About the Bookings Pilot – The Knot Pro

Key Details about the Bookings Pilot

What is the Bookings Pilot?

The Bookings pilot lets couples request to book you by placing a $100 deposit through your The Knot storefront only. This deposit signals the couple’s intent but does not replace your standard payment process—you’ll still manage your remaining balance and payments directly with the couple, just as you do now.

How can I sign-up for the pilot?

Reply to the Bookings pilot email and send a note to bookingpilot@theknotww.com that you’d like to opt-in the Bookings pilot, and we’ll follow up with next steps!

How does a couple submit a booking request?

A couple visits your Storefront on The Knot where they can choose to “Start Booking” your services. From there, they can select an available date, package, and submit a $100 deposit to request the booking.
You’ll receive the booking request in your WeddingPro Inbox with the couple’s details.
Within 7 days, confirm whether you’ve approved or declined the booking request by emailing necessary confirmation to our team at bookingpilot@theknotww.com .

💡 Best practice: Reply to the couple’s booking request within 24–48 hours to acknowledge the request and discuss next steps.

If the booking is confirmed, the $100 deposit will be transferred to you through your Stripe account, and the couple will pay the remaining balance through your usual process.
If the booking is declined or not confirmed within 7 days, the deposit will be fully refunded to the couple, and they’ll be notified.

📩 Important: You must promptly notify our team of the booking decision by emailing us at bookingpilot@theknotww.com so we can process the deposit or refund accordingly.

What’s required of me?

Connect your Stripe Connect account within the WeddingPro dashboard. See below on how to set up your account.
Keep your calendar availability and pricing packages updated in WeddingPro so couples can make informed decisions. See below on how to set up the Pricing and availability tools.
Respond to booking requests timely and email us within 7 days to confirm that you’ve accepted or declined the booking request.)
1. As a reminder, you’ll need to provide proof of booking to TKWW to confirm your acceptance of the booking request. Proof of booking must include written confirmation from the couple explicitly acknowledging your acceptance of the booking request (such as a signed copy of the service agreement or an email with the couple confirming the booking).
2. As a best practice, remember to acknowledge the couple’s booking request within 24-48 hours! Prompt communication will help ensure a more seamless experience for both you and the couple.
Share any feedback you may have directly with us to help improve the booking experience. Email us at bookingpilot@theknotww.com

How to set-up my Stripe Connect Account?

You must connect your Stripe account in order to participate in the pilot and receive deposit payments through The Knot’s booking system. This is a one-time onboarding, so once you’re set up, you shouldn’t have to repeat this process again.

Before You Start: Information You’ll Need

Before beginning the Stripe onboarding, make sure you have the following information ready:

Business Details: Legal business name (or your own name if operating as a sole proprietor) and business type (individual/sole proprietor or registered company). If you have a registered business, know your company structure (LLC, partnership, corporation, etc.).
Tax Identification: Your Tax ID number – this is typically an EIN for a business or SSN (Social Security Number) for an individual/sole proprietor. Stripe uses this to verify your business identity.
Bank Account Details: A U.S. bank bank account to receive payouts. You’ll need the routing number and account number, and the account should be under your name or your business’s name. Having a checkbook or online banking information handy will be useful for this step.
Government ID (Possibly): In some cases, Stripe might ask for an image of a government-issued ID (such as a driver’s license or passport) to verify your identity. This isn’t always required upfront, but be prepared in case it is needed for verification.

With these details on hand, you’re ready to connect your Stripe account. The process typically takes only a few minutes if you have the required information, and Stripe’s prompts will guide you through each step.

Step-by-Step: Connecting Your Stripe Account through WeddingPro

Step 1: Start in Your WeddingPro Dashboard

Log in to your WeddingPro Vendor Dashboard. Use your WeddingPro (The Knot/WeddingWire) credentials to access your vendor account.
Navigate to the Home section of your dashboard. This is where important account alerts and actions are displayed.
Click the “Connect Stripe” button at the top of the Home section. This button is prominently displayed in a banner prompting you to connect Stripe for payments. Clicking it will launch the Stripe setup process.

The below image reflects the WeddingPro Home dashboard with a prompt to Connect Stripe for payments. Here, you’ll see the Connect Stripe button prominently displayed on your WeddingPro dashboard. By Clicking this button, you agree to the Booking Terms and Stripe Connected Accounts Agreement, and will be redirected to a secure Stripe onboarding page. This is the first step in linking your WeddingPro account with Stripe’s payment system.

