Meet the Team
Charlotte Piazza | Founder & Lead Planner
Charlotte is the founder and lead planner of Handpicked Honeymoons. As a luxury travel enthusiast without an endless budget, she found her calling designing accessible high-end trips for herself and others. Before starting Handpicked Honeymoons, Charlotte spent three years as the COO for luxury wedding publication Style Me Pretty and at the end of 2022, realised there was a niche in the market where her two passions - weddings and travel - could come together.
“I love bringing my experience in luxury weddings and my love for world travel together to help couples curate unforgettable honeymoons! I am incredibly lucky to have traveled the world, and I want to share all the amazing tips I’ve picked up along the way in places like Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Brazil, South Africa, Pakistan, India, Egypt, Mauritius, the Maldives, Europe and the USA. Most importantly, I want to help make sure all my clients get the best value for every dollar they spend - because who doesn't want to feel like a millionaire, without going bankrupt, on their honeymoon?!”
There is nothing that makes her happier than planning trips, so she brings not only a wealth of knowledge but also true joy to the planning experience as she guides couples just beginning their travels together or continuing a life of exploration. She and her team know the ins and outs of the industry and always know how to find the best flights, most luxurious accommodations and most memorable restaurants and experiences.
“Honeymoons are such a special time. They really are the first trip of the rest of your lives together, and they deserve just as much attention as the wedding. Handpicked Honeymoons works with you to create a honeymoon neither of you will ever forget.”
Issy O’Hegarty | Marketing & Operations Assistant
Issy is a passionate traveller who loves curating bespoke itineraries for herself and others. After graduating from University, she set off on an extensive trip through Southeast Asia, exploring the vibrant cultures of places like Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, and Bali. Her adventures continued with another year and a half in Australia and New Zealand, where she worked and explored both of these stunning countries. She concluded her round-the-world trip with a memorable exploration of South America, with her highlights including the Galapagos Islands, Cartagena in Colombia and of course the iconic Machu Picchu!
Back in London, Issy gained invaluable experience during her three years with a luxury small ship cruise operator, initially as a Travel Consultant and later in the marketing department, learning the ins and outs of the travel industry. She has since spent the last three years in France, discovering the culture and learning the language (or trying to!). She joined Handpicked Honeymoons in August 2023 and is an integral member of the team, managing all of the trip operations, both on the front-line and behind-the-scenes.
Michelle Woodmansee | Travel Assistant
Michelle joined Handpicked Honeymoons in February 2024, having previously worked with Charlotte during their mutual stints at Disney-ABC Television Group, and brings a passion for travel and a wealth of international experience to the team.
During her previous tenure at ABC, she worked as an executive in International Comedy Development, a unique role that involved traveling extensively across France, Spain, Scandinavia, and South America, scouting for international properties and talent, in order to create a global portfolio of projects. She collaborated with local consultants from around the world, allowing her to immerse herself in diverse cultures and landscapes.
At Handpicked Honeymoons, Michelle leverages her global expertise to curate itineraries tailored to each client's unique desires. She loves getting to know each of our clients personally in order to find hotels and experiences that perfectly fit their needs, while helping them to discover new places. Michelle is thrilled to play a role in the special journey each of her clients undertake, and to help turn their dream vacations into unforgettable realities.
Michelle is a Puerto Rican native and currently resides in Maryland, with her husband and their two young kids. Michelle's dedication to creating memorable and personalized luxury experiences reflects her commitment to understand and celebrate the beauty of different places, and for this reason she is keen to continue to nurture her love for traveling, learn about new destinations, and show the world to her kids as well.
Samantha Bannister | Social Media Manager
Born in Australia, and inspired by her grandma’s hiking stories through Spain in the 60’s and her mum’s adventures through Nepal in the 80’s, Samantha always had the travel bug and did her first solo trip at age 16. Fast forward to now, she has travelled to 50 countries and has lived abroad in France, Mexico, Germany and the Netherlands. Not one to ignore the beauty of her home country, she spent a year travelling around Australia and made sure to explore New Zealand for two months as well.
Samantha joined the Handpicked Honeymoons team in December 2023. With a background in media and marketing, she combines her skills with her passion for travel to create and manage our social media content. From breathtaking honeymoon destinations to exquisite dining and once in a life time travel adventures, she takes pride in ensuring our socials inspire you to be excited for your honeymoon and future travels!