MENU
best
knowledge
join the waitlist
Turn your big ambition into powerful action. Invest into the one workshop impactful enough to launch you into the career of your dreams.
What if you could gain access to all of the and resources you need to become the wedding planner in one place?
What if you could
gain access to all of the
and resources
you need to become the wedding planner
in one place?
best
knowledge
2 days
6 experts
4 hands-on experiences
Wedding
Planning Workshop
school is in session: Next date to be announced
Graduate from playing small and get ready to rise to the top of your industry. At our live event in Los Angeles, you’ll receive the tools, resources, and inisght needed to boost your business foundations, master your marketing, and perfect your planning processes.
JOIN THE WAITLIST
A seat at AFE’s Wedding Planning Workshop includes:
Want to learn more about every single value-packed item we’re putting in your digital backpack?
JOIN THE WAITLIST
Two full days of live workshop events
12 panels with leading educators and industry experts
50 pages of templates, worksheets and actionable resources
Access to Academy's Online Wedding Planning Digital Course
1 license to Planner’s Plan – our proprietary tool for planning weddings
$7,000 of bonus goodies to promote and scale your business
Are you ready to be the best of the best? Our workshops will get you there.
As an Academy Wedding Planning Workshop graduate, you will…
Learn marketing strategies to boost your portfolio and attract the dreamiest clients.
acquire tools and systems for a seamless client experience
adopt proven strategies to maximize your profit margins and leave with an action plan to scale your business
belong to the leading network of event planners industry experts
feel confident in your skills and knowledge as you navigate the event industry
receive Academy for Events certifications to stand out from the rest
Academy for Events workshops?
why
Educating and
the best of the best wedding and event planners.
empowering
Step into that back to school mindset, but this time we’re making it fun. Our workshops are so much more than another generic course or mentoring session. We provide innovative, interactive, and creative learning experiences that leave you inspired, empowered, and confident to take on the event planning industry. Come hang with both like-minded peers and knowledgeable educators as you prepare to make your biggest career moves yet.
Are you ready to stop second guessing and finally make the
to flourish in your wedding planning career?
Are you ready to stop second guessing and finally make the to flourish in
your wedding planning career?
bold moves
This workshop is for you
JOIN THE WAITLIST
I'LL BE THERE!
It’s not that far out of reach.
How do we know? Because these are words from our own very
happy clientele.
What Best Bride did for us in such a short amount of time was truly remarkable! While we had to significantly cut down our guest count Leora made sure that every possible Covid precaution was taken to keep our family and loved ones safe while still giving us a day more magical than we ever dreamed of.
Best Bride helped me and my husband get married in August! Leora did a great job with the wedding, and is actually quite affordable compared to some other wedding planners I met with. Leora helped us from start to finish and I'm glad we chose her! She really understood the look I wanted for the wedding and we decided to go with her because she was comfortable with chandeliers and everything that goes into that. Not all planners are comfortable with chandeliers.
There was a huge permitting issue at our wedding venue Beverly Wilshire and we lost our ceremony area. It was a huge ordeal but Leora helped me with connections and helped move our ceremony to Montage instead so the day was saved! I truly think I would have been completely screwed if it wasn't for Leora and her team!
Thanks best bride!
A true professional with a passion for her work, Leora spends time helping you feel at ease that everything is going according to plan during your special day. I am thrilled and very pleased with the service that was provided and will definitely refer everyone to Leora.
Leora and her team truly went above and beyond for our wedding! Every detail and every question my husband and I had was quickly and professionally answered and coordinated. The team Leora brought with her on the day of our wedding was amazing and very attentive. They never left me and my husband alone, and always made sure we were comfortable and happy on our special day!
Super impressed with Leora and her team - especially Leora! So thorough, experienced and knowledgeable. She helped me plan with so much more than I expected and was ALWAYS a phone call or text away. The day of the wedding went perfectly and our guests were also super impressed. No complaints whatsoever! We were even ahead of schedule! She's a BOSS and is seriously underrated in the wedding industry.
It’s not that far out of reach.
How do we know? Because these are words from our own very happy clientele.
Thanks again Leora for not only saving our wedding, but making it a wedding that everyone that went said it was the most magnificent they had ever been to!
You made my wedding a dream I can't even explain I still think about how amazing you guys were and recommend you to everyone planning a wedding! You guys were right there for anything anyone needed that day and totally had everything under control! I literally had someone following my every move making sure my vail was being carried, giving me water, asking if I need anything it was insanity I've never been taken so well care of before.
