Planning agreements signed by the couple, and whoever's paying
A wedding planner works for two people, and often gets paid by a third. Your agreement has to make sense to all of them, and the signatures have to come from people in different cities and time zones. Then come the timeline, the floor plan and the final details, each needing a yes from the couple. SignMaster sends each document to everyone who has to agree, and keeps the signed copies together.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 3 min read
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What wedding planners get signed
| Document | What it covers | Who signs |
|---|---|---|
| Planning agreement | Full planning, partial planning or month-of coordination, the fee, what's included and the payment schedule | Both partners, plus any parent who's paying |
| Vendor referral disclosure | Whether you take commissions or referral fees from vendors | The couple, with the agreement |
| Change in services | Moving from partial to full planning, extra events like a welcome party | The couple |
| Design and floor plan approval | Layout, decor choices and rentals | The couple, by approval |
| Final timeline | Every vendor's arrival, the ceremony and reception order, and who does what | The couple, a few weeks before |
Who signs the planning agreement
Add both partners as signers. When a parent is paying, add them too, and write in the agreement what they're responsible for. Choose whether everyone signs at once, which suits a couple in two cities, or in order, with the paying parent first. Each person signs from their own link on any phone or computer, without an account, and everyone gets the sealed PDF when the last signature is in.
- Cancellation and postponement: what's owed if the wedding is called off or moved, and how far ahead. Add a force majeure clause for the events nobody controls.
- Your hours on the day: start and end time, assistants included, and the overtime rate.
- Meals and breaks: a vendor meal and a seat for you and your team.
- Vendor contracts: whether the couple signs vendor contracts themselves, as most planners prefer, or authorizes you to sign for them.
Approvals through the year
- 1
Design direction
Send the mood board and palette as a PDF with an Approve field. A tap confirms the direction before you book florals and rentals.
- 2
Floor plan and rentals
Send the floor plan and the rentals list together. Initials beside the guest count and table count lock the numbers you'll order.
- 3
Final timeline
A few weeks out, send the timeline with an approval and a text field for last notes. Add each vendor as a CC, and they all get the approved version the moment the couple signs off.
- 4
Changes
If the couple adds a rehearsal dinner, send a change in services with the added fee, and start planning it once it's signed.
One place for every vendor contract
Vendors send contracts in their own ways. When the couple forwards one signed on paper, scan it with the iPhone and iPad app so it's a searchable PDF in your library. On the morning of the wedding, you can find the caterer's arrival time by searching the text.
Work with the rest of the team
Planners, venues and caterers each have paperwork for the same couple. See how event venues handle holds and vendor rules, and how caterers lock in final counts. If you also do destination weddings or corporate events, the same templates work: swap the clauses, keep the flow. Couples who'd rather read in Spanish get the signing page and emails in Spanish, one of 6 signer languages.
Pricing
A planner on their own is covered by Solo: $15 a month, unlimited envelopes and templates. A planning company with lead planners and coordinators shares Crew, $49 a month for 5 people, with your logo on every signing page. Free includes 3 envelopes a month, and new workspaces get 14 days of Crew free. Compare plans.
What SignMaster doesn't do
- It doesn't track budgets, guest lists or RSVPs.
- It doesn't take payments for you or for vendors.
- It doesn't sign vendor contracts on the couple's behalf.
- It emails signing links; you can copy one into a text.
Questions? Answers.
Can parents who are paying sign the planning agreement too?
Yes. Add them as signers alongside the couple, in whatever order you like. Write their role in the agreement so everyone knows who owes what.
Can a couple in different cities sign the same contract?
Yes. Each partner gets their own link and signs on any phone or computer. Set them to sign at the same time so neither waits on the other.
Should vendor contracts be in the couple's name?
Most planners have the couple sign vendor contracts directly. Whatever you choose, say it in your planning agreement.
Can the couple approve the final timeline?
Yes. Send it with an Approve field and a notes box, with your vendors added as CCs. When the couple approves, every vendor gets the sealed copy.