With extensive experience in the destination wedding world, Kelsey’s passion for travel and creating special experiences led her to specialize in planning travel across Europe, the Caribbean, the Americas, and Mexico.

Kelsey’s passion for travel was sparked at the age of seventeen while studying King Tut and Ancient Egypt—which remains a curious subject and a trip that has yet to be planned!—and led to her spending the last 15 years planning local and international weddings and events. With her expertise in some of the most sought-after locations around the world for destination weddings combined with knowledge gained during her personal travels, Kelsey began assisting friends and family with their travel needs, which soon evolved into her work as a travel advisor with SmartFlyer.

Forever scouting discerning properties, restaurants, and excursions Kelsey has frequented London, Italy, and France with a passion for discovering these destinations more deeply. One of her most memorable European vacations was an unexpected girls’ trip to Bordeaux and Nice, where the small town of Eze captured her heart. For a taste of France closer to home, Kelsey has spent a lot of time in St Barth and loves the duality of the laid-back but glamorous beach vibe with the excitement of exquisite dining establishments. While Kelsey’s bucket list trips include safari, the Galapagos, and the Maldives, she equally seeks out the simplicity of mountain towns like Aspen and Park City. Kelsey believes that a trip planned with an advisor who is deeply invested in the memories made there is key. Personalized service has always been a part of Kelsey’s ethos to event planning, which extends to her sharing preferred accommodations, experiences, and dining outlets to ensure that clients who choose to work with her receive the most thoughtful recommendations tailored to their tastes. Her work as a travel advisor empowers her to create an impact with each trip planned.

How do you prepare for your trips?

I quite enjoy preparing for trips because I am a true planner at heart. I like to have my curated itinerary mostly finished about three weeks before my trip, leaving room for adventure and spontaneity. Researching attire and dining experiences is part of the fun for me, as feeling good and prepared enhances the vacation experience. I also make sure to plan visits to must-sees – whether it be a hotel, rooftop, or experience – even if I’m visiting just for a brief stopover. I often keep lists that will coordinate outfits with locale and love to have all my travel documents in a hard copy just in case – call me old-fashioned!

Which destinations or hotels do you go back to again and again? Why?

There are a handful of things that make an impact on me and will draw me back to a location over and over again. One is the hospitality and friendliness of a hotel or the local people who call the place home and another is the way a place makes you feel. I return to Cabo San Lucas and Italy time and time again because of the heart and soul of these destinations where I continually make new memories.

I’m a big foodie – or rather often hungry! – so the dining options that I love will bring me back again and again. I will also be drawn back to things that I feel are truly unique, like Arbol at Las Ventanas or the city of Eze right outside of Nice. I’m equally drawn to charming towns like those dotting the south, especially Nashville and Charlotte, as well as places further afield like Bordeaux and Castillon du Gard in France.