Unless you have extensive knowledge of the location or family in the area, you need to hire a wedding planner for your destination wedding. There are too many pieces to the wedding planning puzzle, and it’s impossible for you to lock everything in during the few preliminary site visits you take – that is, if you even take any preliminary site visits in the first place. Either way, here’s the top criteria you need to look for before hiring someone on to plan your wedding.

Make Sure They Understand Your Budget

Wedding planners tend to specialize in certain budget-ranges and wedding styles. You might want the wedding planner who styled Mariah Carey’s wedding in the Bahamas, but could go broke if they only plan million-dollar affairs.

Ask about the average wedding size for the planner that you’re considering. They’ll know which florists will accommodate parties within your budget and understand the food needs for your guests.

Ask About Past Experience with the Venue

Ideally, you want to find a wedding planner who has a long history with your selected venue. If they know the hotel managers and staff, then they’ll understand their options. Your wedding planner might be able to negotiate a special package with additional perks to whatever the destination wedding venue typically offers.

This relationship also means more time could be given to planning your day. If the wedding planner has multiple weddings at that resort every few months, then they’re likely to have meetings with the staff and ask about multiple brides at once. This way your planner isn’t going out of their way just to confirm the table settings.

Local Resort and Vendor Knowledge is a Must

Make sure your wedding planner has a strong list of vendors for catering and music, and a deep knowledge of the area. After all, you’re hiring this person for their local expertise.

Not only will a diverse list of vendors make your day unique, it will also help in a crisis. If your hairdresser gets sick the day of your wedding, then your coordinator needs to have a last-minute back-up plan for the whole wedding party. Having connections in the area will open doors and create solutions.

Most importantly, you want a wedding planner who can execute your vision. A great wedding planner will take your dream and make it a reality — without any stress on your part.