This week, we’ve been talking a lot about destination weddings. We love the idea of jetting off to some distant shore to tie the knot in style, but with any discussion of a destination also comes the question of cost.

What would you expect your family and friends to dish out for your destination wedding? How would you try to keep the costs down? Do you think prohibitive prices are a detriment to wedding destinations, or is the fact that your wedding would end up small and exclusive a plus? Does the price of your dream destination make you want to rant or rave?

Traveling to a new city can be intimidating. Sure, you have your Lonely Planet guidebook and recommendations from friends and friends of friends, but many travelers want to find out more about their destinations on a local level.

If you are planning a destination wedding in a faraway city, try scouring the web for local bloggers to find some insight into the best restaurants, nightlife and day trips to recommend to your wedding guests. On a recent trip to Australia, I met the lovely, talented and hilarious blogger behind the cake + the knife, an Aussie food blog that’s as entertaining and endearing as she is. With camera in hand at a spectacular Moroccan restaurant, she gushed about all of the  fabulous places I should visit while in Sydney. Talking to her was definitely one of the highlights of my trip!

Blogs like the cake + the knife exist in cities all over the world. One of our office favorites is Little Brown Pen, which is dedicated to the blogger’s undying love of Paris. You can also find sites full of local reviews and tips, like Bahamas Local—a resource that will surely come in handy if you plan to enter to win our Bahamas honeymoon sweepstakes!

As you may have seen, we recently partnered with The Islands of the Bahamas to offer a series of Bahamas-inspired destination wedding suites.  This got me me thinking, specifically, about the planning process.

Destination weddings are often accessible and affordable alternatives to a large-scale, hometown wedding.  However, just like traditional weddings there are still a few key “must-dos” to consider.

If you are considering a destination wedding, below is a destination wedding  checklist (courtesy of The Islands of the Bahamas) for your reference :

• Book Early: Before resorts and venues fill up on your wedding day, try to book the location at least one year in advance.  Consider seasons, as rates often fluctuate throughout the year depending on your location.

• Block Rooms: Secure a block of rooms for guests at your hotel of choice to help them make reservations well in advance.

• Notify Guests Early: Be sure to send save-the-date cards to potential guests at least 6 months in advance so that they have time to plan their travel.

• Ask for Help!: Most hotels have a wedding coordinator on staff to offer suggestions and help you secure key vendors.  Coordinators can also help with extraneous wedding related events, including the  rehearsal dinner.

• Visit Your Venue: If possible, visit the location at least 1 or 2 months in advance of the big day for a dry run and to finalize details with any external vendors.

• Get Licensed: Be sure to get a legal marriage license. Check with the country you are getting married in to make sure you have everything in order prior to the big day.

We hope these tips help you get everything in order for your big day. Happy planning!