theJournal — The Wedding Academy blog
Stories, guides & honest advice for wedding planners, stylists and florists.
How to Specialise as a Wedding Planner (and Why I Think You Should)
How to specialise as a wedding planner — Jac Bowie on why specialists get booked, niche ideas, how to choose and test your specialty, and when not to specialise yet.
Wedding Planner Pricing Strategy: How to Structure Packages That Sell
A practical wedding planner pricing strategy — work out your true costs, choose a pricing model and structure coordination, partial and full planning packages that sell without scope creep.
Destination Wedding Vendor Contracts: What Planners Must Check
A planner’s checklist for destination wedding vendor contracts — governing language and law, currency, deposits, force majeure, scope, permits, insurance and who should sign.
Wedding Bouquet Alternatives for Non-Traditional Couples
A florist’s guide to wedding bouquet alternatives — single stems, floral hoops, cuffs, crowns, living and dried bouquets — with mechanics, pricing logic and consultation tips.
Wedding Styling Trends Fading Out (and What Stylists Are Doing Instead)
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.
planning
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Wedding Client Red Flags: Warning Signs Planners Should Never Ignore
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.
Is a Wedding Planning Course Worth It? My Honest Answer as the CEO of One
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.
How to Coordinate a Wedding in a Different Time Zone
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.
How to Run a Wedding Rehearsal Like a Professional Planner
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.
What I’d Never Do at My Own Wedding
Wedding planner and educator Jac Bowie on the eight things she’d never do at her own wedding — and what 20 years of live events and training planners taught her about each one.
styling & floral
All styling stories →
business & marketing
All business stories →
Wedding Planner Collaborations: Partnering With Venues and Vendors
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.
Wedding Planner Testimonials: How to Ask and Use Them
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.
Wedding Planning Software: What Planners Actually Use
An honest guide to the wedding planning software working planners actually need — CRM, contracts, invoicing, run sheets, floor plans and client portals — and how to avoid paying for overlapping apps.
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