Education and networking for wedding businesses focused on credibility, standards and meaningful connections
UK Wedding Association Industry Events are structured education and networking sessions designed to support professional growth, meaningful connections and higher standards across the UK wedding industry. They combine focused learning with purposeful conversation, creating immediate value for attendees while contributing to long-term credibility.
Our Next Event
Thursday 12th February 2026 in London
Time: 5.00 – 8.00pm
Venue: Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill
In a topic relevant to all, “Safe, Smart & Social” helps wedding businesses develop their PR strategy.
We’ll look at how to find and maximise opportunities for free PR, and how to develop a safe PR strategy by navigating plagiarism, copyright, mis-quotes and click-bait titles. Attendees will also understand the importance of a good PR strategy for AI search optimisation.
The panel brings together industry experts uniquely placed to answer one of the most common questions for wedding businesses: how do you get your brand featured in newspapers, magazines, “best of” articles, podcasts, TV and radio?
Panellists include Maya Powell, an experienced PR and communications specialist from Press Box PR; Zoe Burke, Head of Brand, Content and Social at Bridebook and former Editor at Hitched; and Danielle Wilkins, a London-based freelance journalist who has written for some of the UK’s leading bridal titles and women’s glossies including Marie Claire, Hello! and Wedding Ideas Magazine. The session will be moderated by Nikita Thorne, UKWA Advisory Board member, international speaker on social search strategies and Head of Strategy at Guides for Brides.
About our events
UKWA Industry Events are structured educational and networking events for wedding businesses who want to make valuable connections, raise their visibility, and operate professionally, sustainably and credibly.
These are not sales events. They are designed to help members build relationships that lead to genuine business opportunities through informed discussion and shared standards.
Purpose
To support higher standards across the UK wedding industry by providing relevant education, encouraging open and informed discussion, and facilitating professional connections between businesses who take their role seriously.
Who the events are for
UKWA Industry Events are for wedding businesses who want to:
- learn from respected professionals within the industry
- connect with other businesses they may collaborate with or work alongside
- raise their profile within a professional, standards-led community
Attendance is prioritised for UKWA members and their guests. Any remaining places are offered to non-members who want to experience a UKWA Industry Event before joining.
Event format
Each event follows a consistent structure:
- Arrival, introductions and informal networking
- A focused educational session plus Q&A
- Structured networking and further advice around the topic
Events typically run for around three hours.
In London, sessions are usually held early evening. In other locations, timings may vary and can include daytime events.
Educational content and learning style
Each event focuses on a single, highly relevant topic affecting wedding businesses, applicable across different roles within the industry.
Sessions are designed to encourage open discussion, constructive challenge and practical realism, allowing complex or difficult topics to be explored properly rather than avoided.
Educational content forms part of a formal, structured programme, developed and overseen by the UKWA advisory board.
Expert contributors
Educational sessions are led or moderated by respected professionals with specific knowledge of the wedding industry, selected for their experience, credibility and relevance rather than promotional reach.
Professional development (CPD)
Attendance at UKWA Industry Events counts towards CPD-recognised education as part of UKWA’s structured annual learning programme.
This supports members in demonstrating ongoing professional development for their UKWA benchmarking.
Tackling challenging topics
UKWA Industry Events are collaborative, respectful and evidence-led. We know the importance of tackling challenging topics, and we do this through open discussion and constructive challenge, with a shared focus on understanding ways to genuinely improve how wedding businesses communicate and operate.
Recordings and access
The educational element of each event is recorded and made available to members who are unable to attend in person, including those choosing not to travel for sustainability or practical reasons.
Recordings provide access to the learning, while in-person attendance offers additional value through discussion, networking and relationship-building.
Networking approach
Networking at UKWA Industry Events is intentional and structured. The emphasis is on conversation, contribution and credibility, helping attendees position their businesses naturally through discussion rather than pitching.
The aim is to create connections that are professionally useful, not transactional.
Post-event networking
For evening events, attendees are encouraged to continue conversations informally afterwards through UKWA Go-Dutch Dinners.
Attendee lists and suggestions for nearby venues are shared in advance to make it easy to arrange a drink or meal with other members. “Go-Dutch” means there is no host and everyone covers their own costs.
