diff --git a/includes/Core/Notifications/EmailManager.php b/includes/Core/Notifications/EmailManager.php
index 9a6b797..1eb6643 100644
--- a/includes/Core/Notifications/EmailManager.php
+++ b/includes/Core/Notifications/EmailManager.php
@@ -361,11 +361,20 @@ class EmailManager {
 	private function is_event_enabled($event_id, $channel_id, $recipient_type) {
 		$settings = get_option('woonoow_notification_settings', []);
 		
-		// Check if event exists and channel is enabled
+		// Check if event exists and channel is configured
 		if (isset($settings['events'][$event_id]['channels'][$channel_id])) {
 			return $settings['events'][$event_id]['channels'][$channel_id]['enabled'] ?? false;
 		}
 		
+		// Default: enable email notifications if not explicitly configured
+		// This allows the plugin to work out-of-the-box with default templates
+		if ($channel_id === 'email') {
+			if (defined('WP_DEBUG') && WP_DEBUG) {
+				error_log('[EmailManager] Event not configured, using default: enabled');
+			}
+			return true; // Enable by default
+		}
+		
 		return false;
 	}
 	
diff --git a/includes/Core/Notifications/EmailRenderer.php b/includes/Core/Notifications/EmailRenderer.php
index a7a8a05..e8383d3 100644
--- a/includes/Core/Notifications/EmailRenderer.php
+++ b/includes/Core/Notifications/EmailRenderer.php
@@ -81,13 +81,20 @@ class EmailRenderer {
 	 * @return array|null
 	 */
 	private function get_template_settings($event_id, $recipient_type) {
-		// Get saved template
-		$template = TemplateProvider::get_template($event_id, 'email');
+		// Get saved template (with recipient_type for proper default template lookup)
+		$template = TemplateProvider::get_template($event_id, 'email', $recipient_type);
 		
 		if (!$template) {
+			if (defined('WP_DEBUG') && WP_DEBUG) {
+				error_log('[EmailRenderer] No template found for event: ' . $event_id . ', recipient: ' . $recipient_type);
+			}
 			return null;
 		}
 		
+		if (defined('WP_DEBUG') && WP_DEBUG) {
+			error_log('[EmailRenderer] Template found - Subject: ' . ($template['subject'] ?? 'no subject'));
+		}
+		
 		// Get design template preference
 		$settings = get_option('woonoow_notification_settings', []);
 		$design = $settings['email_design_template'] ?? 'modern';