Kendra Barber at a cenote pool on her honeymoon in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Photo: Roundtrips and Romances
Travel planner uses vast experience to help couples plan the perfect getaway.
What’s better than honeymooning on a sandy beach surrounded by clear blue water with the hot sun beating down? Not much—except if someone plans the trip for you and all you need to do is show up.
That’s where Kendra Barber comes in.
The wedding planner—turned travel coordinator—knows the ins and outs of planning the perfect getaway. And after all the stress that goes hand-in-hand with planning a wedding, the last thing Barber wants for her clients is to feel overwhelmed by planning a honeymoon, too.
“I understand how much time and energy goes into planning your dream wedding. I’ve been there as a wedding planner but also a bride,” the Maple Grove resident says. “Often, the honeymoon gets left on the back burner or forgotten all together. Then, when it does come up, the stress multiplies.”
But not if she can help it.
From the initial travel questionnaire to providing dress codes and a map of the airport, Barber provides all the services that go into honeymoon planning, so that the newlyweds get the rest and relaxation they deserve.
A recently eloped couple celebrating at Twin Falls on the Road to Hana in Maui, Hawaii. Photo: Always Karlie Photography
Taste of Travel
Barber’s love of travel began while she was working on her degree in hospitality management and event management at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. She studied for a semester abroad in the Virgin Islands, giving Barber her first dose of the Caribbean’s beautiful blue waters. “It set my heart on fire,” she says of the experience. “It was kind of my first adventure.”
After college, Barber spent two months in Vietnam, furthering her love of travel before she landed a job as a wedding planner with a company in Minneapolis. “It was my dream, my plan, it was all happening,” Barber says. Being a fan of love and weddings, she thrived in the industry.
Until a new spark was lit.
Barber says one of the best parts of her job as a wedding planner was listening to the couple discuss their upcoming honeymoon. When she saw a job posting for a travel agency in 2019, Barber says it served as a new calling. “It was speaking to my soul,” she says.
Barber started working at the travel agency in January 2020. We all know what happened two months later.
When COVID-19 hit, the travel industry took a hit—a big one.
“I got all my training done and got really excited about the travel world,” she says. “When COVID hit, I got really good at understanding insurance policies, cancellation policies and being an advocate for our clients.”
Eventually, lack of work and the ongoing pandemic won, resulting in Barber being let go from the agency. She recalls being left to wonder what was next. “I just couldn’t picture where I was going,” she says.
Still passionate about the travel world, Barber’s husband encouraged her to start her own business. “Looking back, there were all these little things that got me to where I am today,” she says.
Kelsey and Cole spent their honeymoon on a Vespa tour around Italy’s Amalfi Coast and Rome. Photo: Kelsey Hanscom
Let the Planning Begin
Roundtrips and Romances was established by Barber in spring 2021. She had the confidence and knowledge to be successful and plan memorable trips for her clients. Oftentimes, couples don’t know where to begin planning and would start clicking away online. Sooner than later, the endless options can get overwhelming.
“This is one of the reasons I absolutely love my job,” Barber says. “I don’t want my clients to feel stressed or overwhelmed. They just need to partner with an expert.”
Working with Barber is more than just booking a vacation, she says. She offers a personalized experience from prebooking to post travel.
“I create the itinerary that fits your dream,” Barber says. “I know things aren’t cookie cutter. Every person has a dream, a vision and a budget. It’s about picking out those things that bring the vacation to life.”
A Punta Cana honeymoon includes a trip to La Hacienda, an adventure park. Photo: Roundtrips and Romances
When and Where
So, when is the best time to start working with Barber and let the honeymoon planning commence?
She recommends about one year to 10 months before the wedding. This sweet spot of time allows couples to get the best deals on flights and places to stay.
“If you start two months in advance, that’s OK, too. We’ll just move quicker,” she says.
Before seeking out Barber’s services, she recommends that couples discuss budgets and timing. She says it’s helpful to establish a maximum amount to spend, and she’ll work within that expectation. “If I know what people have in mind as a budget, it helps me manage expectations before we even jump into the trip,” she says.
Another helpful tidbit? Have the location and date of the wedding picked out. Oftentimes, couples get married in locations that require some travel to the nearest airport—which is helpful to know, especially if the honeymoon kicks off the day after the wedding.
All Inclusive
Barber says there are so many wonderful places all over the world but finds most couples favor all-inclusive resorts on their honeymoon. She says removing the stress of having a bill at the end of a trip brings additional ease.
And, she says, don’t worry about getting bored. Barber hears couples express concern that there won’t be anything to keep them entertained at an all-inclusive resort. Challenge accepted, she says.
“I love planning excursions like riding an ATV through the jungle or a day sail to go snorkeling,” she says. “I promise you won’t get bored.”
The best part of Barber’s job is hearing about the honeymoon when couples return. “It sounds cliché, but it truly is my favorite part about what I do,” she says. “I absolutely love making dreams a reality and giving people this perfect, uninterrupted time together … I love love.”
kendra@roundtripsandromances.com
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