the wedding planning industry will require patience, experience, and ongoing education. The Certified Wedding Planner Society is committed to your success. After you have completed the program and receive your certification, we will have additional FREE ongoing education opportunities available to you. You are under no obligation to attend these continuing education programs, but they are always available to you and are included in your lifetime membership at no extra charge.

After successfully completing the program, you will receive a PDF of your certificate suitable for printing. You will also have access to a digital membership badge in PNG format, and you will be sent a personalized social media graphic to post anywhere you’d like. Your certificate will be recognized internationally and should be displayed proudly. You are encouraged to use your membership badge on your email signature, website, your company documents, and any marketing material you choose. After you complete the Wedding Planner Certification Program, our staff will also send you instructions on how to access all of your member benefits, and you will have an opportunity to talk to the CEO, Laurie Hartwell, on a New TBS Member Orientation Zoom call — these orientations occur monthly, and you will be able to sign up for an upcoming meeting that best fits your schedule.

The Certified Wedding Planner Society has the right to deny registration if we feel there would be a conflict of interest. If we find that you are a competitor or work for a competitor, your registration will be revoked. In addition to this, we only train those who are interested in a career as a wedding planner or as a wedding venue professional. There are times when it is appropriate for caterers, DJ's, or florists to complete this certification if they are considering the possibility of adding wedding planning services to their offerings, but other companies such as transportation providers, bakers, photographers, or videographers are discouraged from completing this certification since the content does not apply to them.

View the all of our certification programs by clicking here.

Yes. The Certified Wedding Planner Society (formerly The Bridal Society) is accredited through the Better Business Bureau because we meet their high business standards. We have an A+ rating with the BBB.

Absolutely! We welcome all planners regardless of your current credentials. In order to become a member of the CWP Society, you will simply be required to complete our Wedding Planner Certification Program. The reason for this requirement is because our organization maintains certain standards and a code of ethics that we require all of our members to uphold, and it is imperative that everyone within our membership is on the same page. We feel very strongly as an organization that every member must show that they value community over competition, treat their clients and colleagues with integrity, and follow our other guidelines that are more clearly explained throughout our program. In addition, we truly feel that every wedding planner deserves to experience our program from beginning to end, with all of the helpful information, resources, and benefits we offer along the way. Even after you complete our program, you will continue to enjoy lifetime certification, membership, and support from our organization for the rest of your career. This includes FREE monthly continuing education workshops, exclusive discounts with leading companies in the industry, 24/7 connection with your fellow TBS members worldwide through our private forum, and so much more (see more about the benefits of TBS membership by clicking here).

Our mission is to raise the standards in the wedding industry and to provide continuous support to our members. In order to do this, we offer our certification programs at a rate that is affordable for the many rather than the few. Our priority is to do what is best for the industry—including couples, planners, venues, and other wedding professionals—first and foremost, before we consider what may be best for our own bottom line. Many of our competitors overprice their certifications and continue to charge their members year after year to maintain their credentials. The Certified Wedding Planner Society never charges recurring membership fees or certification renewal fees, and your certification through our organization will never expire. We offer complimentary lifetime membership to anyone who has completed our program. This membership includes FREE monthly continuing education workshops, exclusive discounts with our industry partners, free group mentoring, connection with thousands of fellow Certified Wedding Planners via our private forum, and so much more. Click here to view all of the membership benefits we currently offer. The Certified Wedding Planner Society is here to elevate this industry in any way we can. Supporting our members throughout their careers brings us immeasurable joy and motivation. For this reason, we feel that choosing the Certified Wedding Planner Society to receive your certification is the best option. We would love for you to join the family!