Whether you've always dreamed of a faraway wedding in a crumbling Irish castle, a small adobe church in New Mexico, or a balmy beach in the Caribbean, making your fantasy destination wedding a reality isn't as difficult -- or as expensive -- as you might think.

Your Budget
First of all, there is a destination wedding for nearly every price range. And because some of your wedding costs, like your dress, your rings, and your honeymoon, are relatively static no matter where you wed, it's best to concentrate your budget energy on the more obvious variables like travel, accommodations, dining, and ceremony and reception sites.
If you're on a strict budget, opt for less expensive destinations, or destinations that offer a wide range of dining and lodging options. If you wed in at a top travel spot, consider choosing an off-season date, and explore local neighborhoods with less touristy price tags for other aspects of your event, like your rehearsal dinner. And if you plan to arrive at your destination a few days before your wedding, be sure to inquire about a weekly hotel rate.

Your Guest List
At every wedding, there's usually someone who has traveled some distance to be a part of the festivities. At a destination wedding, nearly everyone travels, including the bride and groom. That being the case, it's best to accept the fact that your wedding may not be large. After all, not everyone can afford the expenditures of hotel and airfare. But that doesn't mean you should count on guests declining your invitation. Some wedding destinations, particularly fabulous vacation areas, are just too tempting to resist -- even if they are expensive.

Give Your Guests A Heads Up
It's important to give your guests as much advance notice about your wedding as possible. That means, send out save-the-date cards a minimum of three months in advance so your guests can make the necessary travel and vacation arrangements. Reserve a block of rooms at two hotels in different price ranges, and direct all your invitees to your Wedding Website, where you can post all your Wedding Details and Out-of-Town Guest Information. If your wedding is in another country, consider reserving a block of seats with an airline. Many carriers offer discounts to passengers with groups over ten.

On Location
Unless you plan to hop on a plane once a week, you should have someone physically at your wedding location to help you plan, scout for vendors, and handle meetings and details. This person can be a professional wedding planner, a resort or hotel wedding coordinator, or in rare instances, a friend or family member who lives in or around your wedding locale. Whoever you choose, your on-location contact must be reliable, familiar with your wedding style, and aware of your wedding budget. They also must be physically, emotionally, mentally, and geographically prepared to take on the challenges planning your wedding will involve.

If you are getting married at a resort, tourist destination, or hotel, consider asking your concierge or ceremony/reception site contact to recommend a wedding planner, or help coordinate the details. Even better, some hotels and resorts have on-site wedding coordinators and customizable wedding packages, so your event can be perfectly planned while you're literally worlds away. If you have the option, be sure to take advantage of all the services you have available to you. Determine which decisions are best left to your coordinator, and which you prefer to make yourself. However you split up the tasks, it is imperative you make your requests as specific as possible. Remember, no one, not even your mother, can read your mind. You will probably visit your location before the event, so make the best of your time "on location."
You might want to have your coordinator screen several possible vendors, so you can make a quick, final decision.