If you’re getting married this year or next, there’s no better time than now to start working on your destination wedding checklist. Flowers? Check. Rings? Check. Location? Check!

There’s an art to planning a destination wedding, especially if your wedding venue is an all-inclusive resort, and the devil is often in the details. For everything to be perfect, from rehearsal dinner to wedding ceremony, you need the expert assistance of someone who has an eye for organization and a passion for making dreams come true. Hernán Arenas Prado, wedding sales manager at Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort, is just the man for the job.

Says Arenas Prado, “[Couples] have to be authentic in their vision and vibe for what they want for their big day. It has to represent them. They can’t feel pressure to be something that they are not.”

Prado recommends first finding a wedding planner who you truly connect with. “You have to connect with your wedding planner because you are also getting “married” [to] them for about one year, so you have to feel comfortable.”

Then, work with your wedding planner to get a full view of all the components you’ll need to keep in mind, including budget, venue, guest list, invitations, menu, decor, a photographer and music. Once you’ve made your list (and checked it twice!), trust your wedding planner to execute your ideas. This way, you’ll get nothing short of wedding bliss once the big day rolls around.

So, grab your pen and paper and follow along as Arenas Prado shares his tips for the perfect destination wedding.