- Diana
- evan & maria
- Sayumi & kent
- melinda & farbod
- Priscilla & Will
- Michaelea
- WINAND
Leora and her team at Best Bride turned our wedding ideas into a real life phenomenal event. My husband and I are not very creative people so when we came to Leora, we had bits and pieces of details that were important to us. Leora was able to take those details and transform them into a wedding that was so much more beautiful than we could have ever imagined. Our guests continue to comment on how beautiful and special our wedding was
- NIKOO & ALEX
Get schooled on building your business.
Over two days of the in-person workshop, you’ll immerse yourself into the world of entrepreneurship and wedding planning. But even after the action-packed class schedule comes to a close, the journey doesn’t end there! Take home templates, resources, and trainings to support your career for years to come.
one WAITLIST slip please!
NO PERMISSION SLIP NEEDED
what:
who:
when:
where:
why:
Academy for Event’s WEDDING PLANNING WORKSHOP
Aspiring wedding planner with ambitious goals (hey, that’s YOU!)
The Thompson Hotel - Citizen News building in sunny Los Angeles, California
Monday, October 24th, - Tuesday October 25th, 2022
Life is too short not to do what you love and go after your dreams.
SHOW ME THE DETAILS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
SPONSORS
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Hand-picked educators for every part of your business journey, these experts are not only invaluable resources for your skill development, but an opportunity to make long-lasting connections in your career. Come sit with these incredible mentors for a chance to learn, connect, and grow.
LEORA PILEVAR
A serial entrepreneur, acclaimed wedding planner, and founder of Los Angeles based event planning companies, Best Bride and Partyology. Obsessed with design and details,, she has spent more than a decade providing luxury client experiences with over 500 events and budgets of 1 million plus. Leora brings that expert experience to Academy for Events as the founder and lead planning mentor.
AFE, BEST BRIDE, PARTYOLOGY
WHITNEY KERNEY
Inspired by the beauty of feminine design and detail, Whitney works with conscious entrepreneurs to establish a cohesive brand identity backed by strategy and storytelling. She’s a bit obsessed with chic, swoon-worthy fashion and beauty brands, making this the perfect outlet for her to exercise her passion for all things lovely. As a romantic at heart, she fully believes in living life to the fullest and chasing after that #maincharacterenergy. You’ve got a unique story to tell, and she can’t wait to share it.
AMANDA SHUMAN
A brand designer and marketing strategist specializing in the wedding & creative industries.Her marketing efforts have helped her clients change their lives by quitting their full-time jobs to pursue their passions, buying the homes of their dreams, and scaling their teams. She is passionate about design and believes pairing a beautiful brand aesthetic with an intentional website strategy is the cornerstone for success and booking clients effortlessly.
CARRYLOVE DESIGNS
WK CREATIVE
KEREN DE ZWART
With over a decade of experience in corporate transactions, Keren has worked with every type of business: from side hustlers to raising millions of dollars and taking companies public. Today, she helps entrepreneurs get #legallylegit through her law firm, Not Your Father’s Lawyer. She resides in Orange County, California, with her husband and two children.
Not Your Father's Lawyer
ABEKI CARTER
A Certified Wedding & Event Planner, Event Educator and Mentor with 25+ years of experience planning weddings and creating unique events. She is also an entrepreneur and the CEO of Chic Occasions Events, a full service wedding and event planning company in New York. An advocate for professional development and education in the event industry, Abeki has been teaching Wedding and Event Certification Courses at the local community colleges over the last seven years.
AUDREY LEE
New Century Insurance Services, Inc
Business Coach & Event Educator
Audrey is passionate about helping business owners be protected with the right insurance policies in place. She specializes in working with small business owners specifically in the event industry and offers insurance services for their business, event, employees and more. She is a lover of sunrise's and sunsets and always looking forward to her next getaway.
No first day jitters here!
Here’s what you can expect:
No first day jitters here!
Here’s what
you can expect:
SYLLABUS
CURRICULUM
ITINERARY
LOCATION
Overview
Over two days of the in-person workshop, you’ll immerse yourself into the world of entrepreneurship and wedding planning. But even after the action-packed class schedule comes to a close, the journey doesn’t end there! Take home templates, resources, and trainings to support your career for years to come.
WORKSHOP WEEK
POST-GRAD LIFE
Surrounded by like-minded peers who are as ambitious as you are, you’ll:
- Expand your knowledge of business foundations with invaluable talks from leading educators.
