Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions we hear most about WIPA membership. If you can’t find the answer here, email info@wipa.org and we’ll be happy to help.
How do I join WIPA?
It’s easy. The three membership tiers—Individual, Corporate, and Emerging professional—are listed on the membership page along with pricing and benefits for each, and you can start your application from there.
What is required to join WIPA?
Individual and Corporate members need at least three years of professional experience in the wedding industry—time spent as an owner, manager, or employee of companies providing wedding-related products or services all counts. The Emerging professional tier covers pros with fewer than three years. At the time of application, you’ll provide:
- A business license.
- A currently valid certificate of general liability insurance (declarations page).
- A signed WIPA Code of Ethics pledge.
You’ll pay the membership fee along with a one-time $50 application fee when you apply. The initial application is paid online with a credit card—only renewals can be paid by company check. Your documents are checked as you upload them, and your membership activates as soon as your payment completes. If anything needs a closer look, our membership team will follow up by email. There are no refunds.
If a government business license isn’t available, we accept other government-issued documents—at least one should show the company name you’re applying under:
- An EIN letter from the IRS (the actual letter, not just the number).
- Your business’s official formation documents, filed and stamped by the secretary of state.
- A DBA document from your state, or a sales tax license.
- A bank statement (you may redact financial information).
- An insurance declarations page with your DBA name added to the policy.
W9 forms are not accepted, but we’re happy to review any document you’d like to provide.
What is an Individual membership?
Individual memberships ($350 per year) are owned by one person and travel with them from business to business. This tier includes one seat and isn’t transferable to anyone else. You can upgrade to Corporate at any time—once you do, the membership belongs to that business.
What is a Corporate membership?
Corporate memberships ($550 per year) are owned by a business and include two seats; each additional seat is $250. Everyone on the account shares one expiration date and renews together, and members may belong to the same or different chapters. Because the company owns the membership, seats can be transferred between employees, with some limitations.
What is an Emerging professional membership?
Emerging professional memberships ($275 per year) are for individuals who have been in a wedding or event-related business for fewer than three years, or who are in a part-time or internship role. Emerging professional members upgrade to Individual or Corporate once they reach the three-year mark; until then, they may not use the WIPA logo, vote on WIPA business, or appear in the member directory.
Can I upgrade my membership?
Yes. An Emerging professional member can upgrade to Individual or Corporate, and an Individual member can upgrade to Corporate. More than 90 days from your expiration date, you can upgrade mid-term for the difference in cost; within 90 days, you renew and upgrade at the same time. Memberships can only be downgraded during the renewal period. Email info@wipa.org and we’ll walk you through it.
What is the Code of Ethics pledge?
Every member pledges to abide by the WIPA Code of Ethics—the shared standard of professional conduct that membership is built on. Signing the pledge is part of every application.
How do I renew my membership?
Memberships enter a 60-day renewal window before the expiration date, and you’ll receive email reminders throughout. Renew from the link in any reminder email, or sign in and renew from your dashboard—renewals can be paid by company check as well. There’s also an auto-renew option: turn it on before your renewal window opens, and your membership renews itself each year.
Is there a grace period?
No—there is no grace period once your membership expires. After the expiration date you’re no longer a WIPA member, and you’ll need to reapply if you’d like to rejoin.
What happens if my membership lapses?
Once your membership expires, your join date resets and you start over as a new member—a new application, updated paperwork, and the $50 application fee.