Why This Certification Matters to Me
Here’s the thing – LGBTQ+ inclusive destination wedding planning is not only for LGBTQ+ couples.
It matters for every couple planning a wedding away from home.
Because when you invite people to travel for your wedding, you are choosing more than a resort. You are choosing the country, the property, the vendor team, the language, and the overall experience you and your guests are walking into.
And not every guest will experience that the same way.
Some couples know they have LGBTQ+ friends, family members, or wedding party members traveling with them.
Some may not.
Either way, those guests deserve to feel just as valued, comfortable, and welcomed as everyone else there.
Not singled out.
Not tolerated.
Not treated like someone made room for them as an exception.
Valued.
That is what this certification means to me.
It means I know what to look for when choosing countries, resorts, and vendor teams. It means I am paying attention to how properties have treated LGBTQ+ couples and guests in real life – not just what they say in a brochure.
And no, that does not mean every resort needs to fly a Pride flag.
It means the welcome needs to feel genuine.
The language needs to be thoughtful.
The staff needs to understand who they are serving.
The couple and their guests need to feel just as respected as anyone else celebrating there.
It also means having these conversations early.
Because not every destination is the same. Not every resort is the same. Some places are more experienced, more informed, and more comfortable supporting LGBTQ+ travelers than others. That is something couples may not know to ask about when they are choosing where to get married… but I do.
This certification gives structure to something I already care deeply about: making sure destination weddings are planned with the full guest experience in mind.
The couple matters… and so do the people standing beside them, traveling for them, celebrating with them, and trusting that the place they are going will treat them with the same care as everyone else.
That is why I build my company’s mission around: “Whoever you love, however you love… you belong here.” And I stand by that. Completely.
Below is the official press release.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dana Braun of Aisle + Away Travel Co. Strengthens Commitment to LGBTQ+ Destination Weddings Through Equality Institute Certification
Oak Park, MI – Dana Braun, founder of Aisle + Away Travel Co., has completed certification through the Equality Institute, further strengthening her work with LGBTQ+ couples planning destination weddings and group travel celebrations.
With more than a decade of experience designing destination weddings around the world, Braun’s work focuses on the full guest experience – not only the couple getting married, but the family, friends, and chosen family traveling with them.
“A destination wedding is not just about the two people getting married,” Braun said. “It is about the people they are bringing with them. Their families. Their friends. Their chosen family. Everyone deserves to arrive feeling respected, comfortable, and cared for.”
As a Certified Destination Wedding & Group Travel Expert and Equality Institute graduate, Braun works with LGBTQ+-affirming destinations, resorts, and vendor teams. Her planning process considers the details that can shape a guest’s experience long before the wedding day itself, including destination selection, resort policies, vendor communication, guest-facing language, travel logistics, and on-site support.
“Inclusive planning has to be practical,” Braun said. “It is not just a statement on a website. It is how people are greeted, how questions are answered, how assumptions are avoided, and how much thought has gone into the experience before anyone arrives.”
Braun’s approach is rooted in proactive planning, with an emphasis on reducing uncertainty for couples and guests traveling internationally. From evaluating destination laws and resort practices to coordinating with on-site teams, her work is designed to help couples feel supported before, during, and after the wedding week.
“I do not ever want a couple or a guest to feel like they have to figure it out once they are already abroad,” Braun said. “My job is to think several steps ahead so they do not have to.”
Through Aisle + Away Travel Co., Braun continues to advocate for destination wedding planning that is thoughtful, informed, and inclusive – where beauty, logistics, and responsibility are treated as part of the same standard.
About Aisle + Away Travel Co.
Aisle + Away Travel Co. is a destination wedding and group travel planning company founded by Dana Braun and based in Oak Park, Michigan. The company specializes in destination weddings, group travel celebrations, and travel experiences designed with a high level of care, discretion, and logistical support.
June 11, 2023
Dana Braun
