Stories, guides & honest advice from The Wedding Academy.
Discover unusual micro wedding venues that work beautifully — from galleries and libraries to glasshouses and rooftops — plus a planner’s site checklist.
Plan a destination wedding itinerary from welcome event to farewell brunch — a sample three-day schedule, event ideas, pacing tips and who pays for what.
How planners break down a micro wedding budget — fixed vs per-guest costs, a six-step allocation method, where small weddings save and where to upgrade.
A planner’s destination wedding guest communication timeline — what to send and when, from save the dates to the pre-travel guide, plus tracking tips.
How to design elopement packages couples actually book — a three-tier structure, what to include, pricing, legal clarity and presenting your offer.
How destination wedding planner fees are structured — flat, percentage, hybrid and à la carte models, what to itemise separately, and how to write it into a proposal couples understand.
A practical micro wedding styling guide for planners and stylists — layouts, focal points, lighting, tablescapes and the mistakes that make small spaces look bare.
How to work out your destination wedding site visit cost and charge clients for it — what to include, three billing models, contract wording, a site visit checklist and how to report back.
Embark on a journey of enchantment with our guide to destination weddings. From selecting breathtaking locales to navigating legalities and infusing cultural richness, discover essential tips for jet-setting planners to craft the perfect celebration. Unleash the magic of destination weddings with our expert insights
Launching and growing a destination wedding planning business is an exciting journey. Our student community is truly global and they all share a passion for weddings and events. Some of
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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.
