Calling All Changemakers: The Knot Worldwide Now Accepting Applications for 2024 'Fellowship for Change' to Support Underserved Wedding Professionals

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Knot Worldwide, a leading global marketplace and family of brands championing celebration, today announced the entry period for the 2024 Fellowship for Change class has opened. Applications can be submitted here through November 30, 2023 and the 2024 programming will begin on February 1, 2024. The Knot Worldwide launched the initiative in 2021 to support wedding business owners from historically underserved groups¹ in the first five years of operation and to help couples connect with a diverse range of professionals.

Fellowship for Change is led by WeddingPro, The Knot Worldwide’s business-to-business brand that connects small businesses with millions of engaged couples each year on The Knot and WeddingWire. The initiative provides mentorship opportunities with seasoned wedding professionals; a year of complimentary wedding advertising; in-person and virtual networking opportunities; intensive monthly education on topics such as pricing, packaging, finances, branding and marketing; plus workbooks and templates.

“At The Knot Worldwide, we strive to foster an equitable environment where everyone feels empowered to be their authentic selves,” said Tim Chi, Chief Executive Officer at The Knot Worldwide. “We believe that our engaged couples are best served when they have the opportunity to work with diverse vendor teams representing a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. As a leader in the wedding industry, it’s our responsibility to help break down barriers and establish new connections, contributing to a more inclusive future for all.”

Graduating in December 2023, the current 2023 Fellowship for Change class is composed of emerging wedding professionals spanning multiple categories, including talented bakers, planners, officiants, photographers, makeup artists and more. In a mid-year survey among 2023 class members, nearly all respondents (92%) reported being satisfied with their experience in the program. They revealed that the top three most useful components were mentorship, advertising and education. Nearly half of those who responded self-reported that their leads increased, on average by 93%.

“Before starting in the wedding industry, I worked in healthcare—namely oncology,” said Tiara Bryant, 2023 Fellowship for Change class member, non-denominational officiant and owner of Royal Treatment with Tiara, based in New Jersey. “I supported patients through their toughest times and now I prepare couples for the happiest day of their lives. Fellowship for Change helped me navigate this major career shift and achieve success early on. I officiated my first wedding on 2/22/22, and since then, I’ve married more than 50 couples. My philosophy is tapping into gratitude and helping couples minimize stressful moments by embracing intentional joy. Fellowship for Change increased my visibility as an entrepreneur, boosted my self-confidence and gave me the tools I needed to take my business to the next level.”

The Knot Worldwide also reviewed internal company data to evaluate the efficacy of the Fellowship for Change program for past classes. Leads increased an average of 133% for the 2021 class and 71% for the 2022 class. The majority of alumni rated the value they received from the program 10 out of 10.

Previously, Fellowship for Change ran for eight months. In 2024, The Knot Worldwide will extend it to 12 months and plans to expand offerings by introducing education on new topics. To learn more about Fellowship for Change, click here.

¹ Historically underserved groups include but are not limited to women, veterans, the LGBTQIA+ community and minorities, who often face systemic barriers such as limited access to funding and other opportunities.

About The Knot Worldwide

In more than 16 countries around the world, The Knot Worldwide’s global family of brands enables our communities to celebrate the moments that make us. At the core of the TKWW business is a leading global online wedding marketplace, connecting couples with local wedding professionals and a comprehensive suite of personalized wedding websites, planning tools, invitations and registry services that make wedding planning easier for couples. The company's wedding planning services are offered through its global wedding brands, including The Knot, WeddingWire, Bodas.net, Hitched.co.uk and Matrimonio.com. TKWW also supports parents through the pregnancy and parenting journey with content and tools on The Bump, and helps communities plan other important life celebrations through The Bash.

The company is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with offices throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Check out The Knot Worldwide on LinkedIn.