There are so many steps you must take in order to plan your wedding efficiently, especially if you decide to have a destination wedding. From picking your location to booking your vendors, planning a destination wedding is a big task. Luckily, we’ve filmed many destination weddings and we’ve learned a few things about the planning process. Read on to learn some valuable tips on planning a destination wedding!

 1. Decide Your Location

Picking a location that you, your partner, and your guests feel good about is very important. So as you go through this process, there are some important things to keep in mind. First, you want to make sure your location is a place that both you and your partner want to get married. Does the beauty of the location inspire you? Does it hold special memories from previous vacations? These are some questions to think about if you’re trying to brainstorm a location. Second, you want to make sure the venue you choose fits all your wedding day needs. Third, you want to ensure the location you pick is accessible to the guests you plan on inviting. These are three helpful things to keep in mind when you are picking your destination because you want to make sure you, your partner, and your guests all can enjoy your wedding day.

Photographer: Lindsay Vann Photography Venue: Sand Dollar Estate Arch: East End Flower Shop Officiant: Virgin Islands Wedding Officiate Dress: Miss Hayley Paige Planner: Island Bliss Weddings Catering: Passion Fruit Chefs

2. Plan a Scouting Trip

Taking a scouting trip to your location is a great idea if you are planning a destination wedding. This will really help you choose the right venue if you’re not familiar with the area. While this might add additional costs, a scouting trip will really allow you to feel out the energy of the location and of your venue. You can also scout out different accommodation options and schedule meetings with local vendors while you’re over there. And, hey, who doesn’t love an extra vacation?!

3. Book Your Wedding Planner

As soon as you’ve decided on your location, you should think about booking a wedding planner. Whether you book a full-service planner or a day-of coordinator, having a professional there to help you is essential to planning a destination wedding due to the location and the additional tasks that come along with that. Your wedding planner will help make the planning process go flawlessly and he or she will likely have some recommendations for other vendors around the area of your destination. If you’re not convinced that hiring a wedding planner is essential, read our guide here. In addition to booking your wedding planner, you’ll want to start booking other vendors well in advance.

Planner: Beyond The Dress Photographer: Robert J Hill Photography Florist: Inspired By Jojo DJ: Han Heuk Cake: The Oh’s Room Dress Designer: Hyelim Yoo Lettering: Atelier Sia Venue & Catering: Jang Ja Village

4. Curate Your Guest List

You also want to begin creating your guest list so you can begin sending out your save the dates and invitations as soon as possible. You’re going to want to send these out earlier than you would if you were having a local wedding. This gives your guests enough time to plan and book accommodations. If you can also find affordable accommodations around the venue, let your guests know where to look.

5. Plan Your Decor

Because this is a destination wedding, you should be able to keep your decorations simple. Most people have destination weddings due to the gorgeous scenery and location, and they usually do not need the extra decor. This is a good budget-saving tip to keep in mind as you’re planning!

Venue: Belmond La Samanna Photographer: Alex Photos

There are some extra steps you should keep in mind when planning a destination wedding. Although it may seem to be a lot of work, hosting a wedding in your dream location will be worth it in the end. Plus, the memories you will share will last a lifetime. We hope these tips help you plan your upcoming destination wedding!