Helping historically underrepresented wedding pros thrive in business

If you’re a wedding pro who identifies as part of a historically underrepresented group and has been in business for less than five (5) years, apply for Fellowship for Change! This program is designed to help propel businesses forward by providing expert-led education, mentorship, advertising support and more.

Apply to be a Fellow Apply to be a Mentor

Through our Fellowship Program, you’ll get:

  • Education

    Access eight months of self-paced business presentations, discussions and worksheets.

  • Mentorship

    Get matched with an expert mentor to help sharpen your skills and gain a fresh perspective.

  • Networking

    Collaborate through moderator-led discussions and connect in a safe space with other fellows.

  • Advertising

    Reach new audiences with a year of free advertising on The Knot and WeddingWire.

Power your business with these monthly topics

  • Onboarding: Storefront 101

    Get everything you need to know about advertising on The Knot and WeddingWire, from how to display pricing information to what photos make the best first impression.

  • Today's couples: Audience and insights

    Learn all about today’s couples: What they value, how they buy, their approach to planning and most importantly—how to use this to better your business.

  • Branding: Clients, colors and logos

    Cover everything business branding, including how to identify and reach your clients within the millennial and GenZ markets.

  • Marketing: From social media to SEO

    Deep dive into the tools you have in your marketing toolbox, including how to boost your searchability with SEO best practices and how to make social media work harder for you.

  • Entrepreneurship: Finances and business management

    Establish best practices for running your business: Dig into everything from expenses to package costs to hourly rates, invoices and more.

  • Growth and sustainability: Building a business to last

    Run your business smoothly and sustainably. Learn how to put systems in place and bring on the best team.

  • Sales and pricing: Covering costs, lead replies and closing the sale

    Learn the best practices for setting your price (then selling the value behind it), how to follow up with leads, plus the tips and tricks to close more deals.

  • Client experience: Onboarding, communications and reviews

    Create a positive experience for couples, from your initial response to an inquiry to offboarding and asking for a review.

Ready to be the change?

Become a Fellow

Apply to be a Fellow and join us in this movement if you are:

  • A wedding pro who identifies as part of a historically underrepresented group*
  • A business owner with less than five years of experience
  • Interested in learning about business from the ground up
  • Highly-motivated, with a five-year plan in mind
Apply now

Become a Mentor

Mentors are one of the greatest assets of Fellowship for Change. We’re looking for pros who have about two hours a month to give to the program and are:

  • Accomplished wedding business owners
  • Experienced in mentoring
  • Open, honest and 100% supportive
  • Invested in diversity, equity and inclusion
Apply now

The Fellowship for Change timeline

  1. October - November

    Applications open. This is the opportunity to tell us about you and your business, give us insight into what you hope to gain from the fellowship program and where you want to grow over the next year.

  2. December - January

    Along with our board of advisors, we’ll be reviewing your applications and speaking with your references, so that we can bring together an amazing group of Fellows for 2023.

  3. February

    We’ll kick off the month by announcing our 2023 Fellows and hit the ground running with the Fellowship for Change curriculum.

Your questions, answered

  • How are you defining "historically underrepresented"?

    We are defining historically underrepresented businesses as Black-owned, African American-owned, Hispanic-owned, Latinx-owned, Native American-owned, Alaska Native-owned, Asian-owned, Native Hawaiian-owned, Other Pacific Islander-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, Woman-owned or Veteran-owned businesses.

  • What is the time commitment if I'm a Fellow?

    Think of the fellowship program like a self-paced graduate program with monthly meetings. You'll receive education and content each month for eight months and will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more during our monthly meetings. The monthly education will be released the first week of each month and will consist of a video lesson, networking conversations and a live discussion session with the month's teacher. Your monthly commitment will be approximately four hours of work and any additional time you want to spend cultivating the skills you are learning.

  • Do I have to participate in monthly meetings?

    Yes, our monthly meetings are an important part of our program because they are designed to bring everything we’ve learned together. They give our Fellows the opportunity to ask questions, get advice from our industry experts, and network with other fellows.

  • How long does the fellowship program run?

    We'll kick off the fellowship curriculum in February 2023 and it will run for eight months through September 2023. Advertising will run for one full year beginning in February 2023. Mentorship will run through the end of December 2023.

  • What is the timeline for the application process?

    We will be accepting applications through November 30, 2022. The selection process will run through the end of December and the 30 fellows will be announced by February 1, 2023.

  • When will I be notified if I am chosen to be a fellow or mentor?

    All applicants will be notified of their application status by January 31, 2023.
Terms & Conditions
By applying for this program, the applicant agrees:
  • To commit to an annual minimum of two hours of mentor-mentee meetings per month for one year (can be by video conference or telephone);
  • To foster and facilitate a positive, collaborative and productive relationship focusing on topics related to career and professional development;
  • To comply in all respects with TKWW's Non-Discrimination Policy found in Section 4 of the TKWW Terms of Use;
  • That The Knot Worldwide Inc. and its affiliates (TKWW) make no representation or warranty regarding the nature or quality of the advice that the participant may receive from other participants in the program and that TKWW shall have no liability for any act of any participant in the program or for any claim related to TKWW’s administration of the program; and
  • TKWW reserves the right to suspend access to the program for violation of these rules or for anyone who engages in offensive and detrimental behavior.
Photo: Phyllis Welsh; Mei Mei Photography; Luther Chambers of CSharp Music & Media; Maya Elaine Photography; Latanya McCoy, Kiyomi Photography; RL Wedding Photography