The Ultimate Destination Wedding Checklist

This guide will help you prepare and account for every element of your faraway big day.

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Planning a destination wedding has many similar elements to a local wedding—you have to scout ceremony and reception locations, choose your bridal party, and, of course, select your wedding dress. But there are fundamental differences that arise when you throw travel into the mix—you'll likely have to find vendors abroad, help facilitate your guests' travel plans, and ultimately figure out how you're going to get everything to your selected location. The gist? The main difference between destination and domestic weddings often involves an elevated stress factor.

Fortunately, though, these stressful variables are ones you can control, especially if you follow our step-by-step destination wedding checklist. To help you plan for your faraway big day efficiently, we've listed out every decision you need to make in the order you need to make them. First up? Deciding on your desired location. For some, this is a no brainer. But for others—particularly those who have traveled the world with their soon-to-be spouse—choosing where to host your destination wedding is often the most difficult part. Something to keep in mind on your search? Date. If you know that you want or need to get hitched in September, make sure your destination's climate is compliant (you don't want to plan a wedding during hurricane season, for example).

Other important decisions include sending out save-the-dates as soon as possible (you want to give your guests the maximum amount of time to make travel plans) and nailing down vendors (work with your venue during this process—but don't trust them wholeheartedly). Ready to discover all the rest of these need-to-know details? Click through for your tailored guide to planning the best-possible destination wedding.

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Decide on a Place and Date

Jodi & Kurt Photography

Here's How to Start Planning Your Destination Wedding

These two go hand and hand. If getting married in a specific location is your dream, you'll want to research weather patterns, so you don't inadvertently choose a date during hurricane season. If you can visit any of the sites you're interested in, you should do so. If not, call prospective resorts and ask to speak to their event planners. Don't just rely on photos and website details. (It goes without saying, but make sure your cell phone plan includes international calls, if relevant.)

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Create a Budget

Ashley Ludaescher Photography

Ways to Make Your Wedding Destination More Affordable for Guests

While brides and grooms don't normally pay for guests' travel expenses, you'll still be putting lots of dollars out for things like the reception, flowers, and a photographer.

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Come Up with a Preliminary Guest List

Ashley Sawtelle

Start out with your dream list, but then be realistic: Will your elderly relatives be willing and able to fly to Jamaica or Italy? Alternatively, keep the list small from the start if you have a modest budget.

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Research Marriage Requirements

Abby Jiu Photography

How to Legally Get Married in a Foreign Country

Many countries require you to arrive a few days before the wedding can take place, while others make blood tests a necessity.

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Make Your Travel Plans

Erich McVey

Book your flights and hotel accommodations early to ensure timing—and to get the lowest possible rate.

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Create a Wedding Website

D'Arcy Benincosa Photography

It's the perfect place to keep your guests informed. Update your site whenever you have more details to share, such as exact dates, hotel accommodations, weather updates, and more.

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Mail Save-the-Date Cards

Raymond Hom

Destination Wedding Save-the-Dates We Love

Do this about nine months before the big day. Give the date and location of your wedding and be sure to include your wedding website's URL.

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Pick Your Bridal Party

Lisa Poggi Photography

Best-Dressed Bridal Parties from Real Weddings

Though the selection process (ask your best friends and sisters, of course!) is no different than if you were marrying at home, there's one caveat when it comes to choosing bridesmaids for a destination wedding: If anyone will be very pregnant on your wedding day, she may not be able to fly.

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Work with Your Resort to Find Vendors

Meg Smith

Decoding Destination Wedding Packages

You might need recommendations for services like a photographer, musicians, florist, and officiant. Again, before booking anyone, make phone calls to each vendor rather than putting all your trust in the hotel's suggestions.

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Get a Passport or Visa

Corbin Gurkin

If you're applying for your very first passport or visa, budget at least 12 weeks ahead of your departure to begin the process—it could be months before these documents arrive back in your hands, especially during the busy spring and summer seasons.

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Book a Block of Hotel Rooms

Max & Friends

Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Hotel Blocks

Ask for a group rate if you can guarantee a certain number of rooms ahead of time—doing so could save your guests a significant chunk of change.

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Find Your Wedding Dress

Kyle John Photography

But before you decide on the one, consider your destination wedding location's climate. If you're getting married in the mountains, a strapless gown may look out of context (and might not be warm enough!). In terms of timing, order your bridal gown about nine months ahead so it arrives in the salon with plenty of time for multiple fittings.

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Order Your Bridesmaids' Dresses

Julie Michaelsen

Your 'maids' dresses should be ordered about six months ahead. As for the guys? Plan to have their outfits figured out about four months ahead.

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Book All Vendors

Heather Waraksa

Get signed and countersigned contracts from the musicians, caterer, baker, or anyone else you've booked for the big day. Everything you discussed and ordered should be listed.

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Send Out Invitations

5ive15ifteen Photo Company

Destination Wedding Invitations That'll Inspire Your Own

You'll want to mail out those invites (at least) eight to twelve weeks ahead of the wedding, to give your guests ample time to make final preparations. They should have made the bulk of their travel plans earlier in the year, though—which is why sending out those save-the-dates just under one year out is so critical.

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Go Shopping

Michele Beckwith

We've officially arrived at the fun part: This to-buy list should include wedding rings, guest favors (if your venue isn't already handling them!), bridal party gifts, and honeymoon clothes.

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Help Guests Pack

Heather Waraksa

Adding a section of packing tips to your wedding website will help attendees be prepared. They likely know to bring bathing suits to a beach location, but may not think to pack a hoodie to combat those cool, nighttime ocean breezes. The same logic applies to your dress code style. If you're planning on hosting special dinners, guests will be dress-code-ready—and won't show up in shorts, tees, and flip-flops when dressier attire is expected.

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Plan Guest Transportation

Erich McVey

The Dos and Don'ts of Wedding Transportation

Providing reliable transportation is a small, but appreciated way to welcome your friends and family—plus, it'll reduce the cumulative amount of cash they'll have to spend over the course of the trip.

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Confirm Every Detail with Every Vendor

Lilli Kad Photography

Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Deposits and Payments

Two days before the wedding, call the officiant, caterer, photographer, and all your other vendors to confirm arrival or delivery times, addresses, and what they're doing at or bringing to the wedding. Give them your groom and maid of honor's phone numbers too, in the (likely) case that you can't be reached on the big day.

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The Ultimate Destination Wedding Checklist

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Decide on a Place and Date

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Create a Budget

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Come Up with a Preliminary Guest List

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Research Marriage Requirements

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Make Your Travel Plans

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Create a Wedding Website

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Mail Save-the-Date Cards

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Pick Your Bridal Party

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Work with Your Resort to Find Vendors

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Get a Passport or Visa

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Book a Block of Hotel Rooms

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Find Your Wedding Dress

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Order Your Bridesmaids' Dresses

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Book All Vendors

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Send Out Invitations

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Go Shopping

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Help Guests Pack

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Plan Guest Transportation

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Confirm Every Detail with Every Vendor

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