Top trends in honeymoon planning

     For many couples, planning a honeymoon is just as important as planning the wedding itself. Regardless of where you plan to go on your honeymoon, there are some things you need to know in order to make your experience all you want it to be.

     Budget. If money is not an issue for you, bon voyage! However, if you’re like most couples getting married, you’re already paying for more than you anticipated. Establish a budget and use it as a guide. To save money, consider using a honeymoon bridal registry like the free one provided by TheHoneymoon.com (www.thehoneymoon.com). Honeymoon registries are gift registries that allow wedding guests to buy specific components of your honeymoon as wedding gifts. Things like shore excursions, parasailing, spa services, and tours all make very memorable wedding gifts. These are becoming more popular as today’s couples often already have many of the basic household necessities that comprise a traditional gift registry.

Whitney and Seabren Reeves kayak in Skillings River to a private island at the end of their wedding day, July 4, 2005. MARK DECRACKER PHOTO

    Destination Weddings. When your dream wedding takes place on a beach at sunset in the Caribbean or in a romantic castle in Ireland, or other locale, you are a candidate for a “destination wedding.” These are becoming popular as more couples (especially second marriages) decide to forego the average $20,000+ wedding price tag in addition to the honeymoon expense. With a destination wedding, you can get married and enjoy your honeymoon all in one location or you can explore the sights with your family and friends before the wedding and then take off to enjoy a secluded honeymoon after the ceremony. It’s easier to get married in some countries than others, so check with sources like TheHoneymoon.com or a honeymoon specialist travel agent who is knowledgeable about your destination.

     Dream location. After deciding on a budget, you need to figure out where you would like to go. If you and your spouse-to-be want the same type of honeymoon experience, no problem. However, if one of you wants adventure and the other wants to relax in the sun, you need to compromise. There are destinations that can satisfy you both. You just need to do some research, whether it be speaking with a travel agent, talking to recent honeymooners or hitting online vacation resources.

     Type of honeymoon. Once a budget has been established and you know where you want to go, you need to decide whether you want an all-inclusive package or whether you would prefer to be on your own. For those with tight budgets, an all-inclusive honeymoon package for a resort or cruise includes food, drink, entertainment and most activities. However, you usually need to pay for activities such as motorized water sports and shore excursions. Again, these make great gift items for your honeymoon registry.

     Ambience. If you prefer to be on your own to take in more of the surrounding area and culture, then you have a lot of options at your disposal -- the world is a big place. As great as the all-inclusive resort is, it represents only a small niche in the world of travel. If you’re a culture vulture and are interested in touring France or Italy, for example, you will need more than one place to stay. Do you prefer a big hotel or a quaint little inn, which might reflect more of the surrounding culture? If you like to experience the world through your taste buds, you may not like being limited to an all-inclusive’s limited offerings. You’ll want a variety of gastronomical adventures, from elegant five-star restaurants to streetside bistros. In other words, if you don’t want to be confined to a predetermined menu of activities and dining experiences, then you may be better off customizing an itinerary uniquely suited to your own wishes and create “your own” experience. This type of honeymoon invariably requires a honeymoon specialist who is an expert on the destinations you wish to visit.

     Now you need to book and pay for the trip. Many honeymoon suppliers offer specials for early booking, which may include airfare. Usually, these packages need to be purchased from a travel agent or from businesses that combine travel agent referral services with the convenience of using the Internet. They also provide a honeymoon registry, personal wedding Web pages, and honeymoon information, all of which can be accessed from your home or office computer via the Internet. Don’t you just love the convenience?