Weddings
Wedding Submissions
Everything about submitting, reviewing, and what happens next.
Submitting a Wedding is how your work enters the Carats + Cake ecosystem, opening the door to publication, discovery, and ongoing visibility across the platform.
Before You Begin
We recommend claiming or creating your Profile first so you can take full advantage of publication and Membership opportunities.
How to Submit a Wedding
- Sign in to your Account.
- Select Submit a Wedding from the site header or navigation.
- Complete the submission details.
- Upload your images.
- Tag all known vendors.
- Submit your Wedding.
What information do I need?
- Photos (following the requested categories)
- Venue and location
- Complete vendor list — business names and email addresses
- Guest count
- Budget tier
- Photographer's gallery link (preferred)
- Video gallery link (if available)
Images
Please upload only web-size files. High resolution images are too large for web display and should be reserved for print only. If we see a quality issue, we'll be sure to reach out. Images with watermarks are not accepted. Follow the requested categories and don't be afraid to provide variety. We will always edit the selection down to tell the most cohesive story.
Vendor Credits
Tag every known vendor with their correct business name. If a vendor does not yet exist in our database, you will be asked to enter them as a new vendor, which requires their Business Name and email address. The email is very important so that the vendor can be notified of the submission and given the chance to claim their Profile and take advantage of the exposure.
Gallery Links
Link to the photographer's complete gallery — not a folder of only your uploaded selects. Include any required passwords or download PINs. A Dropbox link containing only pre-selected images doesn't provide the additional context that we often need. Issues with the photo gallery are the number one reason your submission review will be delayed.
What makes a submission incomplete?
- Incomplete vendor credits
- Incomplete or missing photo galleries
- Restricted galleries
- Missing gallery download PINs
Incomplete submissions are the single biggest cause of review delays — complete yours fully before you submit.
Best Practices
Prepare in advance — a little prep here prevents most submission problems.
- Use web-sized images. Large, uncompressed files slow the upload or cause it to fail.
- Close extra browser tabs before you start. Too many open tabs pull memory from the submission and can slow it down or time it out.
- Submit in a single session. Stepping away and coming back later increases the risk of a failed or incomplete submission.
How Review Works
Every submission — Wedding or Editorial — is reviewed anonymously, in the order it's received. Pro Plus Members get expedited review, meaning their submissions are reviewed first. There's no editorial advantage for Members — it's timing only.
What We're Looking For
- Does it tell a compelling visual story from beginning to end?
- Does the photography help tell that story?
- Does it feel creative, original, or offer a fresh perspective?
- Is the design memorable and well executed?
- Does it expand the range of locations, aesthetics, cultures, markets, or budgets represented?
- Does it create an emotional connection?
- Will it inspire or help planning couples?
What We Don't Consider
Membership status, budget, sponsorships, advertising, or paid placement never factor in. There's no single aesthetic, no budget target, and no scoring checklist.
What Happens After I Submit?
After submitting you'll receive a confirmation email. Every tagged vendor is notified that their work has been submitted.
How Long Does Review Take?
Once a submission enters the queue, review typically takes 4–5 weeks. Editorial Submissions take longer, since we publish fewer of them. If it's taking longer than expected, we thank you for your patience and ask that you do not email in to check status.
Will I Be Notified Either Way?
Yes. You'll receive an email notifying you of either outcome — Featured or Album. We'll reach out directly if we need additional information.
What Happens If I'm Featured?
If your submission is selected as a Feature, you'll receive an email with your scheduled publication date, then a second email once the feature is live, including the option to download the approved feature graphics.
What Happens If My Submission Becomes an Album?
If your submission becomes available as an Album you'll be notified by email. From there, you can preview or update your Album from your account. Albums only appear on the live Profile of Members.
What If There's an Error With My Submission?
If a major error occurred or inappropriate content was submitted, you'll receive a notification explaining why, and the submission won't become a Feature or an Album. We encourage you to resubmit following these guidelines and email hello@caratsandcake.com so we can move your resubmission back up in the queue.
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