Criteria
Your Business must be located and/or serve within the areas of Carteret, Craven, Jones, Onslow, or Pamlico counties. A valid driver’s license is to be held on file to serve as proof of residency and business location.
A valid/up to date business license or other required certification (with accompanying EIN# if applicable) is required for each individual business.
A letter of recommendation from a current CWP member, client, or colleague is required.
You must have a website representing your business.
Dues
Membership renewals will begin September 1st-September 15th annually.
Memberships must be satisfied as a one time charge or automatic quarterly or monthly payments through CWP customer portal.
Members that opt to satisfy membership dues quarterly or monthly must be on time and with no late payments. If payments are not made by the 15th of the month the dues are due, members will forfeit their membership and have to wait to reapply in the next membership year at the newest membership rate.
Benefits
Your business will be linked on our website and published as a “preferred vendor” in all CWP publications. (Directory) Distributed in all prime business locations in counties of Membership area. -Additional listings can be purchased for members with multiple businesses
The opportunity to exhibit and sponsor CWP vendor events throughout the year. This includes invitations to all networking events within the CWP community.
Access to curated client leads through our website and other events.
Advertising opportunities in all digital and printed publications (Magazine, Directory, socials and events)
Networking opportunities with other amazing vendors within our service area.
“CWP Preferred Vendor” physical and digital badges to display at events, on socials, and within your storefronts.
Free Admission to CWP Networking events (4X a year)
Dedicated social media post with tagged businesses after CWP networking events.
Code of Ethics, Privacy Policy, Cancellation Policy
As a member of the ‘Carolina Wedding Partners’ I agree to the CWP CODE OF ETHICS.
Members of the Carolina Wedding Professionals, LLC are pledged to uphold the highest standards of business and personal ethics and to raise the general standards prevalent with the wedding industry by means of education (both public and private), networking, and mutual responsibility.
a. I will provide only the most professional services to the consumer, maintain up-to-date legal and business permits, licenses, appropriate insurance and contracts.
b. I will maintain respectful and responsible relationships with all wedding professionals, whether they are CWP members or not.
c. I will always work honestly with the consumer and others in the industry and remain knowledgeable about my profession.
d. I will conduct myself as a leader in the industry.
e. I will fully perform my contractual commitments with absolute excellence.
f. I will conduct business in a professional manner and will at no time knowingly indulge in any practice, action or method that could reflect negatively upon CWP or its membership.
g. Should a dispute or complaint arise with a customer, I will settle it promptly and professionally; thereby honoring all agreements made with customers and service providers.
h. I shall at all times maintain the confidentiality of information either entrusted to me by a client, or obtained in pursuance of their work except on the order of a court of law or other appropriate authority.
i. I will deal with employees in a fair, unbiased manner and will endeavor to ensure their safety and that of the general public at all times.
j. I will use the CWP logo for advertising and promotional purposes for my company in compliance with CWP’s rules for using the logo. I will not use the logo for any reason that would be considered beyond the realm of marketing and promotion for my company or CWP.
k. I will not be party to agreements which unfairly restrain access to the marketplace by any other wedding professional, client or to the public, based on race, creed, sex, age, disability, or country or origin.
Ethics Violation:
All complaints regarding an existing CWP member must be submitted in writing to the CWP Owners. Complaints will only be reviewed if submitted from the CWP member’s customer or another existing CWP member. The CWP Owners will have sole discretion in deeming the complaint relevant or severe and worthy of review. Upon submission of two (2) significant complaints, the CWP member in question may be suspended or membership terminated as deemed necessary by CWP Owners.
MEMBERSHIP DISCLAIMER:
“Carolina Wedding Partners is a membership marketing organization representing the Eastern North Carolina wedding industry. While we require that our members be in good standing to adhere to a Code of Ethic, the organization’s owners do not recommend or refer to any single member, nor do we mediate disputes between members or their customers.”
PRIVACY POLICY:
This policy covers how CWP treats personal information that CWP collects and receives via our web site. Personal information is information about you that is personally identifiable such as your name, address, email address, or phone number, and other information that is not otherwise publicly available.
This policy does not apply to the practices of companies or members that CWP does not own or control, or to people that CWP does not employ or manage.
CWP does not rent, sell, or share personal information about you with other people or non-affiliated companies except to provide services you’ve requested, when we have your permission, or when you complete our online Contact Form, Vendor Application & Client Intake. When you complete these forms, your request for services and information is emailed directly to our owners or members (which ever it applies to) who can provide the services you indicated. Your information may be shared with general membership within 48 hours of your information request being sent to specific vendor categories. Our members may contact you individually about their services.
We limit access to personal information about you to employees who we believe reasonably need to come into contact with that information to provide products or services to you or in order to do their jobs.
MEMBERSHIP ORIGINATION POLICY:
After receiving vendor application and ALL required documentation through website, vendor will receive "next steps" form outlining membership investment options.
Membership payment option must be finalized within 3 business days of application acceptance.
Failure to finalize membership payment option will require application resubmission with accompanying fees.
MEMBERSHIP CANCELLATION POLICY:
Members must commit to one full calendar year before canceling their membership.
Members must give 30 days notice (written/signed) before cancelling their membership. CWP will send out a reminder 2 months prior to the full term membership ending.
Members that wish to cancel, will not be allowed to reapply for one full calendar year following the date of cancellation.