Planning a destination wedding can often be harrowing on both the bride and groom.  From plane tickets to hotel accomodations, having a destination wedding can seem like more trouble than it's worth. You don't have to give up though - relax and plan for your beautiful destination wedding without anxiety by using these tips to stay stress free!

After much thought, you and your groom to be have decided to have a destination wedding.  Whether it was lush palm trees or the salty sea air that held so much appeal, one thing is certain – planning a destination wedding can often be even more stressful than planning a traditional one.  Here are some tips to help make planning your destination wedding (and the actual wedding) stress free.

1. Consider having a small wedding.  One of the biggest stresses of having a destination wedding is the amount of people you have to fly from one place to another, especially if you’re paying for the majority of the airfare.  If you consider inviting only those who you really want to be there, and in some cases even less than that, you won’t have to worry as much about getting everyone to that gorgeous remote island where you plan to say “I do.”  Compensate by putting together little “We wish you were here” packages with plenty of pictures of the ceremony and reception.

2. Get your passport now.  Don’t put it off – at all.  Get it done now and cross it off your list!  Sometimes having your passport made takes a lot of time, especially during the summer when everyone is traveling.  If you and your hubby to be get your passports now, that’s one less thing to have to worry about when the time comes.  Consider getting legally married at the courthouse (just the papers, not the ceremony) before getting your passports made.  Your passport will already be in your married name and you can just update your license and social security card later.

3.  Consider packing light.  Sure, it’s impossible to know everything you’ll need when you’re far, far away on a sunny beach with deliriously white sand.  Do you need more than one swimsuit?  How many pairs of socks and underwear should you take with you?  You want to make sure you’re prepared, but the last thing you want is to have five bags of luggage with stuff you don’t need when all you had to take is one.  Pack light and take only what you have to.  Take at least one carry one bag with all the essentials, just in case your luggage is lost.

4.  Do some research.  Sure, you’ll want to research how many stars your hotel has and find the cheapest airfares, but there is more that you’ll need to know if you’re having a destination wedding.  Find out the currency used in the country you’re going to visit as well as what the exchange rate is.  Learn as much as you can about the local culture – that way, if you run into an emergency, you’re not completely out of luck.

Planning a destination wedding can by scary and frustrating at times, but the best thing you can do for yourself and your partner is to keep it as simple as possible.  The less you have to do, the less you have to worry about and you can concentrate on celebrating your marriage with your new husband!