PASSPORTS and PROMISES

Big family, long relationship, tight budget, and way too many opinions. Joshua and Abena were staring down the kind of guest list that turns a wedding into a full-time job. Instead, they chose a destination wedding at Moon Palace Cancun and used location, logistics, and a little psychology as a “polite filter” that kept the peace and kept their day small enough to enjoy. In this episode of Passpor...

Most group trips end with at least three people never speaking again. Marcy has planned four of them, and everyone's still friends. On this episode of Passports and Promises, host Shalene sits down with one of her very first clients to figure out how she pulled that off. Marcy organized her sorority's 25th line anniversary trip to Costa Rica using an actual democratic poll, navigated Paris with he...

In this episode of Passports and Promises, Shalene reunites with Michael Morimoto and David Geist to discuss their 98-guest destination wedding at Secrets Moxché in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. What started as wedding planning overwhelm with destinations ranging from Greece to the Dominican Republic became a masterclass in detail-oriented planning, thanks to the couples' spreadsheet savvy and creativ...

What started as a sun-drenched ceremony in the over-the-water chapel turned into an unforgettable indoor celebration when tropical rains sent the entire group sprinting for cover. With 26 rooms full of educators finally traveling after pandemic lockdowns, the energy was electric, and even the resort staff called them "one of the most fun groups we've had in weeks." In this episode of Passports and...

Not all destination wedding stories involve chaos and disaster. Sometimes, careful planning, the right venue, and experienced coordination create celebrations that couples remember fondly years later. In this episode of Passports & Promises with Shalene, Kimberly shares her 2018 Dreams Onyx wedding story that proves destination weddings can be both cost-effective and flawless. Referred by her...

Some destination weddings have minor hiccups. Lindsey DaSilva's 2018 Costa Rica celebration had twelve major disasters that would make most couples cancel everything. In this episode of Passports & Promises with Shalene, Lindsey  shares her legendary Dreams Las Mareas wedding story with the humor and perspective that got her through it all. Her mother-in-law got violently sick during...

In this episode of Passports & Promises, Shalene and travel expert Lia Vincent dive into the unpredictable world of destination weddings and group travel. Talking about unique client requests like finding a lost umbrella in Mexico to managing tricky family dynamics and rooming challenges, they share unforgettable stories that reveal the real behind-the-scenes of planning paradise celebrations. In...

Every destination wedding planner knows the nightmare: scattered WhatsApp groups, missed announcements, and guests left waiting when plans change. In this episode of Passports & Promises with Shalene, Chanell Facey shares how her 2015 destination wedding disaster led to the creation of Grouped, an app designed to fix the chaos of group travel and wedding communication. As both co-founder of Groupe...

Planning the perfect destination wedding just got real for this Toronto couple. In this episode of Passports & Promises with Shalene, Fabiola and Wilfred share their wedding planning guide to navigating an all inclusive destination wedding at one of the best destination wedding locations in Jamaica. Their Couples Resort experience reveals the hidden costs that wedding planning checklists never...

Planning a destination wedding but don't know where to start? Travel agent Shalene teams up with destination wedding specialist Michelle Vuong to break down the biggest mistakes couples make when planning celebrations abroad. From choosing the wrong time of year that could double your costs to managing guests who disappear last minute, this episode reveals the insider secrets that could save you t...

Imagine getting a phone call telling you that you've won a completely free destination wedding package worth thousands of dollars. No catch, no hidden fees, just show up and say "I do" in paradise. That's exactly what happened to client and long time friend 'Yola,' when she entered a contest at a bridal show, and her journey exposed every myth about destination wedding planning. In this episode of...

Get ready for something special - two young travelers, 8-year-old Jordan and 10-year-old Jacob, also known as “The Potatoes”, share their unfiltered review of Beaches Turks and Caicos straight from their perspective. This adorable episode of Passports and Promises features Jacob and Jordan's hilarious take on resort life, from their daily froyo addiction that got them in trouble to Jacob's newfoun...

Join award-winning destination wedding specialist Shalene as she takes you behind the scenes of dreamy destination weddings and luxury travel experiences. Through real conversations and #LatitudeLessons from over two decades of expertise, Passports and Promises is a unique blend of emotion, humorous stories, and practical travel advice. As North America's trusted voice, Shalene features destinatio...