Topics for 2026:
Across the year you will see networking events featuring seminars and panels covering everything from Legal Requirements to Business Operations and Managing Mental Health. Every session is designed to be practical and genuinely useful for businesses who want to stay ahead and ensure they are following best practices in professionalism, credibility and sustainability.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to see at upcoming events.
Legal 101: Protecting Your Business When Things Go Sideways
A straight talking session that breaks down the legal basics every venue, planner and supplier needs. Learn how to protect yourself, set proper boundaries and handle the moments that go sideways, so your business stays secure and your clients stay confident.
Inclusion in Action: Building Trust in Wedding Experiences
This session gives you the tools to deliver weddings that are fair, accessible and supportive for all. From language and behaviour around gender, to meeting the needs of disabled guests, to understanding neurodiversity within your team and clients, you will learn approaches that strengthen trust, improve client experience and set your business up for long term credibility.
Risk, Rewards & Right Cover
Insurance doesn’t have to be confusing. Learn the real costs of getting it wrong, from accidents to cyber threats, and how to strike the perfect balance. Walk away with strategies to safeguard your business, build trust with clients and keep your operations running smoothly.
Legally Ready: Health, Safety & Compliance for Wedding Businesses
Are you unintentionally breaking the law? This session covers health and safety, risk assessments, safeguarding children at weddings, and online compliance. Get practical steps to keep your venue, team and business fully compliant, professional and trusted.
The Future-Proof Wedding Business: Compliance, Tech & AI
This session covers essential compliance, including privacy policies and GDPR updates, so your digital practices are legally sound. You’ll also get practical tech and AI tips to work smarter, streamline operations, and deliver services more professionally and efficiently. Learn how to protect your clients’ data, enhance trust, and run a business that’s productive, professional and future-ready.
Green & Growing: Lead the Way in Sustainable Weddings
From understanding Net Zero Carbon to creating an actionable sustainability strategy, this session guides you through practical ideas to make your business more sustainable. Learn how to highlight your progress, demonstrate responsibility to clients and industry peers, and leverage your sustainability credentials to grow professionally, build trust and secure B2B and B2C opportunities.
Partner Up, Profit More: Strategies for Wedding Pros
Strategic collaboration is one of the most effective ways to improve profit margins and grow your business. In this session, you’ll discover how FAM trips, styled shoots and other industry partnerships can open doors to new clients, enhance your reputation and create measurable profit opportunities.
Level Up: Smart Support for Business Growth
Discover how fractional CFOs, NEDs, HR consultants and outsourcing can give you expert support without the full-time cost. Learn how to leverage these options to make smarter financial decisions, optimise team performance, and scale your business efficiently.
Gen Z Decoded: Employees, Clients & Expectations
Gen Z is reshaping the wedding industry – both as employees and clients. This session explores what they truly want, from work culture to customer experiences, and how businesses can meet those expectations professionally and sustainably. Learn practical strategies to engage, retain and inspire Gen Z talent, while creating services and client experiences that resonate.
Inclusive, Profitable, Authentic: Multicultural Weddings 101
Multicultural weddings are vibrant, unique, and increasingly prevalent – but serving them well requires cultural awareness, professionalism, and strategic planning. This session covers the essentials for venues, planners, and suppliers, from understanding traditions and expectations to creating experiences that truly resonate. Learn how to deliver services that are not only inclusive and respectful but also profitable.
Safe, Smart & Social
Your online presence shapes your brand, trust and profitability. This session covers practical PR strategies for the wedding industry – including sustainability messaging and managing your social reputation while exploring responsible AI use, working efficiently without plagiarism, and understanding cyber risks. Learn how to safeguard your business, maintain professionalism online, and mitigate threats.
Work, Life & Mental Health: Finding the Balance
Learn how to protect your time, set appropriate boundaries, and support both your team and yourself while working in weddings. This session will give you practical advice for stress management, cross-generational working, and building a professional, sustainable business culture.
Join the UK Wedding Association today to access every session either in person, or online. Membership is £300 a year, which is a small investment that pays itself back fast once you factor in the training, support and credibility it brings to your business.