Having a destination wedding instead of a traditional wedding can be the most wonderful experience and can be the most perfect start to a beautiful married life.

These 4 tips can help you avoid stress and make your wedding the dream of a lifetime. 

Plan Ahead

Like any event, giving yourself the time you need to plan your wedding will only serve to make your day as perfect as possible. Plan your date well in advance and consider a backup date in case the venues on your list are booked. Consider communicating with your friends and family you are inviting to get a good idea of availability with their schedules. Of course, you will not be able to accommodate everyone’s dates but you will get a better idea of people’s availability.

Choose your Destination Wedding Venue Wisely

Be very careful when choosing your venue. This is especially important when deciding on a resort. Often, a resort will claim to have the perfect place for your wedding and if are not planning on visiting before your wedding, you may have some nasty surprises. The photos on the website may not tell the whole story. Your beautiful ceremony may be hard to hear over the screams of the children in the pool right beside you. Many people who choose to have a destination wedding do so as they like the idea of doing something different and with an intimate group of people. Given this, many people opt to wed in the privacy of a luxury vacation rental. The intimacy and privacy provided in a vacation villa make for the perfect setting for your friends and family to enjoy the special celebration.

Use a Local Wedding Planner

A local wedding planner can take your day from wonderful to sensational. Your wedding planner is there to take the stress out of your planning. From your chef to your flowers, your local wedding planner knows where to source everything you want and will know who and what are the best choices for your special day. A local planner knows where to go to get you the best price and best quality.

Be Flexible

If you are planning your destination wedding in another country you may not have all the amenities available to you that you would at home. If some things on your list are an absolute “must have”, make certain that they are indeed available there, otherwise plan on bringing them with you. If they are not easily sourced in that area consider alternative options that are easily sourced locally. Your wedding coordinator will know what items can and cannot be sourced locally, so it is best to make a list and start here.