WED Guild™ Membership Application Process
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APPLICATION

Required Documentation for becoming a Member of the WED Guild™

Proven Professional
  • Documentation that Verifies Minimum 5 Years of Wedding Entertainment Experience
    (Documentation may include but is not limited to:)
    Dated contracts and/or dated feedback surveys from past events with the applicant's name listed
    Dated trade association membership certificate with the applicant's name listed
    Dated DBA or Business License with the applicant's name listed
    (If you have less than 5 Years of Wedding Entertainment Experience,
    then you will be required to verify that you have entertained for at least 200 Wedding Receptions.)
  • 3 Professional Reference Letters from other Wedding Professionals
    These Reference Letters need to verify your professional level of service and performance
    They should also verify your advance communication with the other Reception Team Members
    Each letter needs to be accompanied by contact information for each Wedding Professional
  • 5 Client Reference Letters from past Wedding Clients
    These Reference Letters need to verify your professional level of service and performance
    They should also verify collectively that you are delivering the 7 services outlined in this application
    Each letter needs to be accompanied by contact information for each Wedding Client
  • 1 Sponsor Reference Letter from a current member of the WED Guild™
    This Reference Letter needs to endorse your eligibility to become a member of the WED Guild™
  • Copy of Your Contract used to Guarantee that You will be Personally Performing
    Your particular Guarantee of Personally Performing may be uniquely worded and structured
  • Proof of Liability Insurance
    Dated and Current Proof of Liability Insurance with the applicant's name listed
1: Comprehensive Personalization
  • 5 Sample Agendas from recent Wedding Receptions Performed, including at least 1 Ceremony Agenda
    These Sample Agendas should include an event timeline that features all special songs and scripted announcements
  • Music Lists for 3 Categories of Music Selections (Background, Special Moments, Dancing Requests)
    (You must demonstrate in your application how these musical suggestions are provided to your clients)
    (Please Note: Utilizing generic lists from online resources will not properly showcase your unique musical perspectives)
    Your Background Music List should offer a wide variety of background music options
    Your Special Moments Music Lists should offer music suggestions for the ceremony and the reception events
    Your Dancing Requests Music List should offer a variety of dancing music genres
2: Creative Involvement
  • 5 Short Essays on Unique Guest Participation Ideas
    (Ideas submitted do not have to be completely new, just real ideas you have used at weddings in your own way)
    (These Unique Guest Participation Ideas may include but are not limited to:)
    Centerpiece give-away activities, sing-along activities, buffet line activities, kissing activities, etc.
  • 5 Short Essays on Recent Interactive Ideas created for unique situations
    These Interactive Ideas should include a written explanation of the unique situations that led to their creation
3: Event Direction
  • Documentation that Verifies Advance Communication with other Reception Team Members
    Your Professional Reference Letters provided above should verify your Advance Team Communication
    Please include a sample of your Advance Communication Letter sent to the other Reception Team Members
  • Preventative Ceremony and/or Reception Direction Checklists
    Your Preventative Direction Checklists should list the details you manage behind the scenes
    Checklist items can include details you regularly manage leading up to and during the event
  • Documentation that Verifies Advance Knowledge of Ceremony and/or Reception Location's Layout
    Include a short essay on how you prepare for load-in, PA setup, and venue protocol issues at an unfamiliar location
    Include a short essay describing a recent situation where your Advance Layout Knowledge made you more prepared
4: Talented Spokesperson
  • Video of Public Speaking Skills
    (Minimum of 10 minute video footage of the applicant may include but is not limited to:)
    Presentation given at a networking group, trade show, local association meeting, toastmaster's meeting, etc.
  • Documentation that Verifies your Varied types of Entertainment Training and/or Experience
    (Documentation may include but is not limited to:)
    Dated Certificate from Entertainment Workshop and /or Class with applicant's name listed, video footage of
    the applicant working in radio, or performing as an actor, singer/musician, comedian, dancer, etc.
  • Wedding Reception Performance Demo Video
    (Minimum of 10 minute video footage of the applicant may include but is not limited to:)
    At least 1 Opening Statement, 1 Grand Entrance, 1 Bouquet & Garter Toss Interaction, and 1 Personalized Moment
    (Personalized Moments can include: Toasts, Love Story, First Dance, Special Dances, Cake Cutting, etc.)
5: Music Programming
  • Video of Music Mixing Skills for Dancing
    (Minimum of 10 minute video footage of the applicant may include but is not limited to:)
    Uncut footage featuring dancing at a reception with the applicant mixing the music
  • 3 Samples of Audio Music and/or Voice Recording Editing Skills
    (Audio Samples provided by the applicant may include but are not limited to:)
    A song that was edited to make it shorter, a song that was turned into a "clean edit", a custom mix of songs,
    excerpts from the ceremony vows or the formal toasts, a song featuring the previous vocal excerpts mixed in, etc.
    Be sure to also include a written description of the audio edits you are submitting.
  • 500 Word Essay on your Dance Theory for creating dancing among Varied Tastes and Age Groups
    (Your Essay may include but is not limited to:)
    Your thoughts on kicking off the dancing, your ideas for recovering from a dance floor that just cleared,
    your methods for reading the crowd, your philosophy on building sets based on genres or building energy, etc.
6: Appropriate Presentation
  • 1 Photo of Applicant in Formal Attire
    Please include studio head shot(s) and photo(s) from an actual reception
  • 1 Photo of Control Booth and/or Lighting setup
    Please include photo(s) from an actual reception
7: Quality Amplification
  • List of all Professional Grade PA Equipment currently being utilized by the applicant
    (Documentation must include but is not limited to:)
    Make and Model numbers for each piece of PA Equipment used for the applicant's Receptions and/or Ceremonies
Additional Essay Questions
  • Without naming names, describe a reception venue where you will never perform again and explain why?
    (200 words or less)
  • Without naming names, describe a difficult situation you encountered during a reception,
    and share how you resolved and/or handled it. (400 words or less)
  • Please explain in your own words why you should be accepted as a member of
    the Wedding Entertainment Directors Guild™? (200 words or less)
Submission Specs
  • Photo documentation (incl. scanned paperwork) must be submitted as .jpg files set no higher than 100 dpi
  • Printed documentation must be submitted as .pdf files in portrait setting (Try PrimoPDF.com if needed)
  • Audio documentation must be submitted as .mp3 files (192 Kpbs, 44100 Hz, Stereo)
  • Video documentation should be submitted as .mpeg, .wmv, or .mov files
    (Each Video File should be no longer than 15 minutes and be no larger than 100 megs in memory size)
    (VHS and DVD submissions will be not be accepted)
The Fine Print

