Building Contracts

Contracts in Gilded are legally binding agreements that your client signs electronically. The builder works the same way as proposals, with the addition of a signature block and the ability to require initials on specific sections.

Starting a New Contract

From your event detail page, click Agreement in the action panel. You can optionally start from a template to save time.

Contract-Specific Sections

The section library for contracts includes content blocks designed for formal agreements:

• Services and Scope of Work
• Payment Terms
• Cancellation and Refund Policy
• Liability and Indemnification
• Force Majeure
• Image Release / Photography Rights
• Confidentiality
• Governing Law

You are not limited to these — you can add any section you need and write your own content using the rich text editor. These are starting points that cover the clauses most wedding planners include.

Writing Contract Content

Use the same rich text editor as proposals. A few tips specific to contracts:

• Be clear about deliverables. Spell out exactly what your services include and what they do not.
• Use auto-fill fields for accuracy. {{total_price}}, {{payment_schedule}}, {{event_date}}, and {{client_name}} ensure the contract always reflects the correct details without manual re-entry.
• Keep language accessible. Your clients are not lawyers. Write in plain language while still being precise about terms.

Pricing — the Package Panel

The contract's price, deposit, due dates, and payment schedule live in the Pricing & Payment Schedule panel in the builder. You can start from a saved package template via the Use saved package dropdown, or fill in the fields directly.

If the contract is following an approved proposal on the same event, the builder shows a warning if the contract's pricing diverges from what the client agreed to in the proposal — fix the mismatch (or accept the divergence intentionally) before sending. This protects against accidentally billing different numbers than what the client said yes to.

You can also offer the client multiple payment options (e.g., pay in full vs. an installment plan) right in the Package panel — the client picks one before signing, and their choice becomes the schedule you bill against. If the client already chose an option on an approved proposal, that selection carries over and they don't pick again. See Building Proposals for the full walkthrough.

Requiring Initials on Sections

For important sections — like cancellation policy, liability, or payment terms — you can require your client to initial before they sign the full document. This ensures they have acknowledged and agreed to each key clause individually.

When editing a section, toggle Require client initials. During the signing process, your client will need to place their initials on every section marked this way before they can complete the final signature.

The Signature Block

Contracts and combined documents automatically include a signature block at the end of the document. This is where your client (and their partner, if applicable) will place their electronic signature.

The signature block includes:

• Signer roles — Client, Partner (if applicable), and Planner
• Signature fields — each party signs in their designated area
• Date stamps — automatically recorded when each party signs

You do not need to design or position the signature block manually. Gilded generates it based on the signatories you configure for the document.

Who Signs

There is nothing to configure here — Gilded works out the signatories when you send:

• The client always signs.
• Their partner is included automatically if a partner email is on file for that client, and it is a different address from the client's. One inbox is one signatory, so the same address on both leaves a single couple member to sign. Add or correct it on the Client Contact card, not in the builder.
• You always countersign. Every agreement waits on your signature after the couple has signed.

The couple share the same link and identify themselves by email when they open it. You countersign from your dashboard instead. The agreement is only fully executed once every signatory has signed — including you.

Previewing Your Contract

Use the live preview on the right side of the builder to review your contract as you write. You can also download a PDF to review offline or share with a colleague before sending.

Templates for Contracts

If you use similar contract structures across clients, save your contract as a template. Go to Templates in the sidebar, create a new template with the Contract type, and build your reusable structure. When creating a new contract, select your template to start with all your standard sections pre-filled.

Next Steps

When your contract is ready, learn about Sending Documents to get it in front of your client.