Begin planning your honeymoon by finding a quiet space and time to seriously discuss and agree upon a budget. When you do your calculations, make sure you take everything into account: transportation (ticket prices for air, sea or ground travel, port fees), car, taxi, food (snacks, meals, in-room service), entertainment (entry fees, passes, tickets), shopping (gifts for yourselves and those "at home"), and miscellaneous items (postage, taxes, tips, etc.).

Book your honeymoon at least six months in advance. You don't want to come up short because the date you have picked falls on or near a holiday, or during the peak season. Travel agents usually have prices available for the following season and, if the prices haven't been posted yet, your agent can put you on a priority wait-list to ensure you get the dates you want.

Tipping deserve a special line in your budget. They should not be overlooked, because they can add significantly to your bottom line. You may use these numbers as a guide, while keeping in mind that it is absolutely up to you to decide whether or not the service you received warrants a tip.

Doorman - $1 to call or hail a cab. Bellhop - $1 per bag. Valet Parking - $1 to park or retrieve your car. Taxi driver- 15% of the fare. Tour Guide or Bus Driver - $1-2 per day. Chambermaid - $1-2 per day. Rest Room Attendants - .25 - .50 cents. Coatroom Attendant - .50 - $1.00 per coat/item. Waiter Person and/or Bartender - 15-20% of the bill. Keep in mind that in many countries a 15% gratuity is automatically added to your bill.

Once the two of you have agreed on a budget, put it in writing, so you can refer and stick to it.

Consider enlisting a travel consultant to help with planning your trip. These professionals can assist you with whatever specific questions you have. They not only have access to information which you may find yourself in other resources such as the web, but also have the benefit of experience and feedback from other clientele. Find a really good travel agent by asking for recommendations from friends and family. Travel agencies build their businesses on referrals, so they will be happy to share the names of past clients. Working with an experienced professional can make the process easier and quicker, especially if you are looking for an out-of-the-ordinary honeymoon, anything from trekking to upscale cruises to a safari in Africa. Travel agencies have that information at their finger tips.

If the travel agent you pick will not give you all the details of your trip, in writing, consider it a red flag and find someone else. Details should be everything from sightseeing packages, to local customs and local taxes to service charges. One of the biggest advantages of working with a travel agent is that he or she can tell you, in advance, all the expenditures you will have for your honeymoon. That will allow you to budget properly and arrange in to have the proper amount of funds (cash, traveler's check, etc.) with you on your trip.

As you should do with all your wedding professionals, if your travel agent doesn't come to you from a referral, you can check with your local Better Business Bureau to see if there are any outstanding complaints about them. Referrals work well because most savvy travel agents will work especially hard for customers who send them business, or for new customers who are coming to them by referral.

Carefully weigh the options of honeymoon locations. Balance what is important to you with what you have chosen to spend. Don't get stuck. Consider options. Ask yourselves questions. Would you rather stay closer to home and spend less on travel, so you can spend more on a fancier hotel? Would a driving vacation work for you, with or without a romantic B&B weekend in the middle or at the end? Are accommodations more important to you than fine (usually synonymous with pricey), food or is a luxury hotel important to you? Remember to think out of the box, using the parameters and priorities that are important to you!

The latter refer to Club Med type vacations that can include everything from airfare to accommodations, from tours to transportation. This type of honeymoon often is more cost-effective than a comparable trip you may plan "piece by piece." Be mindful of what you like and will do, because if the "menu options" are not for you, with this kind of honeymoon you may wind up paying for things you don't want or won't use. If, for example, your package includes an open bar, but you don't drink, or SCUBA diving and you're not interested, then you should be rethinking your options.

All-inclusive honeymoon venues will ensure that you will have no worries about money, because all the budget decisions are made ahead of time . . . everything, even taxes and gratuities. You'll have lots of different types of honeymoons to pick from, which are all-inclusive . . . resorts, to travel tours, to cruises.

If your schedules allow you to make last minute plans, your travel agent can look for special deals, which will save you a significant amount of money. All you need is to be adventuresome and, perhaps, willing to pick something that may not be exactly what you had in mind.

Ask about travel and cancellation insurance which can cover your luggage loss or damage and get refunds for you if in the event of illness or death. Some insurance companies even will cover you for failure or default by a tour operator. The more inclusive the policy, the more it will cost, but the more valuable it will be in the event of a glitch in your plans.

If you make your own travel arrangements and reservations, let everyone you speak to know that you are newlyweds. Hotels often provide special goodies or no-charge services to welcome you. Remember, they know you have a lifetime of vacations to plan together.

When planning your honeymoon getaway, consider spending the night of your wedding locally. A good night's sleep will have you refreshed. Leaving on your honeymoon a day or even two after your reception, will give you cool-down, get-ready time. If you're flying out of an airport, a nearby hotel makes bad weather less of an issue and pinning down travel time, unnecessary. Give yourself another bonus for recovery time by avoiding an early morning flight. Your wedding day will be wonderfully hectic and getting quality sleep time may not be easy because of wind-down time. If you can, treat yourself to that little bit of de-stressing time.

Keep in mind that your travel time before loading or boarding will be influenced by heightened security. Make sure you check and have with you every type of identification you will need. Check your carry-on baggage for items that will tag and bounce your luggage, like your little all-purpose Swiss army knife or metal nail file. Be careful to keep the names on your I.D. and tickets coordinated. Don't be stopped by the "maiden name versus married name" glitch. If possible, pack a first day's change of clothes in your carry-on luggage. That will be your backup in the event that you and your luggage wind up in different places.

If you are leaving the country, remember that you must have the proper identification and documents with them. In the Caribbean a driver's licence and certified birth certificate, not a copy, will do. For travel abroad to other countries you will need passports and, in some cases, visas. Plan early because you may need between 4-6 weeks to get passports. With the new security systems in airports, couples should be mindful of extended wait times. Security and check in procedures domestically require at least one hour wait time. For international flights, two hours is advisable.

Be creative when it comes to packing for your honeymoon. Here's where each of you can use your imagination and include some special romantic goodies, like incense, "smelly" soaps, massage oil, reading/reciting material, and fancy or funny lingerie. Packing is an art form whose results can seriously enhance or detract from your honeymoon, so take your time. Make a list. "Tour" your medicine cabinet for toiletry and health-related items. Almost everything away from home is more expensive and may be time-consuming or difficult to find. Layering is a system that works. Rain gear can prove invaluable. It's worth buying and packing "collapsible," lightweight coverups and a little umbrella.

Many couples today have already set up homes. Sixty percent is the most recent number). That makes it difficult to buy something for them that they don't already have. Some travel agencies have set up Bridal Registries and make the gift-buying process easy for family and friends. Gift Certificates are available for purchase and can be written for any amount. The certificate can be applied toward the couple's honeymoon trip, or for ‘extras' like spa credits, extra tours.

Remember that not every honeymoon needs to happen right after the wedding day. There can be any number of reasons to postpone your plans . . . a better season, a better time to take off from work, a time when you'll be more rested. Keep in mind that it's you who are doing the planning and you can do what works for you, rather than what "everyone else does."

If you plan carefully and in an organized way and you leave yourself lots of time to do things meticulously and calmly, you'll be ready to have a great time on your honeymoon.