A more formal agreement structure for planners who want additional detail on vendor liaison responsibilities, budget authority limits, and change-order handling. Use this version if you regularly manage vendor payments or hold decision-making authority on the client's behalf.
This is a starting point, not legal advice. Contract laws vary by state, province, and country. Have a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction review this template — and adjust the bracketed terms — before you send it to a client or rely on it to protect your business.
Planner will act as the primary point of contact for all wedding vendors on Client's behalf for the wedding on [Date], with authority limited to [budget threshold / decisions explicitly approved by Client].
Any decision exceeding $[Amount] or altering the agreed vendor lineup requires Client's written approval before Planner proceeds.
This engagement is (check one and delete the other): [ ] Direct engagement — Service Provider is contracted directly by Client, the end recipient of the work, with no other business acting as an intermediary; or [ ] Subcontracted engagement — Service Provider is engaged by [Hiring Business/Agency/Production Company Name] ("Hiring Party") to perform work on behalf of Hiring Party's own client. Where subcontracted, Service Provider's contractual relationship is with Hiring Party only, and Hiring Party remains solely responsible for its own agreement with the end client, including that client's payment obligations.
Service Provider is an independent contractor, not an employee, partner, or agent of Client or Hiring Party. Service Provider is responsible for their own taxes (including self-employment tax), insurance, equipment, and business licensing. Nothing in this agreement creates a joint venture, partnership, or employment relationship, and Service Provider is not entitled to employee benefits of any kind.
Service Provider controls the manner and method of performing the work and may, where subcontracted, be identified to the end client as the person performing the work, subject to any confidentiality or non-disclosure terms separately agreed with Hiring Party.
Planning fee: $[Amount], paid per the schedule: [X]% at signing, [X]% at [milestone], balance due [X] days before the event.
If Planner is authorized to hold and disburse funds to vendors on Client's behalf, that arrangement and any handling fee must be documented separately.
Deposit is non-refundable. Cancellations follow the same tiered schedule as standard wedding planner contracts: full forfeiture of deposit if cancelled early, escalating fee percentage as the date approaches.
Planner will provide a written budget tracker, vendor contact sheet, and day-of timeline as core deliverables under this agreement.
Planner's liability is limited to the total fees paid under this agreement and excludes indirect or consequential damages from vendor nonperformance.
Client remains the contracting party on all individual vendor agreements unless explicitly assigned to Planner in writing.
Where this engagement is subcontracted through a Hiring Party, indemnification and insurance obligations run between Service Provider and Hiring Party as named in Section 2; Service Provider has no direct contractual relationship with, and assumes no liability toward, the end client unless separately agreed in writing.
This agreement is entered into by and between [Business Name] ("Service Provider") and [Client Name / Hiring Party Name] ("Client") as of [Date].
Service Provider Signature: _________________________ Date: _____________
Client Signature: _________________________ Date: _____________
Treat it as a starting point, not a finished legal document. Contract law varies by state, province, and country, and this template cannot account for every situation. Fill in the bracketed terms, then have a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction review it before you send it to a client or rely on it to protect your business.
Only with an explicit, separate written authorization specifying limits and reporting — commingling client vendor funds with business operating funds without clear documentation is a common source of disputes and, in some jurisdictions, a compliance risk.
It's the dollar threshold below which the planner can make vendor decisions without checking back with the couple. Defining it upfront speeds up planning while keeping the couple in control of larger spending decisions.
It adds more explicit language around decision-making authority and fund handling, which matters most for planners who negotiate directly with vendors or manage deposits on the client's behalf rather than simply making recommendations.
Load this template into SupaBook to send clients a clean online link instead of an emailed PDF. Clients e-sign from any device — no printing, no account required. Every contract tracks its status (draft, awaiting signature, fully signed) against the client record, and each signature captures name, email, IP address, timestamp, and user agent. Plans start at $15/mo, with e-signature and contract tracking included on every plan.
Canonical page: Wedding Planner Agreement Template (Free) canonical page