Many couples dream of holding their nuptials in an exotic locale and it’s not hard to see why. With breathtaking natural landscapes, unique experiences, and excursions at your fingertips, and the opportunity to immerse yourselves in a different local culture, getting married away from your familiar home roots is guaranteed to be an experience of a lifetime. Choosing the perfect location to tie the knot that’s romantic, unique, and within budget, however, can prove to be a daunting task. With plenty of elegant beaches, cities rich with history, and luxurious resorts and venues to choose from, we’ve identified 5 tips to help you decide where to begin the next chapter of your life as a wedded couple.

Identify your travel styles

Are you and your future life partner adventure-seekers looking to explore a hidden treasure? Or maybe you’re laidback and hoping for a relaxing escape for your destination wedding? Understanding your personalities when it comes to travel will help you both get everything you want on your special day! Consider if there’s a location that holds special meaning to you as a couple – perhaps it’s the country where you first traveled together! Having a destination wedding in a place filled with memories of your journey as a couple will make your nuptials all the more magical and meaningful.

Narrow in on your perfect date

Timing is everything, so they say, and while you and your beloved were in the right place at the right time when you found each other, it’s best not to leave anything to chance when it comes to your big day! One factor to consider is availability: popular destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean see the most traffic from November to May, while Pacific Mexico has a moderate amount of travelers year round. But, no matter when you travel, there’s always a place in the tropics ready to host your nuptials! Once you land on an optimal time, you can start narrowing in on the destination that offers your ideal weather, nail down the best locales to go to avoid bustling crowds of tourists (or maybe that’s your thing and you’re all for it!), and scope out which resort is the perfect fit for your wedding.

Compile your guest list and consider your budget

Whether you’re having an intimate affair with your closest inner circle or sending invites to every branch on your extended family tree, budgeting will help you decide what’s practical for both you and your guests. While you may dream of a romantic celebration in international waters, traveling may not be practical for everyone on your list. Having a budget in mind can help ensure the friends and family you want present on the most important day of your life will be able to be there and it won’t break their bank!

Envision your dream day and put it on the board

When you picture yourself saying “I do,” is it on the beach with your toes digging into the sand with a Mariachi band ready to send you off? Or is it in a lush garden surrounded by palm trees and tropical flowers? Visualize your nuptials and imagine the tone and atmosphere you’d like for your celebration. Whatever your wedding dreams are, there’s a perfect locale and venue that can make it happen. We suggest creating a mood or vision board to start to paint a picture of the stunning backdrop you want for your nuptials in paradise!

Start planning now, future you will thank you

Pulling off a destination wedding takes a considerable amount of time and preparation, so the earlier you start, the smoother the process will be! Give your big day the care and attention it deserves so that every detail falls into place, just as you want it, while also providing your guests with more than enough time to adjust their calendars to make it to destination and be by your side. Plus, the sooner you start to plan, the sooner you can catch any potential snags and problem areas that may come up later.