Blog
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...
Average Cost of a Destination Wedding: What to Expect in 2027
By Shawndra Long | Certified Wedding Planner | Destination Wedding Specialist The average cost of a destination wedding ranges from $10,000 to $35,000, depending on the destination, number of guests, resort package, and services selected. Compared to the national...
Where I Would Send You: My Favorite LGBTQ+ Destination Wedding Locations in the Caribbean & Central America
I want to talk to you directly for a moment — not as a planner, but as a person. I am a Black woman who identifies as LGBTQ+. I live authentically and unapologetically. And I built my career in travel and destination wedding planning, in part, because I know what it...
Why I Believe Travel Planning Should Be Personal, Not Transactional
Let me ask you something. When was the last time a website asked how you were doing before it booked your flight? When did an algorithm stop to find out that you are celebrating 10 years of choosing each other every single day — and that this trip needs to be more...
Newly Engaged? Stop. Read This Before Booking Your Destination Wedding.
The biggest destination wedding mistakes happen before couples even realize they're making them. In this free guide, Illusionz Destination Weddings & Illusionz Travel share industry secrets, hidden costs, common planning pitfalls, and expert insights that every...
How to Plan a Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Together
Without Planning Two Separate Trips By Shawndra Long | Certified Wedding Planner & LGBTQ+ Romance Travel Specialist Illusionz Travel, LLC| Illusionz Destination Weddings shawndralong.com There is a question that newly engaged couples are starting to ask more and...
How To Know If You Can Trust a Travel Advisor Before Booking
Author:Shawndra Long | Certified Wedding Planner & Travel Advisor, Illusionz Travel, LLC There is something vulnerable about handing your vacation — or your wedding — over to someone else. You are trusting them with your time, your money, and in many cases, one of...
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.