Accredited Business
Code of Conduct

MARRYMARK ACCREDITED BUSINESS CODE OF CONDUCT
Version: 1.1
Effective date: 15 January 2026
Owner: MarryMark Pty Ltd (ACN 689 159 064) (“MarryMark”, “we”, “us”, “our”)

Who these Terms apply to

MarryMark Business Accreditation is issued to business entities in the following tiers: 5 Star, 6 Star, and 7 Star, each at Silver and Gold levels.

These Business Accreditation Terms apply to:

  1. any business applying for MarryMark Business Accreditation; and

  2. any business that holds, renews, or uses a MarryMark business accreditation tier or badge.

These Terms apply only to the legal entity and any trading name(s) recorded on the MarryMark accreditation record, and only within the verified service category/categories and any recorded scope limitations.

Your exact tier, level, scope, and accreditation period are set out in your MarryMark accreditation record (for example: 6 Star Gold). You must only claim and use badges for the tier and level you have been issued, while current and in good standing.

For the Certified Wedding Professional (CWP) individual credential, separate CWP Credential Terms apply.

1) Purpose of Business Accreditation

MarryMark business accreditation exists to raise trust in the wedding industry by identifying, verifying, and elevating businesses that consistently deliver excellence.

A MarryMark accredited business is expected to operate with evidence-based professionalism, reliable systems, documented practices, and ethical conduct that holds under real-world pressure, not simply marketing claims.

2) Guiding Principles (Foundation)

As a MarryMark accredited business, we commit to:

  • Integrity (truthful, ethical, accountable conduct)
  • Consumer Fairness (clear terms, fair dealing, no sharp practice)
  • Professional Competence & Due Care (capable, current, diligent delivery)
  • Reliability Under Pressure (systems that work when things change)
  • Confidentiality & Privacy (respectful handling of client information)
  • Professional Conduct (respectful behaviour that protects trust)
  • Transparency (clear, documented expectations and decisions)

3) Core Business Commitments (Non-Negotiables)

We will:

  1. Put couples first, while operating lawfully, safely, and respectfully with venues, suppliers, guests, and communities.
  2. Represent our business truthfully - experience, pricing, capacity, inclusions/exclusions, outcomes, and accreditation status.
  3. Operate with evidence-based systems (documents, workflows, checklists, records, change control, risk planning).
  4. Deliver what we sell - no bait-and-switch, no hidden substitutions, no misleading “premium” positioning.
  5. Protect the integrity of MarryMark - including verification standards, badge use rules, audits, and complaints processes.

4) Contracting & Consumer Fairness

We will use contracting practices that are clear, fair, and compliant with applicable consumer and fair-trading laws.

At a minimum, we will:

  • Provide written quotes/estimates and clearly define scope, inclusions, exclusions, and assumptions.
  • Use written agreements that are understandable and reflect the true deal (price, deliverables, timing, responsibilities, limitation/contingency terms).
  • Avoid unfair, confusing, or coercive terms, including:
    • unclear cancellation/refund conditions
    • surprise fees
    • pressure selling
    • changing key terms late without genuine consent
  • Explain deposit/retainer purpose, payment schedules, and what triggers additional fees.
  • Set out change request procedures (how changes are approved, priced, and documented).
  • Disclose any minimum spends, venue restrictions, travel fees, overtime, bump-in/out terms, or “external factors” that affect delivery.
  • Provide a fair pathway for dispute resolution, including escalation steps and timelines.

5) Financial Integrity & Client Money Handling

Where we handle client funds, we will:

  • Provide transparent invoicing and receipts, and keep accurate records.
  • State deposit/retainer, milestone, and final payment requirements clearly.
  • Treat cancellations, postponements, credits, and refunds fairly and consistently in line with written terms and applicable law.
  • Not misrepresent costs, mark-ups, or pass-through charges.
  • Not misuse, delay, or misdirect client payments.

6) Subcontractors, Staff & Third-Party Responsibility

If we use employees, contractors, second shooters, assistants, DJs, associate planners, stylists, or any subcontracted delivery team, we remain accountable for the promised outcome.

We will:

  • Disclose to clients when delivery will be subcontracted or assigned (where relevant), including role clarity and supervision arrangements.
  • Ensure subcontractors are competent, briefed, and aligned with our service standards.
  • Maintain written agreements with subcontractors that cover:
    • confidentiality and privacy
    • brand conduct and professionalism
    • client experience expectations
    • safety obligations
    • handover requirements
    • non-misuse of MarryMark badges/claims
  • Verify subcontractors hold any required licences/registrations and appropriate insurances for their role (where applicable).
  • Take reasonable steps to ensure subcontractors do not engage in misleading conduct, discrimination, unsafe practice, or unethical behaviour.

7) Operational Continuity & Contingency Planning

Because weddings are time-critical, we will maintain practical continuity plans that protect couples when the unexpected happens.

We will maintain and be able to demonstrate:

  • A continuity plan for key-person illness/emergency (handover readiness, alternate staff, associate coverage, or replacement pathway where feasible).
  • A contingency plan for common risks relevant to our category, such as:
    • equipment failure (backup gear, spares, redundancy)
    • weather disruption (wet-weather alternatives, timelines, protection)
    • transport delays (buffers, rerouting, contact protocols)
    • vendor failure (supplier backups or escalation plan)
    • digital failures (file backups, run sheets, offline access)
  • A clear on-the-day escalation process (who decides, who communicates, what gets documented).
  • A commitment to communicate early if capacity to deliver is materially impacted.