Step 2: Create or Log In to Your Stripe Account

Stripe onboarding will open on a new page. After clicking Connect Stripe, a Stripe-hosted sign-up form will appear in your browser. This page is branded for The Knot and is powered by Stripe.

If you already have a Stripe account, log in using your email and password associated with your Stripe account.

If you don’t have an account, Stripe will guide you through the setup process to set up a new account.

Step 3: Enter Business Details

Before collecting business details, Stripe may need to verify your contact info for security. These steps help protect your account.
Select your business information. Choose the option that applies to your photography business. For most single-owner photographers, “Individual” or “Sole Proprietorship” is appropriate. If you have an LLC, S-Corp, or other corporation, select the corresponding business type and structure.

Step 4: Enter Bank Account Details for Payouts

After providing basic information, you’ll need to link a bank account where Stripe (The Knot) will send your payouts to you.

Step 5: Review and Complete the Connection

Carefully check the business information and bank account details you provided.
Click the “Submit” button to finalize your Stripe account setup.
Stripe will return you to your WeddingPro Dashboard.
You’ll see a confirmation message that your account is connected.

How do I set-up my WeddingPro Pricing Tool on my Storefronts?

What are the benefits of this tool?

Couples are looking for specific info when researching vendors. Nearly 80% of couples say pricing is the most important factor when deciding which vendors they should contact. That’s why we created the WeddingPro Pricing tool!

By displaying pricing, you’ll attract and (ultimately!) book more of the ideal clients for your business. You’ll also save time on pricing conversations when you’re connected with couples that match your key criteria, like having a budget within or near the rates you charge.

Plus, you can easily manage pricing on both of your Storefronts on WeddingWire and The Knot from a single tool in WeddingPro, reducing effort and boosting efficiency.

How does the new Pricing tool work?

It’s super easy to use! Log in to your WeddingPro account, navigate to the new Pricing section via the Pricing tab on your dashboard and follow the simple steps below:

Complete Pricing Overview: Include your starting cost and how much couples usually spend for your services.
Include package specifics: Add package details to give couples more info on your packages to educate them on your pricing. You must add at least the package name, starting cost and one package feature in order for the package to be displayed on your Storefronts.

When will this information be visible on my Storefront(s)?

All of the information you add in WeddingPro will appear on your Storefronts across WeddingWire and The Knot within a few hours. This saves time and helps you attract and (ultimately!) book more of the ideal couples for your business.

How do I set-up my WeddingPro Availability tool on my Storefronts?

What are the benefits of this tool?

The Availability tool saves you time by quickly connecting you with good-fit couples based on your availability, helping you secure bookings faster. Setup is easy—just connect your existing calendar to display your availability on your Storefronts. You can customize your schedule to reflect whether you’re available for multiple weddings per day or only on specific days, and you can update your availability anytime to accommodate changes.

How does the new availability tool work?

Check out a video tutorial on setting up your availability here!

It’s easy to use and set up the new availability tool so you can connect with good-fit couples, faster. Log in to your WeddingPro account, navigate to the new Availability section via the Availability tab on your dashboard and follow the simple steps below:

Start by accessing Availability: Click on the Availability tab in your WeddingPro Dashboard. This is where you’ll set up your calendar to display your availability on your Storefront(s).

Connect your calendar: Select the calendar you want to connect, like Google or Office 365, and follow the prompts. Only general availability (available, partially available, or unavailable) will show on your Storefront(s), not event details.

Add keywords: To ensure the right events are synced, add keywords like "Wedding" or "Event." Only events with the keywords you designate in the title will be imported.

Set your availability: Choose the days you're available by toggling days on or off. You can adjust this later as needed.

Set daily capacity: If you can handle more than one event per day, set your daily capacity. Days where you haven’t hit your event capacity will show as partially available on your Storefront(s).

Will all of the events from the personal calendar I connect be displayed on my Storefront(s)?

No, we’ll only import the events you designate based on the keywords you input.

For the events that are imported, will my Storefront show the event details like location and couples name?

No, you’ll simply show as ‘Available,’ ‘Unavailable’ or ‘Partially Available’ on that date on your Storefront(s).

How does the daily booking limit work?

To give you more control over when days appear as fully booked or not, setting your daily capacity allows you to select how many events you can service per day.

If you can serve more than one wedding per day, you can set the capacity to the maximum number of events you can serve. If you can take on two weddings per day—you can toggle this number up to two. On days where you have events booked but have not yet reached your maximum capacity, this will show as partial availability to couples.