- Master marketing techniques to attract dream clients
- Receive real-time feedback from industry leaders
- Perfect your planning skills with hands-on opportunities
- Acquire high-quality portfolio headshot photos to elevate the caliber of your online presence
- Mingle and network with industry leaders as well as other aspiring vendors
You’ll have a more an in-depth understanding of what it takes to truly scale your wedding planning business and the action plan you need to get there. With a variety of resources and opportunities for continuous learning at your disposal, you’ll have the resources you need to build a thriving wedding planning business.
SYLLABUS
CURRICULUM
ITINERARY
LOCATION
TOPICS SO GOOD YOU’LL ACTUALLY LIKE TAKING NOTES
You’ll get exactly what you need to transform your career as a wedding planner and thrive in the industry. We cover three main topics for building a best of class business
HANDS ON EXPERIENCES
REAL TIME ADVICE
TRIED & Tested RESOURCES
– business foundations, marketing, and wedding planning logistics.
BUSINESS FOUNDATIONS
MARKETING
WEDDING PLANNING
- Brand identity
- Website & SEO
- Social media
- Sales & inquiries
- Brand photoshoots
- Growth plans
- Planning & logistics
- Event design
- Rentals
- Florals
- Post-event tips
- Styled photoshoots
- Goals & Mission
- Audience awareness
- Legal forms
- Accounting & budgets
- Contracting
- Services & rates
- Client & vendor management
SYLLABUS
CURRICULUM
ITINERARY
- Check in, brunch, and networking
- Expert Panels
- Styled shoot demo covering multiple trends
- Dinner
- After hours hang at rooftop bar
LOCATION
Not your average class schedule
THE BEST FIRST DAY YOU’VE EVER HAD
SO MUCH FUN YOU WON’T BE READY TO LEAVE
- Arrivals, breakfast, and networking
- Expert Panels
- Professional Headshot Sessions
- Lunch
- Mingle, browse vendors, activities
DAY 1
DAY 2
SYLLABUS
CURRICULUM
ITINERARY
LOCATION
THERE’S NOTHING MORE INSPIRING THAN STEPPING INTO A CAREFULLY CURATED SPACE.
- Is safe, welcoming, and productive for all attendees
- Cultivates community rather than competition
- Pleases your artistic eye and promotes creativity
- Provides an unforgettable learning experience
Need a place to stay? We’ve got you!
Value packed
bonuses
Don’t forget the digital backpack of goodies that will transform your business
All workshop attendees will walk away with the exact resources, templates, and documents we used to launch and scale our six-figure award-winning wedding planning business. Because lectures and advice just aren’t enough! You deserve more.
Planner’s Plan
Online course
LEGAL CONTRACT
GRADUATION CERTIFICATE
Revolutionary Resource
The A to Z of wedding planning
Primary Protector
Distinguished Diploma
VALUE: priceless
VALUE: $2,500
VALUE: $1,800
VALUE: 2 years of school, 10 years of experience, ivy league tution
If there is one thing you need in your digital backpack, it’s Planner’s Plan. Inside this elite event management system, you’ll find detailed checklists, foolproof workflows, seamless processes, client facing resources, time-saving templates and more. Planner's Plan is everything you need, from backend organization to delivering an extraordinary client experience – this is the exact tool AFE founder, Leora, uses for every wedding planning process. After 10 years of tweaks and tests, she’s handing it over so you can master your systems and revolutionize your business with just a few clicks.
Your backpack of goodies is getting pretty hefty with another business boosting resource! If you’re looking to learn the ins and outs of the wedding planning world, consider this online course your handy dandy step by step road map to success. The easy-to-navigate course breaks down exactly how to utilize Planner’s Plan and help you create a seamless, organized process. This course will also walk you through game-changing video modules, templates, worksheets, and guides to level up your client experience and save you so much time. The custom tailored curriculum gives you everything you need to be confident and succeed as a professional wedding planner.
Intimidated by all legal things? Don’t stress! You’ll walk away from the workshop with the contract wedding planner’s dream about. This contract was expertly crafted by a contract lawyer to specifically protect wedding planners. We worked with her to ensure you're protected as you take on new clients. Just plug in your company information and start protecting your business!
This isn’t a piece of paper you’ll throw in a drawer, you’ll want your Academy for Events diploma hanging proudly on the wall of your office and showcased on your website. Dream clients won’t think twice when they recognize that you’ve been trained by industry leaders. Fellow vendors will trust that you provide A+ services and know you’ll add value to the team. While there may be many wedding planners out there, Academy for Events grads do it best. Your certificate shows that to the world!
