Elevate Your Wedding Business

Want more destination weddings

and

a network of pros to support you?

Destination weddings and romance travel are no longer just a specialty segment but instead are an important part to all weddings today.

Set to increase 300% in the next 3 years, more couples are not getting married in their “home” area – they are having destination weddings, both domestic and international.

Take your business to the next level at the only US-based conference specifically for destination weddings. Come learn the secrets how to create a thriving destination wedding business – no gatekeeping.

There is no other conference is dedicated to getting you in the same room with experts who will help you create your dream destination wedding business – domestic or international – and giving you access to “pick their brains” and learn from them for an entire day.

Join us to connect with industry icons and like-minded professionals to elevate your business and support you on your journey to success with destination weddings.

PC: Bryan Weber Photography

PC: Lin Bros

Why Attend?

This was honestly one of the best events I’ve been to…so much knowledge and good hearts in one place! I cannot wait for the next one!

Jennifer Stein

Editor/Publisher/Founder, Destination I Do

There is power in coming together to learn and meet creative entrepreneurs at different levels. The energy I get when attending a conference like Passport is like no other, and it leaves me coming away feeling motivated, focused, and excited about experiencing new levels of breakthrough in my business.

Garrett Richardson

Photographer

This was truly a most wonderful event. Usually at these things I get one or two tips that I maybe put into practice but Passport was just one thing after the other... all great ideas and useful information. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. The ROI in knowledge and new friendships was far more than I ever imagined.

Sandra Armenteros

Photographer

Because the destination wedding market is set to more than triple to over $414 Billion in the next few years and you want some of that business, don’t you?

Destination weddings, whether in another area, another state or another country are not the same as doing a wedding in your home city.

Gen Z and Gen Alpha couples who recently got engaged now are NOT the same as couples 5 years ago. Getting the right couples to be interested and inquire is a different process today than it was even just last year.

Passport Pro “anti-conference” is the only US-based conference designed to provide the knowledge and connections needed to save you time and money so your business can go to the next level.

Overseas destination wedding conferences are amazing but can be costly both in time and money. Our US-based conferences are designed to maximize your time and investment to propel your business further faster with the insight and access to the top destination wedding pros.

Networking Opportunities

Meet and connect beyond just business cards with top industry professionals and potential collaborators to expand your business network.

Expert Speaker Panels

Gain insights from leading experts in the wedding industry who will share their experiences, strategies for success and forecast to trends. 2026 speakers to be announced soon!

 

Previous locations and speakers include:

NYC + Chicago Locations:

-Jennifer Stein, Destination I Do

-Danielle Andrews and Tracey Manailescu, Wedding Planning Institute of Canada (WPIC)

-Julie Bunkley, Educate | Empower | Encourage 

-Aimee Nicole Monihan, Destination Occasions

-Sarah Roshan, Emerge Event Collective

-Brian Buonassisi, DJ Brian B

-Collin Pierson, Photographer

-Garrett Richardson, Photographer

-Chris J. Evans, Chris J. Evans Photography

 

NYC Location: 

-Lindsay Landman, Lindsay Landman Events

-Henley Vazquez, Fora Travel

-Marc Wilson, The Style Marc

-Fallon Carter, Fallon Carter Events

 

Chicago Location: 

-Akeshi Akinseye, Kesh Events

-Amy Allen and Elle Cashin, Modern Luxury Weddings Chicago

-Brian Worley, B Worley Productions

-Pervez Taufiq, P.  Taufiq Photography

-Michelle Durpetti, Durpetti Events

-Ali Phillips, Engaging Events by Ali

-Liza Roeser, Fifty Flowers

-Desireé Dent, Dejanae Events

-Katie Larsen, Fora Travel

 

Stylized Lunch + Dinner

Enjoy a beautiful lunch with your new destination wedding friendors and get a chance to “pick the brain” of the top pros in the industry.

Specialized Breakouts

Participate in breakouts with pros in your category that will cover a range of topics just for you from marketing strategies to logistical planning tips unique to destination weddings.

State of the Destination Wedding Industry

Get an overview about what the state of the destination wedding industry is like now and where it is going. Learn what you can do to ride the wave and what not to do to get left behind.

Schedule

10am-10:30am: Registration

10:30am-11am: Welcome

11am-12pm: Opening Panel

12pm-1pm: Lunch

1:15pm-1:45pm: Breakout Session 1

2pm-2:30pm: Breakout Session 2

2:45pm-4pm: State of the Destination Wedding Industry

4pm-4:15pm: Closing

4:15pm-4:30pm: Open Networking

5:30pm-7:30pm: Dine Around Dinner 

Locations + Dates

NYC: January 14, 2026

Prince George Ballroom, 15 E 27th St, New York, NY 10016

SoCal: February 4, 2026

TBA Soon!

