Requesting Payments

Once your client has signed a contract and your Stripe account is connected, you can request payment directly from the event page. Gilded handles the payment link, the client-facing payment page, and the status tracking.

How Payment Requests Work

A payment request sends your client an email with a secure link to a payment page. On that page, they see the amount due, your business name, and the event details. They can pay by credit card or ACH bank transfer — no account required.

Requesting a Deposit

After a contract is signed, the next step is usually a deposit. From the event detail page:

1. Look for the Request Deposit button in the action panel
2. Click it to generate a payment request
3. Your client receives an email with a link to pay

The deposit amount is pulled from the service package you set up on the event. If you entered a deposit amount of $2,000 on a $6,000 package, that is what your client sees on the payment page.

Requesting the Balance

After the deposit is paid, the balance is calculated automatically. Gilded subtracts the deposit from the total contract value — you never have to do this math manually.

When you are ready to collect the remaining balance:

1. Click Request Balance on the event detail page
2. Your client receives a payment link for the remaining amount

The balance amount uses the {{balance_amount}} calculation, so it is always accurate regardless of what the deposit was.

What Your Client Sees

Your client's payment page includes:

• Your business name and branding
• The event name and details
• The amount due (deposit or balance)
• Payment options — credit/debit card or ACH bank transfer
• A secure checkout powered by Stripe

The page is clean, professional, and does not require your client to create any kind of account. They enter their payment information and submit.

Tracking Payment Status

Payment status is visible on the event detail page and in the activity timeline:

• Deposit Requested — payment link has been sent
• Deposit Paid — your client completed the deposit payment
• Paid in Full — all payments have been collected

You receive a notification when a payment is completed, and the event status updates automatically.

Payment Methods

Your clients can pay in two ways:

• Credit or debit card — processed immediately
• ACH bank transfer — takes 3-5 business days to clear, but has lower processing fees

Both options are shown on the payment page. Your client chooses which they prefer.

Receiving Your Money

Payments go to the bank account you connected through Stripe. After processing:

• Stripe deposits funds according to your payout schedule (typically 2 business days for established accounts)
• You receive the full amount of your fee — processing fees are added on top and paid by your client
• You can view all transactions in your Stripe dashboard

Payment Timing

You control when to request payment. Common approaches:

• Deposit immediately after signing — the most common flow
• Balance 30 days before the event — gives you time to follow up if needed
• Custom schedule — request payments whenever it makes sense for your business

Next Steps

Wondering about the fees? Read Understanding Payment Fees to learn exactly who pays what.