8) Service Delivery Standards & Evidence-Based Operations

We will:

  • Only accept work we can deliver professionally with our current capacity, capability, and resources.
  • Maintain operational systems appropriate to our category, such as:
    • checklists, run sheets, production schedules
    • approvals and sign-offs
    • timelines and stakeholder briefings
    • version control for key documents
    • incident logs where relevant
  • Maintain an audit trail of key decisions, scope changes, approvals, and critical event details (where feasible).
  • Uphold professional communication standards: respectful tone, timely responses, and calm leadership under pressure.

9) Advertising, Reviews & Badge-Claim Integrity

MarryMark is a verified standard. Marketing must match reality.

We will:

  • Market our business truthfully and not misrepresent:
    • accreditation tier/status
    • verification outcomes
    • awards, testimonials, endorsements, or results
  • Use MarryMark badges only in accordance with MarryMark badge rules, including:
    • using only the badge issued to our business and tier
    • not altering, recreating, or “lookalike” badging
    • not lending, transferring, sublicensing, or allowing third parties to use our badge
    • not implying MarryMark endorses services outside the accredited scope
  • Remove badges/claims immediately if accreditation lapses, is suspended, or revoked, within MarryMark’s specified timeframe.
  • Ensure staff and subcontractors do not make inaccurate accreditation claims on our behalf.

10) Insurance, Safety & Governance Expectations

We will maintain responsible business governance appropriate to our service type, scale, and jurisdiction, including (where applicable):

  • Current business registration and compliance obligations.
  • Appropriate insurance coverage for our category, such as:
    • public liability
    • professional indemnity (where advice/design/specification risk exists)
    • workers compensation / employee coverage (where required)
    • equipment/vehicle cover where relevant
  • Safety and duty-of-care practices appropriate to our operations (e.g., risk controls, venue compliance, safe work practices).
  • Ethical workplace standards: lawful engagement of staff/contractors and respectful work environments.

11) Privacy, Confidentiality & Media Use

We will:

  • Treat client information (budgets, addresses, schedules, family dynamics, personal details) as confidential unless permission is granted or required by law.
  • Only use images, testimonials, or wedding content with appropriate permissions.
  • Store client data securely and limit access to those who need it to deliver services.

12) Respect, Inclusion & Professional Equality

We will deliver services free from discrimination and uphold inclusive practice across culture, faith, gender, sexuality, disability, and identity.

We will:

  • Respect cultural and religious protocols and plan with sensitivity.
  • Treat accessibility needs as essential operational requirements, not afterthoughts.
  • Ensure our team and subcontractors uphold respectful conduct.

13) Supplier, Venue & Industry Conduct

We will:

  • Treat venues and suppliers as professional partners.
  • Provide accurate briefs, timelines, and updates to reduce errors and stress.
  • Handle disputes promptly, professionally, and fairly.
  • Avoid unfair public disparagement, harassment, or blame culture.

14) Verification Integrity, Records & Audit Cooperation

MarryMark accreditation relies on evidence.

We will:

  • Provide truthful evidence during application and re-verification.
  • Not fabricate, manipulate, or misrepresent documentation, reviews, portfolios, insurance, or operational records.
  • Cooperate with reasonable requests for information, spot checks, or audits for credential integrity (subject to confidentiality and lawful requirements).
  • Maintain a posture of accountability aligned to MarryMark’s standards and improvement pathway.

15) Continuous Improvement & Standards Maintenance

We will:

  • Maintain and improve our systems over time based on feedback, reflection, and learning.
  • Meet MarryMark’s minimum ongoing development expectations (as set from time to time), including any requirements tied to tiered accreditation.
  • Support professional development for key staff responsible for delivery quality.

16) Complaints, Dispute Handling & Cooperation

We agree to:

  • Maintain a fair internal complaints process and respond within reasonable timeframes.
  • Participate constructively in MarryMark complaints processes where our accreditation integrity is involved.
  • Not retaliate against clients, staff, subcontractors, or suppliers who raise concerns in good faith.

17) Breach & Sanctions

We understand MarryMark may impose actions including:

  • Corrective actions / improvement requirements
  • Formal warning
  • Suspension of business accreditation status
  • Revocation of accreditation and badge rights
  • Status update where policy requires and is lawful

Serious breaches include (not limited to): dishonesty, fabricated evidence, misleading badge claims, unsafe practice, discrimination, misuse of client funds, repeated misconduct, or refusal to cooperate with audits/investigations.

18) Definitions (for clarity)

  • Accreditation tier/status: The verified business level awarded by MarryMark (e.g., tiered rating such as 5/6/7 star Silver/Gold or equivalent), valid only while current and in good standing.
  • Badge/claim integrity: Using only the correct issued badge, for the correct scope and timeframe, without exaggeration or implication of broader endorsement.
  • Subcontractor: Any non-employee engaged to deliver any part of the service.
  • Audit trail: A reliable record of approvals, decisions, scope changes, and critical event details sufficient to demonstrate professional practice.

19) Declaration

By signing, we affirm that we have read and understood this Business Code of Conduct and agree to comply with it as a condition of holding MarryMark business accreditation.