As someone who’s spent years helping Kansas businesses modernize their digital presence here at MKS Web Design, I’ve noticed a recurring challenge: business owners want powerful booking systems that feel native to their brand, not just another embedded Calendly widget. That’s why I’m excited to share my experience integrating WP Amelia with Bricks Builder and Oxygen Builder—a game-changing combination that gives you complete control over your booking experience.
Let me be honest: Calendly works fine for basic scheduling. But when my clients need something more sophisticated—something that truly represents their brand and handles complex booking scenarios—I turn to WP Amelia.
Here’s what sets Amelia apart from simple schedulers: it’s a native WordPress booking experience. Your customers book directly on your site, you collect payments immediately through Stripe or PayPal, you manage multiple employees and locations, and you automate every notification. I’ve implemented Amelia for fitness studios managing group classes, consultants coordinating team meetings, and service businesses handling recurring appointments. The system supports all of it.
The platform offers over a dozen integrations, including Google Calendar, Outlook, Zoom, and various payment gateways. For businesses serious about automation and branding, it’s a no-brainer investment.
I’ll be straight with you: Amelia doesn’t have native Bricks Builder modules (yet). But that hasn’t stopped me from creating beautiful, fully-integrated booking experiences. Here’s my approach.
The integration relies on WordPress shortcodes, which actually gives me more flexibility than a dedicated module would. Here’s my workflow:
I’ve found this method gives me complete layout control. I can wrap the booking form in custom containers, add conditional logic to show different booking options based on user behavior, and leverage Bricks’ responsive controls to ensure perfect mobile experiences.
This YouTube tutorial walks through the process visually if you prefer to see it in action.
For my Oxygen Builder projects, I follow a similar path. The key is inserting Amelia’s shortcode into a Code Block or Shortcode element within Oxygen’s visual editor.
I’ll save you some headache by sharing the issues I’ve encountered and solved:
Problem: Booking form doesn’t render correctly
Solution: Check if you’re mixing old and new Amelia form types on the same page. Stick with one format.
Problem: Form appears but doesn’t function
Solution: Usually a caching or JavaScript optimization conflict. If you’re using WP Rocket or similar plugins, disable JavaScript minification for pages with Amelia forms.
Problem: Styling looks broken
Solution: Ensure your theme’s CSS isn’t overriding Amelia’s styles. Use browser inspector to identify conflicts.
The Oxygen Builder community has been helpful when I’ve hit unusual edge cases.
What I love about Amelia is the real-time WYSIWYG customization. I can adjust colors, fonts, button styles, and field layouts to perfectly match my client’s brand—no custom CSS required (though I add it when needed).
Recent updates introduced enhanced design customization tools that make the process even smoother. I can create multi-step booking flows, add custom fields for specific information, and even show different forms based on service type.
For a recent project with a Kansas fitness studio, I built a booking portal that handles:
All of this runs natively on their WordPress site, maintaining their brand experience from start to finish.
Let me break down why I choose Amelia over Calendly for most client projects:
| Feature | WP Amelia | Calendly |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress Native Integration | Yes (Plugin) | No (External) |
| Custom Form & Service Branding | Extensive | Limited |
| Payment Gateways | Stripe, PayPal, Mollie, RazorPay & more | Stripe, PayPal (limited plans) |
| Employee & Location Management | Full multi-staff/location support | Limited |
| Automated Notifications | Fully customizable | Only on higher plans |
| Pricing Model | One-time purchase available | Subscription only |
| Recurring Bookings & Packages | Yes | No |
| Customer Management | Advanced CRM features | Basic |
| Integration with Bricks/Oxygen | Yes (shortcode embedding) | No native integration |
According to detailed comparisons, Amelia is significantly more cost-effective for agencies and businesses that depend heavily on bookings and want to maintain brand consistency.
One of my favorite implementations was for a local Kansas fitness studio. They needed clients to book classes, pay for coaching packages, and receive confirmation emails—all without leaving their website.
Using Bricks Builder, I created a visually engaging layout with class schedules, instructor profiles, and integrated booking forms. Amelia powered the backend, handling:
The result? A streamlined, professional booking portal that rivals any SaaS solution, but with complete ownership and control. No monthly Calendly fees eating into their budget, no branding conflicts, and no customer data leaving their WordPress site.
When I start a new Amelia integration project, here’s my process:
Beyond basic booking, I regularly use these advanced Amelia features:
Custom Fields: Collect specific information during booking (dietary restrictions, equipment preferences, T-shirt sizes)
Packages and Recurring Appointments: Sell class bundles or set up weekly recurring sessions
Coupons and Discounts: Create promotional codes for marketing campaigns
Multi-Location Management: Handle bookings across different business locations
Employee Management: Assign specific staff to services and manage their individual calendars
Waiting Lists: Automatically notify customers when spots open up in full classes
You might wonder why I recommend this more complex setup when Calendly or similar tools exist. Here’s my reasoning:
Brand Consistency: Your booking experience looks and feels like your brand, not a third-party tool
Data Ownership: All customer information stays in your WordPress database
Cost Effectiveness: One-time purchase vs. ongoing monthly subscriptions (especially at scale)
Flexibility: Customize every aspect of the booking flow to match your business processes
Integration Depth: Native WordPress means seamless integration with your membership plugins, CRM, email marketing, and more
For businesses serious about customer experience and long-term cost management, the initial investment in proper integration pays off quickly.
If you’re considering implementing this system, here’s what I suggest:
The learning curve exists, but it’s manageable. I’ve had clients running their own booking systems confidently within days of training.
If you want to dive deeper into WP Amelia:
I’ve implemented this exact setup for dozens of Kansas businesses—from yoga studios to consulting firms to medical practices. The combination of WP Amelia with Bricks Builder or Oxygen Builder creates a powerful, professional booking experience that puts you in complete control.
Whether you’re looking to replace Calendly, build a custom booking portal from scratch, or enhance your existing WordPress site with professional scheduling capabilities, I’d love to help you build the perfect solution for your business.
Want advice on custom implementation? Contact me at MKS Web Design for a free consultation. Let’s build your perfect booking experience together.