When will this information be visible on my Storefront(s)?

Common FAQs about the Bookings Pilot

General Bookings Pilot Questions

❓ Can I leave the pilot if I change my mind?

We greatly appreciate your participation in the Bookings pilot, as your involvement is key to helping us refine and improve the experience. However, if desired, we can remove you from the program and disable the booking functionality on your Storefront. Please reach out to us at bookingpilot@theknotww.com if you’re experiencing any challenges—we’re happy to support you!

❓ How can I share feedback on the pilot?

We definitely want to hear from you directly! While we’ll actively reach out to you for feedback on how to improve the experience, please don't hesitate to email bookingpilot@theknot.com at any time with your feedback.

❓ Will I be charged anything to participate in the pilot?

No. There are no additional costs or fees for participating in the pilot.

❓ Do I have to accept all bookings?

No. You’ll still have full control over which booking requests you accept or decline.

❓ What if a couple submits a deposit but I’m unavailable?

If you decline a request, the couple’s $100 deposit is automatically refunded.

❓ Does this change how I communicate with couples?

Nope! You’ll still use your WeddingPro Inbox to finalize details.

❓ What if my calendar availability and pricing packages are not updated?

The pilot is designed for photographers with updated calendar availability and pricing packages showcased on their Storefronts. If you’re open to updating those elements, we can help get you enrolled in the pilot!

❓ How come I’m not seeing the Booking functionality on WeddingWire?

The Bookings pilot is currently limited to The Knot storefronts only. We’re looking to test and learn from this small launch and hope to use your feedback to later scale this initiative.

Payment & Payouts

❓ How long does it take a vendor to set up their account and get it approved by Stripe?

The online setup takes approximately 5-10 minutes once you have your information ready. In many cases, approval is granted within minutes of submitting the required information to Stripe. In some cases, Stripe may request additional documents or require a manual review of the information. In this case, it might take a bit longer – usually within 24 hours after you submit any extra documents – for Stripe to approve and activate your account. You will be notified via email if any additional steps are required.

❓ Why is Stripe asking for so much personal information (SSN, EIN, ID, etc.)? Is this normal?

Yes, it’s normal. Stripe is a regulated financial services provider, and certain U.S. laws require verification of anyone receiving funds through their system. Providing your tax identification number and other requested information helps Stripe verify your identity and comply with these regulations.

For more information regarding Stripe’s use of your personal data, please review Stripe’s Privacy Policy.

❓ I already have a personal Stripe account for my business – can I use that to connect, or do I have to make a new one?

Yes, You can use your existing Stripe account. When you click Connect Stripe through WeddingPro, you’ll have the option to log in with an existing Stripe account. Use the same email and password associated with your existing Stripe account, and Stripe will add the WeddingPro connection to your existing account. If you started creating a new account with an email that’s already in use, you might get an error – in that case, just use the “Sign in” link on the Stripe form and log in. Using your existing account is easier and means all your payouts will be in one place.

❓ Do I have to apply the $100 booking deposit to the final payment?

Yes, by participating in the Bookings Pilot, you expressly agree to apply the $100 booking deposit towards the balance owed for your services.

❓ How does this impact my existing deposit and payment process?

The Bookings pilot is designed to compliment your existing payment processes. The $100 booking deposit serves as a soft-hold booking commitment from the couple. You’ll still collect remaining balance (minus the $100) directly from the couple, just as you do now.

❓ How and when do I receive the $100 deposit?

Once you provide proof of booking, Stripe will transfer the $100 deposit to you (no processing fees during the pilot; subject for change in the future.)

❓ What is considered an acceptable proof of booking?

Proof of booking must include written confirmation from the couple explicitly acknowledging your acceptance of the booking request (such as a signed copy of the service agreement or an email with the couple confirming the booking).

❓ What are the payment processing fees?

There are no payment processing fees during the pilot—couples' deposits are handled at no cost to you.

❓ Can I set my own deposit amount instead of $100?

No, not at this time. For this pilot, all couples will submit a flat $100 deposit. You will still collect your full deposit and final payment off-platform as usual.

Booking Management

❓ Can I specify which dates I’m available for couples to request to book me?

Yes! Couples will see your updated calendar availability and pricing packages directly on your Storefront. Please be sure to keep those up-to-date throughout the pilot.

❓ What happens if a couple requests a date I’m not available for?

You can decline the request, and The Knot will refund the deposit to the couple.

Contact Customer Support

Email bookingpilot@theknotww.com for any question or concerns about the Bookings Pilot.