If you’re thinking about starting a home-based travel business or specializing in destination weddings, you might be wondering where to start—or how to do it the right way.
I started my own destination wedding travel business back in 2008, and since then, I’ve built a 6-figure business working from home, booking just 5-10 weddings per year. Now, I mentor other wedding and travel professionals through my signature program, the 20K System & Toolkit, which provides a step-by-step roadmap to success in the destination wedding travel niche.
Start a Travel Business with These 5 Lessons Learned
But what if I had to start all over again today—knowing everything I know now?
I wouldn’t waste time on outdated marketing strategies. I wouldn’t guess my way through pricing and sales. And I definitely wouldn’t rely on seasonal bridal shows to find clients.
Instead, here are the five things I would do differently to build a profitable travel business faster:
🌟 Pick a Niche and Get Laser-Focused on My Ideal Client
One of the biggest mistakes I made early on was trying to market to everyone. When you do that, you end up blending in with every other travel advisor out there. If I were starting today, I’d choose my niche carefully and get ultra-clear on who I want to serve.
How I’d Do This Today (with a little help from AI):
- ✅ Use AI tools to research what couples are searching for when planning a destination wedding. AI can analyze wedding forums, social media, and industry trends to reveal what’s in demand.
- ✅ Spot patterns in what couples value most—whether that’s all-inclusive resorts, private luxury venues, or adventure elopements.
- ✅ Use AI to draft an ideal client avatar so I can create messaging that attracts my dream clients.
💡 Inside the 20K System & Toolkit, I walk you through defining your niche, identifying your ideal client, and creating a marketing message that makes you the go-to expert.
🌟 Invest in a Mentor Instead of Trying to Figure It Out Alone
One of the smartest things I would do is not waste time on trial and error. There are two ways to grow a business:
1️⃣ Spend years figuring it out on your own
2️⃣ Learn from someone who’s already done it successfully
I’d choose the second option every time.
Why Investing in a Mentor Is a Game-Changer:
- ✅ You get a step-by-step roadmap instead of guessing your way through.
- ✅ You get accountability, feedback, and expert guidance when challenges arise.
- ✅ You skip years of mistakes and start seeing results faster.
💡 This is exactly why I created the 20K System & Toolkit—to provide wedding and travel pros with a shortcut to success.
🌟 Implement a Process to Charge a Planning Fee Right Away
If I had to start over, I would never work for free or hesitate to charge for my expertise. One of the biggest mistakes I see travel pros make is relying only on commissions—which can leave you underpaid and frustrated.
Instead, I would set up a strong sales process that allows me to charge planning fees from day one.
Why This Matters:
- 💰 Couples take you more seriously when you charge a planning fee—it shows them you’re a professional, not just a “free travel agent.”
- 💰 It filters out budget clients who aren’t willing to invest in quality service.
- 💰 Having a proven process for handling consultations means no more awkward pricing conversations.
💡 Inside the 20K System & Toolkit, I teach you exactly how to charge planning fees, confidently close sales, and build a more profitable business.
🌟 Replace Bridal Shows with a Lead Magnet System to Generate Clients Year-Round
When I started my business, I spent a lot of time (and money) on bridal shows, hoping to get leads. But the problem with bridal shows is:
❌ They’re seasonal—which means your lead flow isn’t consistent.
❌ You’re competing for attention in a crowded space.
❌ Many couples aren’t ready to book yet—they’re just in the early research phase.
If I had to start over, I’d skip bridal shows entirely and instead focus on a lead magnet system that attracts the right couples from all over the U.S. year-round.
How I’d Do It:
- 📌 Create 3 lead magnets (freebies) designed to attract my ideal client, such as:
- ✨ “The Destination Wedding Budget Guide: How to Get the Most for Your Money”
- ✨ “Top 10 Mistakes Couples Make When Planning a Destination Wedding (And How to Avoid Them)”
- ✨ “How to Choose the Perfect Destination Wedding Resort for Your Guests”
- 📌 Rotate and test these to see which performs best.
- 📌 Once I find the winner, I’d run $10/day in ads to bring in a steady stream of leads—instead of waiting for the next bridal show.
💡 Inside the 20K System & Toolkit, I teach you how to set up a lead generation system that works 24/7—so you never have to chase clients again.
🌟 Invest More in Travel and Create My Own Site Inspection Trips
One of the best ways to establish yourself as a true destination wedding expert is to visit the locations firsthand.
If I were starting over today, I would prioritize:
- 📍 Investing in my own site inspection trips instead of waiting for free FAM trips.
- 📍 Documenting resort walkthroughs, hidden gems, and behind-the-scenes tips to build credibility.
- 📍 Creating a signature brand position, like “The go-to expert for luxury destination weddings in Mexico & the Caribbean.”
How AI Can Help:
- 🤖 AI-powered tools can help me turn travel notes into polished blog posts, social media content, and video scripts—saving me hours of time.
💡 Inside the 20K System & Toolkit, I teach you how to use travel strategically to position yourself as an expert and attract high-end clients.
Want to Start or Grow Your Destination Wedding Travel Business Faster?
If you’re serious about becoming a destination wedding travel agent and want a proven blueprint to success, then the 20K System & Toolkit is exactly what you need.
This is the system I wish I had when I started. Instead of spending years figuring it out on your own, you’ll get:
✅ A step-by-step roadmap to booking high-end destination weddings
✅ Marketing and lead generation strategies to attract quality clients
✅ Sales scripts and pricing frameworks to charge planning fees with confidence
Click here to learn more & enroll today!
