Why This Certification Matters
Here’s the thing – a destination wedding is still a wedding first.
The resort matters. Of course it does. But so does the ceremony flow, the backup plan, the room block, the guest experience, and the team responsible for carrying the day once everyone arrives.
That is why I care about training that happens in person.
I want to meet the wedding teams. Walk the venues. Understand the packages. See how a property handles ceremony locations, cocktail hours, receptions, weather plans, guest movement, and all the small decisions that shape how the week actually feels.
A resort can photograph beautifully and still be the wrong fit.
I’m looking at these properties through the lens of a wedding professional – not just a travel advisor. I want to know how far the ceremony space is from the rooms. Where the reception moves if weather rolls in. Whether the package actually fits the guest count. Whether the wedding team feels organized before there is a problem to solve.
Those are the details that do not always show up in a brochure.
In November 2023, I completed the WOW Specialist certification in person through AIC Hotel Group’s Weddings on the Water program, held at Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta. The training focused on destination weddings at Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, along with UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya.
It gave me a closer look at the venues, packages, planning process, and on-site wedding teams couples rely on once they arrive.
That is the work behind the recommendation.
The official press release is included below as originally issued.
Dana Braun of Aisle + Away Travel Co. Earns WOW Specialist Certification from AIC Hotel Group
[Detroit, Michigan] – [December 15, 2023] – Dana Braun, founder of Aisle + Away Travel Co., has earned WOW Specialist certification through AIC Hotel Group’s Weddings on the Water Travel Advisor Specialist Program.
The program, held November 5-7, 2023, at Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, is designed for a select group of destination wedding travel advisors working with AIC Hotel Group’s wedding and resort portfolio, including Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic and UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya. The training focused on the wedding booking process, resort-specific product knowledge, group travel logistics, and the on-site experience couples and guests move through during a destination wedding week.
For Braun, the certification adds another layer to the work Aisle + Away already does for couples planning weddings away from home – helping them choose the right resort, understand what the guest experience will actually feel like, and avoid decisions that look good online but fall apart in real life.
“A destination wedding is still a wedding,” said Braun. “That sounds obvious, but it is the part people tend to overlook. I want to know who is running the day, how the spaces work, where guests will gather, what happens if weather rolls in, and whether the package makes sense for the couple in front of me. Meeting the wedding teams and walking the venues gives me a much better sense of what I am really recommending.”
As part of the WOW Specialist program, Braun received training on the full wedding planning and booking process for participating properties, along with direct access to on-site wedding teams. That first-hand connection allows Aisle + Away to better support couples through the practical, less-visible parts of destination wedding planning – room blocks, guest travel, wedding timelines, resort flow, and the small operational details that can shape the entire week.
The program also included access to AIC Hotel Group’s All In Weddings platform, created to support destination wedding planning through brand education, sales and marketing resources, and advisor tools.
“With WOW, we’ve created a program that goes beyond just an educational platform and has transformed into a multi-dimensional tool that arms our destination wedding travel partners with the resources needed to sell the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels of Mexico and the Dominican Republic, and UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya,” said Ash Tembe, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for AIC Hotel Group. “Specialist agents such as Dana Braun are helping us give clients the ultimate, all-inclusive destination wedding and honeymoon experience.”
To inquire about planning a destination wedding or honeymoon with Aisle + Away Travel Co., visit aisleaway.com or contact hello@aisleaway.com
About Aisle + Away Travel Co.
Aisle + Away Travel Co. designs destination weddings, honeymoons, and group travel experiences for couples who care about how a place feels – not just how it photographs.
Led by Dana Braun, the company specializes in thoughtful resort selection, guest travel management, and wedding-week planning support for couples getting married away from home. The work is edited, intentional, and grounded in real destination knowledge – because the right property should make the entire week feel considered, not complicated.
About AIC Hotel Group
AIC Hotel Group represents a portfolio of hotel and resort brands across the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean, including Hard Rock Hotels, UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya, Nobu Hotels, and related hospitality properties. AIC Hotel Group also supports travel advisors and wedding professionals through platforms including All In Weddings and All In Agents. Current AIC Hotel Group materials describe the company as offering hotel stays, vacation experiences, wedding solutions, and travel advisor resources.
December 18, 2023
Dana Braun
