I teach what I apply
in the field.
I'm currently an instructor at AIWP. Teaching was a choice, and has always been a complementary activity — because I believe this industry needs professionals trained in the field, not just trained on enthusiasm.
Theory without field experience isn't enough
I started teaching because I believe the title of professional only means something when it's backed by a real method and genuine technical preparation — not just enthusiasm for the industry.
What I teach isn't a textbook. It's the real cases I've handled, the mistakes I've seen made (and a few I made myself), the solutions that actually work when the original plan doesn't hold.
The wedding industry has a perceived-quality problem. Serious training is how you raise the standard — not just individually, but across the whole industry.
What you learn in my courses
The program covers every aspect of working as a wedding professional — from the first consultation to running the day itself.
The first consultation
How to structure the first meeting, what to ask, how to qualify a client, and how to present yourself without undervaluing your own work.
Budgets and quotes
How to build a realistic budget, how to read vendor quotes, and how to negotiate without compromising on quality.
Vendor management
How to select, brief, and coordinate vendors, and — when necessary — step in with alternative solutions without the client ever noticing.
Contracts
The fundamentals of contracts in this industry: what needs to be in one, and what should never be left out.
Handling the unexpected
Real case studies: what to do when a vendor doesn't show up, when the weather turns, when the client changes their mind at the last minute.
Building your positioning
How to define your own offering, how to communicate it, and how to avoid competing on price alone.
Areas of expertise
Repeatable teaching: a codified, scalable training structure, designed to transfer skills that are clear, measurable, and applicable right away. Flexible training: programs tailored for individual professionals (one-to-one) or structured for groups and training institutions.
Curriculum coordination
Designing and directing study programs for future wedding planners and event professionals.
Specialist teaching
Passing on event direction techniques, client management, and business strategy.
One-to-one mentoring
Tailored mentoring paths to accelerate students' professional growth.
How I teach
I don't do lectures. My courses are built around practical cases, simulations, and discussion of real-world scenarios.
Anyone who takes my courses needs to walk away with tools they can actually use — and that only happens through a real balance of theory and practice, not facts to memorize. The difference between knowing and knowing how is the difference that matters once you're in the field.
- Case studies from real experience
- Hands-on exercises on critical situations
- Direct discussion with the instructor
- Materials kept current with real, ongoing field experience
Those who chose to train with me
"Thank you for making a dream of mine come true. Thank you for the experience you gave me! You're a wonderful professional, person, and woman. I still have so much to learn, but watching you work was a huge inspiration. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sara!"
"I can only dedicate this piece to Sara Palma, for all the patience, experience, and determination she gave us throughout her training course! It wasn't easy, Sara, but you really taught us so much!"
Find out how
For information on current courses, dates, and how to enroll, you can message me directly — I'll answer personally, not an assistant.