About The wedding academy
Established in 2004 by Kylie Carlson
Born out of a desire to provide the industry with a formal education program that would give students the chance to develop their skills via experiential learning, Founder Kylie Carlson launched what was then known as the Australian Academy of Wedding & Event Planning (AAWEP) in 2004 in Melbourne , Australia.
Now known as The Wedding Academy, we are a global online school with over 7,000 Students from all over the world.
Prior to launching AAWEP, Kylie contributed to the Wedding Planning & Event Planning curriculum at TAFE, which is a nationally recognised continued education body in Australia.
Planning or designing a wedding is very different from launching and running a business and takes two different sets of skills, both equally as important as the other.
For many people the planning and designing comes quite naturally and it is the business side of things that leaves them a little hazy.
This is where The Wedding Academy excels. All course materials combine the knowledge and real-to-life training required to be a successful planner or designer with the fundamentals and basics of running a successful business.
The Course Curriculum has been developed over several years with the help of many industry experts. Each year the courses are upgraded to reflect new trends and ideas, as well as to update content that might be out of date. This is so important in an industry which is forever changing and bringing in new concepts.
The Wedding Academy was purchased by new owner Jac Bowie in late 2022 and she now runs the business from her home in Sunshine Coast, Australia.
The Wedding Academy now attracts students from all over the world – with our biggest markets being Europe, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, India, United Arab Emirates and Asia.
Meet Our Ceo
Jac Bowie
With a 15-year events career producing everything from book tours to burlesque shows, Jac Bowie is no stranger to managing demanding schedules, creative problem-solving on the spot, and curating once-in-a-lifetime experiences with meticulous attention-to-detail.
Her event portfolio includes work for iconic clients like Cirque Du Soleil, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Pacha Moscow, Wintergarten Berlin and even the (actual!) Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort —but she eventually found her true home in the world of weddings, where she could apply her impressive organisational skills and sharp stylist’s eye in a more intimate way.
As a seasoned event producer with over 500+ events under her belt, experience leading an array of wedding businesses, and passion for coaching others, Jac is pouring the breadth of it all into Wedding Academy as its new CEO.
From founding Business in Heels and growing it to 54 franchises around the world and Darling Don’t Panic to a team of 18 planners across Australia to more than a decade of coaching business owners and sitting on the advisory board for wedtech company Thymebase, Jac’s mission is to support each of the driven wedding planners in the Academy community.
Regional Mentors
Europe & United Kingdom
Africa & Middle East
Rest of the World
Head Office
United States
Australia
United Kingdom
Australia
Australia
Philippines
Australia
The Advisory Board
We’ve collaborated with the top industry thought leaders from around the world for the Wedding Academy Advisory Board. Members provide guidance for our students, contribute to the course material and are instrumental in giving our students a practical look at the industry by providing a variety of work experience opportunities. They also give input into our International Wedding Trend Report and take part in our virtual summits.
Please note: Bios & links currently being updated.
Grab the freebie!
2023 Wedding Trend Report
Enjoy our International Wedding Trend Report, written by the industry for the industry. Get the latest trends from experts around the world.
