Resume

Destination wedding planning with real resort experience.

Dana Braun is a destination wedding planner and the founder of Aisle + Away Travel Co., with more than eleven years in destination wedding travel and over 160 resorts personally visited, researched, or vetted.

Now really get to know her and the team below.

Behind the Planning

I do the R&D before you say “I do.”

Real site visits. Real wedding weekends. Real “would I send my couples here?” research.

Hi, I’m Dana. I’ve flown in tiny planes, drank the coconuts, toured the venues, tested the transfers, met the staff, danced the night away, and occasionally risked my life for the gram... all in the name of wedding research.

I spend real time in destination because you cannot understand a wedding weekend from a rate sheet or a polished resort deck. I want to know how the property feels when guests arrive, how the team handles events, where the ceremony spaces actually sit, and what couples are not being told upfront.

I’m watching how guests move through the property, walking the ceremony spaces, asking the awkward logistics questions, checking room block realities, and noticing the details couples should not have to discover the hard way.

Because a resort can look beautiful online and still be wrong for your wedding.

See the field notes

Field Notes

What firsthand research actually looks like.

I spend a lot of time in destination because I want to know what couples and guests are actually walking into. I’ve visited Cancun alone more than 30 times, toured more resorts than I can count, tested transfers, walked ceremony spaces, met on-site teams, and paid attention to the details that never make it into the brochure.

Dana getting footage at Impressions Moxche Capturing Photos for Couples
Dana waking up in the jungle during a scouting trip Early Jungle Wakeup Calls
Dana sailing on a catamaran used for welcome events Welcome Event Research
Dana covered in foam during resort research Foam Party R&D
Dana taking destination transfers Guest Transfers Tested
Dana taking a cooking class at Impressions Isla Mujeres Cooking Classes
Dana with trusted destination wedding suppliers Supplier Partnerships
Dana sailing to Monkey Island in Costa Rica Island Trekking
Champagne and chocolates at La Casa de la Playa Rooftop Shenanigans
Dana getting henna at a South Asian event South Asian Flair
Dana visiting a palace wedding location Posting At Palaces
Dana high above San Miguel for wedding research San Miguel Heights
Dana drinking coconuts during destination research Too Many Coconuts

Swipe to see more field notes.

Our Journey to the Aisle

The experience behind the work.

I took the long way here - through event design, guest travel, resort relationships, group contracts, destination training, leadership roles, and real wedding weekends. That is why Aisle + Away is not built like a booking agency. It is built for the whole wedding experience.

2011

It all began in Michigan

I took a different path than most destination wedding advisors. I started at a Michigan event company specializing in weddings and large-scale tented events. I worked directly with couples, parents, planners, and every opinion in the room to build custom layouts in CAD - from linens and lighting to flatware, tables, chairs, and the flow of the entire event. It was detailed, high-volume, hands-on work, and it taught me how weddings actually function before I ever touched the travel side.

Large outdoor wedding tent reception in Michigan representing Dana Braun’s early career designing custom wedding layouts and large-scale events in 2011
Dana with Lauren, an Aisle + Away bride
“

Real Bride Proof

The kind of support you feel on the wedding day.

“I cannot imagine traveling to Mexico for our wedding... without Dana.”

Dana with Lauren, an Aisle + Away bride

Lauren trusted Aisle + Away with her engagement trip, her wedding, her guests, and the kind of details that let her actually enjoy the celebration she had been dreaming about.

Our Values

Thoughtful travel planning, for every kind of love.

At Aisle + Away, we do not make assumptions about your relationship, your guests, your priorities, or what your wedding should look like. We listen first, plan with respect, and help you build a destination wedding experience that feels like yours. Whoever you are, however you love, you belong here.

01

Built Around Your People

Your guest list matters as much as your resort choice. We look at who is traveling with you, what they need, and how the weekend should actually feel once everyone arrives.

02

Inclusivity

LGBTQI+ couples, blended families, cultural traditions, nontraditional timelines, complicated guest dynamics - you do not have to over-explain yourself here. Respect is the baseline.

03

Thoughtful Direction

We will tell you when a resort makes sense, when it does not, and what your guests are likely to experience once they arrive. The goal is not more options. It is better decisions.

The Receipts

Real experience, not just pretty travel photos.

11+

Years in destination wedding travel

160+

Resorts visited, researched, or vetted

3,000+

Couples and guests traveled

37

Awards, certifications, and recognitions

Recognized, Certified, and Trusted

A small snapshot of the work behind the work.

Over the years, I’ve racked up many more certifications, specialist trainings, awards, and industry recognitions than could ever fit neatly on one page. One of my proudest accomplishments is serving many years with the International Association of Destination Wedding Professionals as a US Chapter Head.

Tap a credential to see more.

The Team Behind the Weekend

Small team. Serious support.

Aisle + Away feels personal because it is. But every wedding weekend still needs structure - planning systems, guest records, deadlines, room blocks, and the small moving pieces couples should not have to chase.

Dana from Aisle + Away

Owner + Advisor

Dana

Leads resort matching, planning strategy, couple communication, and the decisions that shape the full wedding weekend.

Kaitlyn from Aisle + Away

Administrator

Kaitlyn

Keeps the systems, details, communication, and internal organization moving so nothing important gets lost.

Chulo office support

Office Support

Chulo

Morale department. Calendar supervision. Occasional keyboard assistance. Usually heard saying hello on check-in calls.

Supporting Partners

The back end has a team.

Our group space and compliance partners help keep the unglamorous pieces clean - room block terms, resort deadlines, guest records, and the paperwork couples should not have to chase.

Kristen H.

Group Space Manager

Emily M.

Group Space Manager

Janet P.

Compliance Specialist

Not Ready to Talk Yet?

Start with the Aisle + Guide.

If you are still researching, the guide walks you through how destination weddings actually work... timelines, guest travel, room blocks, and the questions to ask before you book.

Timelines, destinations, planning strategy, guest travel. The same starting point I give every couple who works with me.

Destination wedding dress surrounded by tropical palms

Let’s Work Together

Ready for a wedding worth the flight?

Planning your dream wedding starts here. By scheduling a consultation, you will get expert guidance, personalized recommendations, and a clear path from overwhelmed to organized.

  • We talk through your vision, preferences, and guest needs.
  • I explain what is realistic based on your date, budget, and destination goals.
  • You leave with a clearer next step.
Get the guide first

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