A destination wedding is an undoubtfully special event but choosing to say "I do" in an exotic location requires a fair amount of work. It all starts with choosing the location itself-before you start considering different venues, it's wise to decide on one city or region where you'd like to go. There is a lot to consider in order to make the right choice.

1.         Estimate your budget

The first step of planning any type of wedding is to set your budget, and when you’re planning a destination wedding, this becomes even more essential. The cost breakdown of a destination wedding (i.e. who pays for what) will be generally the same as a non-destination wedding, but you will have additional expenses to account for, such as travel and hotel costs. Your budget will determine where and when you can travel for your destination wedding

2.         Eliminate where you don’t want to get married

This can be a good idea to eliminate all the places where your potential guests live to make it exciting and memorable for everyone.

3.         Count the number of guests

Picking a destination is much easier when you know how many people you have to accommodate at potential venues. A larger wedding means you may need considerable space and more vendor help, ie an experienced larger hotel (which may cost more) or building a marquee space on a lot of land. If you’re happy with an intimate wedding, you can more easily throw your party at your budget just about anywhere.

4.       Take into consideration the season

Getting married on your anniversary is special. Getting married on your anniversary during a hurricane is… a different kind of special. Odds are, you'll have to let either date or location drive your search to ensure the two aren't at odds. The good news? Whatever your date, there's a part of the world perfect for it.

5.         Chose the date mindfully

While it's your day, your guests will have to spend more than they would for the average wedding in order to be able to join you. Be mindful of your family and friends and try to consider their schedules as well as your own.  Holiday weekends can be an optimal date when more people may be able to get the time off work to join you.