Have you decided to tie the knot overseas with a destination wedding? Wise decision! There are loads of advantages of doing so, like saving money, being virtually guaranteed good weather (depending on where you go) and being able to honeymoon in the same place.

Whether you’re raring to start booking everything or you’re just curious about what organizing a destination wedding involves, you can find out all the top planning essentials below.

1) Consult friends and family on your destination wedding

It’s really easy to get caught up in all the excitement of holding your wedding ceremony abroad before you and your partner even think to discuss it with anyone else. And, while this day is all about the two of you, finding out how your loved ones feel is pretty crucial. After all, having a wedding overseas asks a lot more of your guests than weddings at home, like time off work for flights and potential extra costs.

So, before you make a final decision, talk to all those people you just can’t get married without. Find out if they are limited by time, budget or any other issues – that way, you’ll know from the start if there are some places you can’t go.

2) Think about where to go for your destination wedding

This is perhaps the most obvious part of planning a wedding overseas, but that doesn’t make it simple. Don’t be tempted to choose based on how pretty a given destination is; instead, take the time to dig a little deeper. Among the top things you should think about are:

• Weather – and not just its temperature highs. Check its lows, look out for things like monsoon seasons and, most importantly of all, make sure you know what the weather does at different times of year. If it’s not good when you plan to travel and your dates aren’t flexible, you’ll need to look somewhere else.
• Facilities for weddings, such as hotels and potential ceremony settings.
• Whether you would want to spend your honeymoon there.
• How easy it is to get to – and, if it is tricky, whether this will bother you or your guests.

3) Budget, budget, budget

Before you begin planning, you need to have a clear budget in mind. Then, every step of the way, you should compare your plans to your budget to make sure they tally. When organising an overseas wedding, you’ll need to give some thought to what guests will and won’t pay for (e.g. flights) and factor these in too.

4) Find a destination wedding company you’re happy with

Once you’ve done a little research, you should look around for a company to make your booking with. There are travel agents that specialize in overseas weddings, so it’s a good idea to search for one of those. Among the services you should keep an eye out for are the option to tailor your day to your preferences and the ability to liaise with wedding planners both in the UK and in your chosen destination.

5) Consider the practicalities of a destination wedding

Your tour operator should be able to help you with all those essential practical considerations, but it’s important to have them on your to-do list anyway. You’ll need to be clear on all the legalities of getting married in your chosen destination, as well as any documentation you’ll need. Other considerations include vaccinations, while you should, of course, make sure your passports are in date!