Please do not submit this application for approval until all of the necessary documentation has been assembled.
An incomplete application packet will be returned. Expect 6-8 weeks for your application packet to be processed from the time it is received. The various requirements detailed in the application above are simply the minimum level needed to complete your own application. It would be highly advisable to consider submitting more than the minimums required in an effort to give your Membership Committee a more complete and well-rounded view of your overall experience, qualifications, skills, and talents. A Membership Committee comprised of 4 WED Guild™ members will examine and consider your completed packet. If any part of your packet is found to be lacking in any way, the Membership Committee that is reviewing your application will respond with a letter detailing any deficient submissions with several prescribed options for raising those submissions to a level that will result in the eventual acceptance of your application for membership. If any part of your packet is found to be purposefully fraudulent, your application will be flatly rejected. Once your application has been processed and approved by a 3/4 majority vote, the final step in your application process will be a 30 minute phone interview with your 4 person Membership Committee. Following your interview, a final vote will be taken. A 3/4 majority vote will officialy approve your membership. All submissions included in your application will be kept strictly confidential, and will not be used in seminars, books, DVDs, or other materials by other WED Guild™ members without first receiving express written consent from the applicant. Current WED Guild™ members who are local competitors with an applicant or are currently mentoring the applicant will be barred from serving on that applicant's Membership Committee. If any WED Guild™ member brings harm to the reputation of the WED Guild™, whether their actions were purposeful or not, the WED Guild™ Advisory Board may exercise the right to vote for the removal of such a member without cause. Disputes between WED Guild™ members shall be resolved privately.

This is a 3 page pdf version of the application that can de downloaded and/or printed

This is a downloadable zip file with pre-fab folders inside to help you organize your application packet

© 2012 WED Guild™