Professional photography
Remember the hype of school picture day? It’s like that, but better.
PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS
STYLEd SHOoTS
PHOTO OPS
Go from new kid in class to event expert with professional headshots! As you advance your skills and perfect your processes, your business needs quality visuals that match your expertise. You’ll be able to inject your personality into your website, social media, and more with more marketing from your website to social media, with these beautiful, professional images.
No portfolio? No problem! The workshop includes a variety of styled shoot opportunities brought to you by expert designers. You’ll learn from the best while also getting the hands-on experience you’ve been craving. Your dream clients will be drooling over your Pinterest-level work and eye for design.
Did you really go to an Academy for Event’s workshop if you didn’t post it on the ‘Gram? Capture all the good vibes of your workshop days with our many curated photo opportunities. These are carefully designed with your content creation in mind. You’ll leave with endless inspo from your feed-worthy posts! Plus what’s a workshop without a little fun?
BUSINESS BOOSTER
VALUE: $500
PORTFOLIO PROMOTER
VALUE: $3,000
CONTENT CREATOR
VALUE: $500
Extracurricular activities
Forget recess – you deserve fun that lasts all workshop long.
Yummy grazing meals
Guilt-free snacks
Plenty of coffee (aka study fuel)
Curated swag bags
Professional branding photoshoots
Networking chats
Rooftop cocktail hour at The Thompson Hotel
Academy Grad certificate
Community of like-minded entrepreneurs
Tuition
As much value as an ivy-league education for a fraction of the cost.
Fast track your career with the information, resources, and confidence you need for only
When you graduate from the workshop, you’ll
be by the atmosphere, with the resources,
and to
crush big goals.
Be one of the first 15 students to claim your seat to reap the benefits of our early bird discount and receive a bonus one-on-one coaching session with our founder, Leora!
WAITLIST ME
When you graduate from the workshop, you will be
by your new skill set, with the resources, and to crush big goals.
empowered
obsessed
prepared
WORKSHOP ONLY: $5,000
WORKSHOP + BONUSES: $5,500
Ready to enroll?
Get ready because this is about to be your best chapter yet.
PAY THE TUITION
Pay tuition to save your seat.
Once you’ve paid and confirmed your attendance, you’re all set! Woohoo!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
The countdown to class is on. Our team will send over updates as the workshop date approaches! It’s more than that going back to school excitement, because this is the class that will change your life.
JOIN THE WAITLIST
APPLY FOR A SEAT
Be ready to level up and make big moves.
Answer some questions about your business and goals!
Your host
Meet Leora Pilevar
Serial entrepreneur, acclaimed wedding planner, turned passionate educator. She’s your lead instructor and head cheerleader as you build and grow your wedding planning business.
Leora launched her first event planning company, Best Bride in 2011 while finishing her Masters degree in Hospitality and Tourism from California State University, Northridge. Soon after graduating, she found that hands-on experience as an event planner taught her more than a Master’s ever could. At Academy for Events, Leora and her experts are teaming up to bring you 10+ years of skills developed in the field.
Her agencies, Best Bride and Partyology, provide high-end event planning services with budgets up to 1 million dollars. Leora and growing her team have over 500 events in their portfolio as the go-to planners for stunning aesthetics, seamless processes, and very happy clientele.
Now she wants you to experience the same success! Her new venture fueled by a fierce passion for education, Academy for Events, Leora is ready to pull back the curtain on the event industry as she shares the exact tools, resources, and processes that she used to build her businesses.
Meet our graduates
I was feeling very burnt out, lost and confused when I came to Leora asking her for help. I needed to figure out a better way to do things, make more money and design weddings I am very proud of. Leora has a deep passion for events and knows so much! She changed my business in so many ways. I am making more money now, working less, and producing much higher caliber events. I can’t believe I have some this far. I would have never even believed heights like this are possible.
STEPHANIE COLLINS
Before I met Leora I thought events were just about creating pretty things. But as my business grew I realized that I needed more systems in place. Leora has taught me so much about running a business. you need to know how to deal with people, do sales, manage a budget and so much more. Leora has really so many good systems in place. She taught me confidence, she showed me what I am worth and how not to be taken advantage of. I feel like I fast tracked my business like 10 years.
Esther Manssouri
Mushky Avtzon
Our commitment to excellence
No matter what, you can always expect us to:
Academy for Events is dedicated to providing
you an ivy-level learning experience.
