It’s easy. The various member types are listed here along with prices and benefits for each level. There are 3 basic levels and 1 student level. There is a join now button on that page.

A member must have been in the wedding industry over 3 years. You must provide, at the time of application:

1. A business license*
2. Current business insurance (declarations page)
3. Sign the WIPA Code Of Ethics Pledge

The applicant will then pay the membership fee along with an application fee of $50 and submit the requested documents mentioned above. This initial application must be paid online with a credit card. Only renewals can be paid with company check.

The application will be reviewed and granted or denied. There are no refunds.

• Employer Identification Number (EIN) Form issued from the IRS. WIPA needs the EIN letter, not just the number, that has been issued from government (not application)
• Your business’s formation documents (official), filed and stamped
• Ownership agreements (official), filed and stamped
• Bank Statement (redact personal finance info) with company name
• (please note that W9 forms are NOT accepted)

Corporate Elite memberships are owned by a business. This level of membership ($550) includes two employee memberships. Each additional member over two is $250 each with a maximum of 5 if members are in other that one chapter (no limit if members are in same chapter). There is one expiration date and everyone must renew at the same time. You can trade out employees (transfer) on this membership as it is owned by the company.

Qualifications for joining:

• Have a minimum three years professional experience in the wedding industry whether applying for Elite or Corporate Elite.  This requirement may be satisfied by the cumulative time spent as an owner, CEO, manager or employee of companies that provide wedding-related products or services.
• Be able to provide proof of legal business status or work for a company that can provide such proof.
• Be able to provide a currently valid certificate of General Liability Insurance or Professional Liability (E&O), with coverage limits of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate, or work for a company that can provide such a certificate.
• Members in the same corporate account must be listed under one company name.
• This membership cannot be downgraded.

Elite memberships are owned by an individual and can travel with that person from business to business. Or, more generally, these are for small businesses. Entry level ($350) of this membership includes one membership. This membership is not transferable and travels with the membership owner, should they change companies. You can upgrade this membership to Corporate, but then it cannot leave that business.

Qualifications for joining:

• Have a minimum three years professional experience in the wedding industry whether applying for Elite or Corporate Elite.  This requirement may be satisfied by the cumulative time spent as an owner, CEO, manager or employee of companies that provide wedding-related products or services.
• Be able to provide proof of legal business status or work for a company that can provide such proof.
• Be able to provide a currently valid certificate of General Liability Insurance or Professional Liability (E&O), with coverage limits of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 in the aggregate, or work for a company that can provide such a certificate.

Young Leader memberships are owned by an individual. They are designed for potential members in the industry for under 3 years. Entry level ($275) of this membership includes one membership. You can upgrade this membership to Corporate or Elite.

YOUNG LEADER MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS:

Young Leader Membership is for an individual who has been employed in a wedding or event-related business for less than three (3) years or is currently employed as a part-time or completing an internship position at a wedding-related business. If you’ve been in the industry longer than 3 years and are just starting your own business, you should join as an Elite member.

• Young Leader  membership must be upgraded to the appropriate WIPA membership category once an individual has been employed in a wedding related business for three (3) years.
• Young Leader members may not use the WIPA logo; may not vote on WIPA business and are not listed in the WIPA directory.
• Young Leader  Members must also agree to serve as an active member of a WIPA committee.

Young Leader memberships are owned by an individual. They are designed for students looking to enter the wedding industry. Entry level ($75) of this membership includes one membership. You can upgrade this membership to Corporate or Elite when further qualifications have been met.

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS:

• Students can be part or full time and must be enrolled in a recognized certificate program.
• All students must have their Program Coordinator sign their application for membership.
• Student members must volunteer for six (6) hours to their WIPA chapter per year, helping with chapter meetings, mailings, and other chapter business. OR they must serve on one of WIPA’s Committees (Certification, Communications, Education, Marketing, Membership, Programs, Professional Development)
• Individual Chapters may have other applicable requirements.
• Students will not have a listing in the WIPA Membership book or on the WIPA web site, cannot use Member Discounts, cannot vote on chapter business or hold an office in WIPA.
• Students will not be permitted to use the WIPA logo on business cards or any promotional material.

Student memberships can be held for a maximum of three (3) years and must show proof of Student status annually. Upon completion of the course, Student member must show certificate of completion.

Yes. Young Leader can upgrade to Elite or Corporate and Elite can upgrade to Corporate. You can upgrade in the middle of your membership greater than 90 days from expiration date with just the difference in cost. If less than 90 days from expiration, you can renew and upgrade at the same time. Just email info@wipa.org and we’ll ask you the appropriate questions. Memberships cannot be downgraded in level – you will have to re-apply. Don’t let your membership expire, you’ll have to reapply and submit paperwork from scratch.

In order to become an active member you must sign the WIPA Code Of Ethics Agreement. It is a pledge by all of our members. Please read it carefully before signing.

Memberships go into a renewal period 30 days before expiration date. You will receive 2 emails during this period with an invoice to renew. After expiration you will have 30 days GRACE period. During this 30 days you will receive 2 emails with an invoice to renew. You can log into your member profile and click the RENEW button during these times.

Once your membership has ended the GRACE period, your membership is considered LAPSED. During this time you will have to re-apply, re-submit your paperwork and pay a $50 application fee.

A GRACE period is the 30 days after your membership has expired. During this GRACE period you can still login to your member profile and renew. Just simply login from the WIPA.org homepage, click on MY PROFILE and you’ll see a RENEW button.

Once your membership has expired you go into a “LAPSED” membership status. You will receive one more email 3 days after your GRACE period ends informing you that you must re-apply for membership. Once your membership has ended you must start the application process at the beginning, as well as provide updated paperwork, should you choose to join again.

You’ll need to login to WIPA and then from the Member Landing Page, click on My Profile and edit. More detailed instructions can be found here.

No problem. From the WIPA.org homepage, click on MEMBER LOGIN. Under the password field is a link “Reset Password” – click that and follow the instructions. There is also a link for Retrieving your Username. (Or you can email info@wipa.org for assistance.)

WIPA newsletters, chapter event information, membership correspondence and many other emails come from wipa@memberclicks-mail.net. Please make sure you whitelist that email and add it to your approved contacts. (Also check your junk mail area so that you will receive emails from WIPA and your registered chapter.