Stories, guides & honest advice from The Wedding Academy.
Learn the wedding client red flags planners spot from first enquiry to contract — and exactly how to respond with qualifying questions, clear contracts and firm, fair boundaries.
A stylist’s guide to the wedding styling trends fading out — from all-white-and-greenery to neon signs and dried everything — and the venue-led, personal, sustainable styling replacing them.
Is a wedding planning course worth it? Wedding Academy CEO Jac Bowie gives an honest answer — who it suits, who should skip it, what to look for and the red flags to avoid.
A practical guide to wedding planner vendor collaborations — how to get on venue preferred supplier lists, run styled shoots and co-marketing, set ground rules and spot red flags.
How to coordinate a wedding in a different time zone — communication hours, one planning hub, overlap calls, local vendors abroad, buffered deadlines, jet lag and a local-time run sheet.
A florist’s guide to wedding flower care — how to condition, store, transport and touch up blooms so they stay fresh from delivery to the last dance, plus a care timeline.
How to run a wedding rehearsal like a professional planner — who attends, a step-by-step run sheet, processional order, music cues, family dynamics and a sample rehearsal timeline.
How to style a wedding on a small budget like a professional stylist — where to spend, where to save, candles, colour, hiring vs buying and repurposing décor for an expensive look.
An honest look at wedding planner mentorship — what a mentor does that a course can’t, the types of mentoring, red flags, and questions to ask before you pay.
How to ask for wedding planner testimonials that actually convert — the best timing, story-pulling questions, a sample ask email, permissions and where to use reviews to book more couples.
Online certificate courses in wedding planning, styling, floral design and business. Self-paced, 100% online — more than 11,000 students since 2004.
See the certificates →
Leading Wedding & Entertaining Expert, David Tutera is hailed as an artistic visionary whose ability, uniquely creative talents and outstanding reputation have made him a tremendous success in the lifestyle arena. Tutera has created a name for himself by taking his passion for designing spectacular events and transforming it into a lifestyle.
He continuously exceeds the expected with an unmatched level of inspiration, imagination and innovation to create the latest trends in entertaining. Tutera’s grandfather, a successful florist, first noticed his grandson’s artistic ability at an early age and encouraged David to pursue his destiny. At age 19, with the sound advice of his grandfather and only one client, David opened his own event planning business.
Today, David Tutera presides over an award winning company built from experience, dedication and Tutera’s natural talent for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. His name has become synonymous with style, elegance, creativity and vision. David Tutera has a natural talent for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. His name has become synonymous with style, elegance, creativity and vision.
Honored by Life & Style Magazine as “Best Celebrity Wedding Planner,” David’s impressive client list includes Jewel, Star Jones’ wedding, Real Housewife Taylor Armstrong’s wedding, Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul’s wedding, NY Giants Antonio Pierce’s wedding, Shannen Doherty’s wedding and events for Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, Brandy and Ray J, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Lil’ Kim, the Official Post Grammy Parties in New York City, Elton John, Barbara Walters, the Rolling Stones, Nancy Reagan, Prince Charles, The White House, private events for the Vice President, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, Susan Lucci, The John F. Kennedy Center, as well as countless film premieres and celebrity parties for royalty, politicians and socialites.
Tutera has also designed events for several charities including the Prevent Cancer Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Association, DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids) and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. David has made guest appearances on Today, Extra!, Good Morning America, The View, CNN, The Rachael Ray Show, The Talk, Steve Harvey, Wendy Williams and many more. In addition People, USA Today, In Touch, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, In Style, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Bridal Guide and Town & Country have all featured his work.
Tutera has also made special television appearances in the popular daytime soap, The Young & the Restless and TV Land’s The Exes. David lives in Los Angeles with his husband Joey, daughter Cielo and their rescue dog Lucy.