Educate
Support
Elevate
with the most innovative and effective tools, resources, and events
through collaboration, networking, and community at every phase of your planning career
your business to the top of the wedding industry through knowledge, empowerment, and confidence
If you are...
inspired by the idea of turning your passion in to a career
eager to learn all you can about wedding planning and entrepreneurship
determined to work hard, even if that means pushing outside of your comfort zone
ready to invest in yourself and go after big goals
Then you already have exactly what it takes to start. We’re here to fill in the gaps with the skills, support, and guidance to succeed!
FAQ
The workshop will be Monday, October 24th - Tuesday October 25th, 2022, at the Thompson Hotel’s Citizen News building in Hollywood! It will be 2 full days so we advise to keep both entire days open. Exact schedule and timing will be emailed to you before the event date. If you can’t make it this time, be sure to ask us about our online option or future in-person workshops.
No! The workshop is open to both locals and aspiring wedding planners across the country. We’re happy to help you navigate the city with tips and resources if you need.
No worries! This workshop is designed to take you from day one of starting a business all the way through marketing, connecting with clients, and providing outstanding services. It is ideal for aspiring and new wedding planners ready to uplevel their business and transform it into an entrepreneurial success.
The Workshop is designed to help you build strong foundations for your wedding planning business and is ideal for planners with 5 or less years of experience.
We close enrollment prior to our workshops because we plan based on the number of attendees. While spots are limited, if you would like to join us please reach out at hello@academyforevents.com and we will see what we can do!
The tuition of the in person workshop is $150, if you add the digital bonuses it will be an additional $650 (totaling to $800). You can just sign up for the in person at $150 but it does not include the digital bonuses, it includes everything that will be at the workshop like the photoshoots etc. Special discounts for those on the waitlist are applied. Travel & accommodations are not included.
Payment plans are available on a case by case basis. We believe everything should have accessible and available education if they are serious about furthering their career. Please send us an email and we can discuss what works for you at info@academyforevents.com!
We want our workshops to be as accessible as possible.
– With our affiliate program, you can receive 20% off your tuition by referring a friend.
– By joining the waitlist, you’ll receive access to any discounts and extra perks available!
You can also follow us on Instagram at @academyforevents where we share our most up-to-date promotions and upcoming opportunities!
Unfortunately due to the nature of the event, no refunds are available. But the ticket is transferable to another person, so if you would like to sell or give it away to another aspiring wedding planner who would love to join us, feel free to do so!
We hold in person workshops once a year in Los Angeles.
Enrollment for the workshop is between September 15th and October 20th, 2022. But if you are interested in snagging limited perks, like one-on-one coaching options with Leora or early bird pricing, make sure to apply ASAP as spots will fill quickly.
Yes! Consider us your trusted counselors. During the workshop, we are here to talk you through any questions you may have! If you are interested in one-on-one mentoring after the workshop with any of our talented experts, don’t hesitate to ask! Each expert has their own individual availability and service offerings.
The online wedding planning course will be launching in early 2023. This will give you time to absorb and implement all of the foundations you learned in the workshop before diving into the value-packed online course portion.
More questions?
no need to raise your hand
Send us an email! We’re on the lookout and can’t wait to send answers your way.
You can always find us at hello@academyforevents.com
contact US
JOIN THE WAITLIST
So we invite you to ask yourself - why not?
Why not be the very
wedding planner you can be?
best
Why not turn your passion into a career?
WHY NOT BUILD A BUSINESS YOU ARE PROUD OF?
WHY NOT INVEST IN YOURSELF AND YOUR FUTURE?
And graduating best of class wedding planners?
That’s our speciality at Academy for Events.
So why not join us?
Still not sure if AFE’s Wedding Planning Workshop is right for you?
AFE’s Wedding Planning Workshop is for new and aspiring wedding planners who are eager to learn, motivated to scale, and ready to put in the work. As long as you are passionate about becoming the best wedding planner you can be and creating unforgettable client experiences – the workshop is right for you!
We won’t lie – entrepreneurship isn’t easy. But at Academy for Events, our hope is to support you through the highs and nurture you through the lows with an environment centered around education, collaboration, and inspiration.
Don't be tardy...
SAVE YOUR SEAT
JOIN THE WAITLIST
Don’t miss the chance to receive access to special pricing as well as an opportunity to snag a one-on-one coaching session with our founder, Leora!
*coaching sessions limited to the first 15 students to claim their seat*
and never miss out on the latest post, offer, or juicy slice of knowledge from Academy for Events.
and never miss out on the latest post, offer, or juicy
slice of knowledge from Academy for Events.
