Planning your honeymoon is almost as much fun as planning your wedding. You want your first trip as a married couple to be memorable, and it can be tempting to just do whatever you want. After all, you're probably going to get a lot of cash as wedding gifts, so why not?
Well, you want to be able to eat and see the sights when you get there, so you have to be smart about how you set things up. Even if they are on a tight budget, many couples find that they can still have a great honeymoon if they plan ahead.
When should the honeymoon be planned? Earlier is always better, especially if you want to go to a popular place during a busy time. But at the very least, it's a good idea to set aside money for this trip while you're making your wedding budget and go from there.
To make a good budget, you need to think about what you can do and, of course, you need to be realistic. Start planning your honeymoon by thinking about what you and your partner like to do in your free time, where you've always wanted to go, and what you'll actually do while you're away. You can also get honeymoon ideas from the Internet or from a travel agent.
Once you've decided where you want to go, it's time to start making travel plans. There are deals out there, but you have to be proactive to find them. Don't give up; it will probably be worth the trouble. And getting the lowest price might not always be part of a great deal. The extras are what will make this trip something out of the ordinary. You might get a suite with a beautiful view or be greeted with a bottle of champagne as part of the deal.
When there are only three months left until the wedding, you should have made all of your travel plans. Know where you're going, how you're going to get to the airport (after the reception), and how you're going to get to your accommodations when you get there. Once you're settled, the rest of your trip can go as planned. You can plan day trips ahead of time if you want to. Make sure that any vaccinations and passports are still valid at this point.
A few weeks before your departure, start gathering the things you'll bring with you on your honeymoon: camera and film/memory cards, swimsuits, day and evening wear, traveler's checks, tickets, documents, confirmation numbers for ALL reservations (including person's name if possible), and a bit of local currency for tipping. Put away someplace safe.
Then, when the stress of the next few days gets too much to handle, close your eyes and picture yourself and your new spouse laying around your honeymoon suite, not caring about anything but how soon you can go back.
