Working with Templates

Templates save you from starting every document from scratch. Instead of rebuilding the same proposal or contract structure each time, you start from a template and customize it for the specific event.

Finding Your Templates

Click Templates in the sidebar. The page has two tabs at the top: Templates and Section Library. The Templates tab is where you manage full document templates.

You will see two kinds of templates here:

• Built-in templates — these are labeled "by Gilded" and cover common document types like wedding proposals, day-of coordination contracts, and combined agreements. You cannot edit these directly, but you can fork them.
• Your templates — templates you have created or forked. These are fully yours to edit, rename, and delete.

Forking a Built-in Template

Forking copies a built-in template into your own collection so you can customize it.

1. Find the built-in template you want to start from
2. Click Fork on the template card
3. The forked copy appears in your templates with all the original sections
4. Open it and edit anything — sections, text, ordering, merge fields

If you ever want to see what the original looked like, the built-in version is still there unchanged. You can fork it again at any time.

Creating a Template from Scratch

Click New Template at the top of the Templates tab. You will choose a document type (proposal, contract, or combined) and then land in the template builder.

The template builder works exactly like the document builder — same section library, same rich text editor, same drag-and-drop reordering. The only difference is that you are saving a reusable template instead of a document attached to a specific event.

Applying a Template to a Document

When you create a new document from an event, the builder gives you the option to start from a template. Pick the template you want, and all its sections load into the builder pre-filled. From there, you edit as needed for that particular client and event.

Applying a template copies the content into the document. Changes you make to the document do not affect the template, and changes to the template do not update documents you have already created from it.

Section Options in Templates

Each section in a template has toggles you can set:

• Show planner photo — includes your headshot next to that section (great for "About Me" sections in proposals). Upload your photo in Settings > Profile.
• Require client initials — for contract sections, this requires the client to initial that section before signing. Use it on cancellation policies, payment terms, or any clause you want to make sure they've read.

These settings carry over when you apply the template to a document, so you only set them up once.

Hiding Sections in the Library

The section library can get crowded. If there are built-in sections you never use, you can hide them:

1. Go to Templates > Section Library
2. Hover over a section and click the eye icon
3. Hidden sections won't appear in the builder's "Add Section" panel

You can show them again anytime from the Section Library tab using the Show hidden toggle.

Tips for Good Templates

• Use merge fields like {{client_name}} and {{event_date}} in your templates. They resolve automatically when the template is applied to a document with event data filled in.
• Keep templates focused. A "Full Wedding Planning Proposal" and a "Day-Of Coordination Proposal" are more useful than one giant template you have to gut every time.
• Review periodically. As your services evolve, update your templates so new documents start with current language and pricing.

Template Limits

Basic plans include up to 5 custom templates. Pro and Team plans have unlimited templates.