Chicago: March 11, 2026

Ivy Room, 12 East Ohio Street, Chicago Illinois 60611

Which city will we see you in?

Choose your location:

NYC: January 14, 2026
SoCal: February 4, 2026
Chicago: March 11, 2026

Photo credits: Lin Bros Studio

Meet Our Sponsors

About The Wedding Masterclass

The Wedding Masterclass is dedicated to empowering wedding professionals by providing them with the connections, opportunities and insights needed to thrive in the wedding industry. Our mission is to meet you where you are and help you get where you want to go.

 

Being an entrepreneur in the wedding industry can be a lonely business in a world of pretty pictures and smiles. It is easy to feel overwhelmed in the comparison game on social media. Through our in-person and online opportunities, we aim to foster an inclusive community to re-energize your drive and re-fuel your soul.

 

Some might call our events "conferences" but we like to call ours the "anti-conference" (credit to Annie Lee, Daughter of Design).

State of the Wedding Industry (SOTWI)

State of the Wedding Industry (SOTWI) is our version of a wellness checkup meets support group. It is an opportunity to hear from high-profile local pros, understand what is going on in the industry locally and globally and also connect with other pros through structured networking - all to learn where you can optimize things that are going well, overhaul what's not going well, and celebrate your wins with people who want to cheer you on.

Passport Pro Conference

Passport Pro is the only US-based conference specifically for those interested in building a successful destination wedding business whether domestic or international.

Our panelists speakers are the best in the industry who want to see your business take off and you'll get a chance to have conversations with them directly through breakout sessions, open networking time as well as lunch and dinner where you can "pick their brain" to learn what you can't learn anywhere else.

Passport Pro will show you the secrets to a thriving destination wedding business and connect you with the right people and resources to level up quickly and easily.

Passport Connections: State of the Destination Wedding Industry

If Passport Pro and State of the Wedding Industry had a baby, it would be Passport Connections.

 

The format is the same as State of the Wedding Industry but the focus is on destination weddings, travel, and up-to-date information to help grow your destination weddings business.

Mastermind Dinner

Growth is painful.

Change is painful.

But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.

 

Remember the excitement of starting your business?

You had nothing but time to work ON your business, create, think of ideas and strategize.

Now it seems like it is a constant struggle to get 5 minutes to do the thing that has been on your to-do list for the last 5 to-do lists (you know, the thing you just keep moving to your next to-do list because it is important but just haven't done yet?).

In true Masterclass form, we will pack a lot into a couple hours over dinner dedicated to creating, finding new ideas, strategizing and drawing up an action plan to get it all done.

Our Masterminds are like concentrated group coaching, but individualized for you to work on your business.

You come with ideas, a notebook, to-do lists, and the stress of being "offline" for a couple hours.

You leave with a renewed sense of purpose, drive and a plan to follow to get more done and create the clarity you need to move to the next level.

Business coaching

When you are ready to level up, it takes more than just having a certain amount of experience. It takes strategy and an outside perspective to know "the how" of getting your message in front of the right people and being able to monetize it.

Whether you are writing a book, creating an online course, starting to mentor/coach new pros or landing speaking gigs, there are infinite ways to use your experience to help others - but knowing what method and how to successfully do this requires a different skill set. This is where having a business coach helps you get from where you are to where you want to be.

FAM Trips/Workshops

What's a FAM trip?

A familiarization trip is an opportunity to experience a location (country, city, property, etc.). Usually FAMs have only been for a select few in the wedding industry as they were mainly for travel agencys to learn about and promote locations and properties.

With the rise of destination weddings, FAMs are sometimes offered to select wedding planners and designers who will potentially bring business to those sponsoring the trips.

The Wedding Masterclass offers a unique take on FAMs to provide not just a guided experience of a new destination but also opportunities to have conversations and introspection about yourself and your business.

Our FAM+ Retreats have opportunities for networking with local venues, hotels, wedding suppliers and more to immediately establish opportunities to grow your business there.

A select number of FAM+ Retreats will also have a creative editorial styled shoot component taught and guided by the best in the industry.

We will also provide opportunities via Passport Connections: State of the Destination Wedding Industry events in these locations for you to learn about the wedding industry there and how you can fit into it.

Applications for FAM+ Retreats can be found here. There are a select number of spots for each trip and the preference is given to those who will be able to bring clients to those locations (planners, photographers, event designers).

PC: @emilylouickphotography

Join Us at Passport!

You can’t afford to miss out on being in the same room with the best in the destination wedding business!

Secure your spot today and transform your life into being consistently booked, traveling and creating gorgeous weddings.

 

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