Wedding & Event Vendor Law 101 (2025 Edition)

Kunbi Sijuwade-Odubogun | Legally Set

Kunbi Sijuwade-Odubogun is a seasoned business attorney and the founder of Legally Set, a legal solutions company dedicated to empowering event and wedding professionals, creatives, and small businesses. With over 14 years of experience, Kunbi specializes in providing tailored legal support in contracts, business formation, intellectual property, and business planning. Through Legally Set, she offers practical and accessible tools, including ready-made contract templates, to help entrepreneurs protect and grow their businesses with confidence. Kunbi’s expertise has made her a trusted advisor to creative professionals and small businesses navigating the complexities of the legal landscape.

Shari A. Rivkind | The Rivkind Law Firm

Shari Rivkind has been practicing law since 1987, over 37 years, and has been the owner of The Rivkind Law Firm since 2008. A graduate of The George Washington University and Boston University School of Law, she returned to her home state of New Jersey and has been practicing law there ever since. Her practice areas throughout the span of her career have been varied and she has represented everyone from interior designers to physicians. She has always represented clients regarding their personal legal matters including divorces, trusts and wills, contract negotiations of all kinds and litigation matters.

Brides and the difficulties they face hold a special place in Ms. Rivkind’s heart. Throughout her career she has not only helped many brides navigate wedding contracts and important agreements such as prenuptial agreements, wills and name changes, but is often on the other side, representing vendors from photographers to large wedding venues.

Ms. Rivkind is a true scholar of law, knowledgeable in the myriad of laws that are applicable to many practice areas and one that will eagerly immerse herself in the intricacies of any area of law that is presented in any of her clients’ cases. She has been a frequent lecturer throughout her career, including for the NJAJ. She is the co-author of the books I’m Married What Do I Do Now and I’m Getting Married What Do I Do Now?

Morgan J. Weil | The Rivkind Law Firm

Morgan Weil graduated from The George Washington University and then The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in 2019. During law school, Morgan interned at New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) as an elder law intern and helped low-income individuals execute medical directives, power of attorneys, and simple wills. Thereafter, Morgan worked for a New York City firm specializing in Estate Planning, working with complicated estates and frequenting the surrogate’s courts in New York City.

Upon graduation, Morgan joined The Rivkind Law Firm focusing on will and trusts. Her practice quickly blossomed into counseling and negotiating on behalf of her young clients, many of whom were getting married. Recently engaged and with a host of friends who were also in the midst of wedding preparations, she began to clearly see a real need for brides for attorneys experienced in navigating the costly, stressful period of planning for a wedding, marriage and beyond. Morgan decided to form and head up a practice division focused on the legal issues brides face and Bridelawyer™ was born. Groomlawyer™ soon followed. She is the co-author of the books I’m Married What Do I Do Now and I’m Getting Married What Do I Do Now?

Session I – Launching and Protecting Your Wedding and Event Business | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Steps to launch your business the right way
  • Choosing the best business structure
    • Comparing LLCs, sole proprietorships, and corporations
    • Selecting a structure based on liability, taxes, and growth potential
  • Naming your business and registering a DBA
    • Ensuring your name is unique and legally available
    • Registering a DBA for businesses operating under different names
  • Licensing requirements to stay compliant
    • Key licenses and permits for wedding and event businesses
    • Zoning and compliance for home-based or mobile businesses
  • Tax identification and banking
    • How to obtain an EIN and open a business bank account
    • Importance of separating business and personal finances
• Intellectual property considerations: Protecting your creative and brand assets
  • Copyright law
    • Handling “works made for hire” with employees and contractors
    • Protecting your content from unauthorized use online
    • Licensing creative deliverables while retaining portfolio rights
  • Trademark law
    • State vs. federal trademarks: What you need to know
    • Registering your trademark: Steps and common mistakes to avoid
    • Maintaining and enforcing your trademark rights
    • Monitoring for infringement and using cease-and-desist strategies
• Legal tips beyond launching
  • International protections for IP
    • International trademark and copyright considerations
  • Insurance requirements
    • General liability and event-specific insurance for vendors
  • Independent contractor vs. employee classifications
    • Legal implications of misclassification and avoiding penalties

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

Session II – Contracts, Industry-Specific Concerns, and Legal Protections | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

• Understanding your client’s unique needs: Tailoring contracts for success general provisions
• Vendor contract basics
  • The date the agreement is entered into
  • The names of the parties involved
  • The date of performance (i.e., the wedding date)
  • The contract price
  • How and when payment is to be made
  • Cancellations terms
  • Consideration for custom or specialty items
  • Force majeure and handling delays
  • Cancellations and refunds
• General provisions for vendor contracts
  • Assignability clause
  • Insurance clauses for vendor, client & other vendors
  • Compliance with laws and ordinances clause
  • Modification of agreement clause
  • Discretion to eject disorderly or objectionable individuals
  • Entire agreement clause
  • Electronic signature and counterparts clause
  • Governing law clause
  • Dispute resolution and legal protections
• Particular types of contracts & their special requirements
  • All-inclusive venue contracts & venue-only contracts
  • Wedding planner contracts
  • Catering contracts & commercial kitchen & cottage food regulations
  • Bridal salon contracts
  • Tuxedo rental contracts
  • Photography & videography contracts
  • Florists
  • Hair and makeup artists , contracts & why many are violating the law.
  • Favors, invitations, and other personalized items
  • Limousine or transportation service provider
  • Officiants
• Wedding vendor contracts for luxury brands: Legal concerns and considerations
  • Expense documentation and financial transparency
  • Liability protection
  • Regulatory compliance: Cross-state and international considerations
  • International events and considerations
  • Consumer protection
• Key legal cases affecting wedding vendors in New Jersey
  • Elane Photography, LLC v. Willock (2015): Freedom of speech and religious beliefs
  • Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): Marriage equality and same-sex weddings
  • Evancho v. Pine-Richland School District (2018): Transgender rights and equal access
  • New Jersey division on civil rights v. PNC Bank (2018): Employment discrimination and vendor rights
  • In re: Marriage Equality Act (2013): Same-sex marriage legalization in New Jersey
  • L.A. v. L.N. (2019): Consumer protection and wedding vendor contracts
• Conduct clauses in vendor contracts: Dealing with an unruly client in New Jersey
  • Conduct clauses in general
  • New Jersey law: The right to refuse service
  • Self-defense and protection of property
  • Law enforcement and criminal behavior
  • Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) and unfair practices
  • New Jersey’s civil law: Breach of contract claims
  • Alcohol and liquor liability
• Legal guidance on promoting inclusivity through wedding vendor contracts
  • Non-discrimination clauses: Essential to prevent discriminatory practices
  • Clear and transparent pricing and services
  • Including accessibility provisions (ADA Compliance)
  • Supplier and vendor inclusivity clauses
  • Cancellation and termination clauses for discriminatory requests
  • Training and internal policies on inclusivity