The process of choosing a location for your destination wedding is similar to choosing a honeymoon destination. Following, I have outlined a few things you need to determine when deciding on your destination wedding location.

How far do you want to travel?

A destination wedding can take place internationally or domestically. In other words, the term “destination wedding” does not necessarily mean you have to travel outside the country. In fact, your ideal destination may not even require you to leave your state.

Of course, if you decide you want to travel abroad, then the possibility of places to host your wedding is plenteous and this is where a destination wedding specialist in your locale can educate you and help you narrow down your choices as to the best destinations to host your wedding based on the following:

What type of setting do you envision for your wedding?

By figuring out the type of setting you envision for your wedding and the specific things you want to see and do, you and your destination wedding planner can narrow down a list of potential places to host your destination wedding. For example, if your widest dream is to get married underwater in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean, your destination wedding specialist can tell you exactly where that is possible and the requirements for such an adventurous wedding.

As for the things you want to see and do, think about activities or shared hobbies you both enjoy the most—surfing, scuba diving, golf, snorkeling, skiing, hiking, spa vacations, etc.? Next, can you imagine not enjoying these things on your destination wedding vacation? By coming to a consensus of the things you both want to see and do, you and your destination wedding planner can further narrow down your options in the land of infinite possibilities.

How many attendants and guests are you planning to invite?

The size of your wedding is very important because it will determine what locations can accommodate your event. The average number of guests that attend a destination wedding is a slightly less than 50. It could be that you already have a specific place in mine. However, if you have a large guest list, the location may not be able to accommodate your wedding size. The rule of thumb with hosting a destination wedding is “less is more”. Destination weddings are often intended to be more intimate than the traditional wedding, in that it primarily comprises of only your closest family and friends.

The questions I have outlined are just a few things for you to determine that will help you narrow down the options of where to have your destination wedding. There are other things to you need to take into consideration that will help you narrow down your options, such as whether you want a religious or civil ceremony.

I will talk more about this in Monday’s blog post. Stay tuned by subscribing to my blog!

{This is a re-post and content has been modified. Originally published on my old blog in 2009}