Blog
Micro-Weddings & Elopements: Why Couples Are Going Small (and Going Far)
The Quick Answer A micro-wedding is a small, fully planned celebration, usually 10 to 30 guests, with a ceremony, dinner, and the details that matter most to you. An elopement is even smaller: just the two of you, or a handful of loved ones, focused almost entirely on...
Wedding Planner vs. Resort Wedding Coordinator: Who Does What for Your Destination Wedding?
A resort onsite wedding coordinator manages the ceremony and reception at the property, while a certified wedding planner and destination wedding travel advisor guides you from your first idea through resort selection, booking, guest travel, and planning, and works on...
What Couples Should Ask Before Hiring a Destination Wedding Travel Advisor
Planning a wedding in another country is one of the most exciting decisions a couple can make, and also one of the most logistically complex. Between resort contracts, guest travel, legal paperwork, currency differences, and vendor coordination, the right destination...
Why LGBTQ+ Couples Deserve Safer, More Thoughtful Destination Wedding Planning
Planning a destination wedding is already a complex, emotional process. For LGBTQ+ couples, it carries an additional layer most heterosexual couples never have to think about: whether the country, the resort, and even the officiant will actually recognize and welcome...
The Difference Between a Travel Advisor and Someone With Access to a Booking Platform
Anyone can get access to a booking platform. A weekend course, a host agency sign-up, and a login is all it takes. What that access does not come with is the judgment, relationships, and accountability that turn a reservation into a well-planned trip. That distinction...
How Much Does a Destination Wedding Really Cost? A 2026 Budget Guide
Most destination weddings cost between $5,000 and $15,000 for an all-inclusive resort package covering the ceremony, reception, and the couple's stay — well under the $34,200 average cost of a traditional U.S. wedding reported in The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study....
Why Destination Weddings Require More Than a Booking Link
A couple recently told me they almost booked their entire destination wedding through a resort's online booking link. Thirty guests, a ceremony abroad, a week of travel — all of it riding on a web form designed to sell hotel rooms. They caught themselves before...
What My Background in Technology Taught Me About Travel Planning
Twenty-seven years ago, I started building a career in enterprise technology. I didn't know then that every system I learned to test, every product I learned to own, and every process I learned to refine would one day show up in how I plan a couple's wedding week in...
Advocacy Rooted in Lived Experience
My LGBTQ+ lived experience is what allows me to advocate authentically and unapologetically for my LGBTQ+ travelers. I don't check a box because a resort waves a rainbow flag, and I don't take another professional's word for it that a hotel, vendor, or service...
Why Values Matter: What LGBTQ+ Travelers Look for in a Destination
And how to choose a place that actually feels like belonging — not just somewhere you visited. By Shawndra Long, Illusionz Travel, LLC | LGBTQ+ Wedding Certified (Equality Institute) | IGLTA Member | DWHSA Member If you've ever researched a destination and found...
Shawndra Long
LGBTQ Certified Wedding Planner
Shawndra is a Certified Wedding Planner known for her attention to detail and creative vision. She specializes in designing personalized weddings that reflect each couple’s unique style and story.
With strong organizational skills and a calm, professional approach, Shawndra ensures every event runs smoothly from start to finish. She is dedicated to turning dream weddings into beautifully executed realities.