The Knot Worldwide Announces the Winners of Its First WeddingPro Grant Program
Totaling $500,000, 26 small business owners received financial grants, advertising support, and mentorship to grow their businesses.
The Knot Worldwide, a leading all-in-one wedding tech platform and marketplace, announced today the winners of its new WeddingPro Grant Program, which awarded $500,000 in financial grants, advertising support, and mentorship to help small businesses grow. The new program, which launched earlier this year, received more than 1,170 applications, all of which showcased the wedding vendor community’s creativity, passion, and vision for growth.
Following a competitive selection process, with applications evaluated by a panel of independent third-party judges, 26 finalists were selected to receive awards across four tiers: one grand prize winner receiving $50,000; five winners receiving $20,000 each; ten winners receiving $10,000 each; and ten winners receiving advertising grants on The Knot and WeddingWire. In addition to this financial and advertising support, all winners will gain access to mentorship, education, and community resources through The Knot Worldwide and its program partner, the Global Entrepreneurship Network. The full list of winners can be found below.
The winning businesses span a diverse range of categories—from planners and photographers to florists and venues—reflecting the depth and diversity of talent within the wedding industry. Each recipient demonstrated a clear vision for how the grant funding or advertising support would help expand their business over the next 12–24 months.
“Small businesses are at the heart of the wedding industry, and we remain committed to supporting them through every step of their journey,” said Raina Moskowitz, Chief Executive Officer, The Knot Worldwide. “The number of applications for this program far exceeded our expectations, demonstrating a real need for access to capital, education, and mentorship. The quality of the submissions was also incredibly inspiring, showcasing the creativity and innovation of the wedding industry. We are proud to support our community and provide access to these vital resources for growth, and we look forward to the impact these awards will have for our winners.”
Within the wedding industry, more than 50% of businesses have fewer than ten employees. Data from The Knot Worldwide’s State of the Vendor Report also found that three in four wedding professionals say adaptability is critical to long-term success, with access to flexible capital cited as a top growing barrier. The WeddingPro Grant Program is designed to help address this gap by providing financial grants, advertising support, and mentorship when it’s needed most.
Fast Facts About Our 2026 Winners:
The winners represent 11 different vendor categories within the wedding industry.
Venues and florists make up around 31%.
The winners span 15 different states.
Strong representation from both major metro markets (NYC, LA, Chicago) and more local markets (Quincy, FL; Sebastopol, CA; Saylorsburg, PA).
WeddingPro Grant Program Winners, 2026:
Lovellfaye LLC, New York, NY (Wedding Dresses) - GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Sheila Mraz Photography, Asheville, NC (Wedding Photographers)
Carlos C Media, Chicago, IL (Videographers)
Wild Trail Studio, Minneapolis, MN (Wedding Photographers)
Sign and Celebrate, Tacoma, WA (Venue)
Lake Wales Arts Center (Gather Lake Wales), Lake Wales, FL (Venue)
Uraina's Haven, Quincy, FL (Venue)
Yellow Firefly Studio, Renton, WA (Wedding Florists)
Conor James, Los Angeles, CA (Wedding Musician)
Sweet Greene Cupcakery, LLC, Alexandria, VA (Wedding Cakes)
Ivory & Blush Bridal, Guilford, CT (Wedding Dresses)
SOUNDBAR Entertainment Saylorsburg, PA (Wedding DJs)
Annie M. Designs, Sebastopol, CA (Wedding Florists)
Cedar Hills Farm, Chattanooga, TN (Venue)
Wild & Blooms, Los Angeles, CA (Wedding Florists)
Villa de San Rafael, Albuquerque, NM (Venue)
Legacies of Love, Nevada City, CA (Wedding Officiants)
The Makeup Studio Saratoga LLC, Saratoga, NY, (Wedding Hair & Makeup)
Elegant Events Planning + Design, Philadelphia, PA (Wedding Planners)
Bella’s Booth, Sarasota, FL (Photo Booths)
GK Events and Design, Bloomfield, NJ (Wedding Planners)
The Real Bride Co, Denver, CO (Wedding Dresses)
Hollywood Smile Photo Booth, New York, NY (Photo Booths)
Worlds Away DJ, Eden Prairie, MN (Wedding DJs)
Skylight Echo Band. Pasadena, CA (Wedding Bands)
Bloom Culture Flowers, Oklahoma City, OK (Wedding Florists)
About The Knot Worldwide
Across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, The Knot Worldwide champions the power of celebration. The company’s global family of brands provides best-in-class products, services, and content to take celebration planning from inspiration to action. Through its wedding brands, including The Knot, WeddingWire, Bodas.net, Hitched.co.uk, Mariages.net, Matrimonio.com, and others, the company offers an extensive database of hundreds of thousands of wedding professionals to assist couples in organizing the happiest day of their lives. We have a brand for every kind of celebration—from booking a birthday party, to planning a wedding, to preparing to become a parent, and every moment in between.
Media Contact
Nicole Smith, VP, Global Communications and Policy