It’s all about planning! You have planned your wedding, and now it’s time to prepare for the honeymoon. Creating a budget could be the key to making your travel dreams come true.  According to Costhelper.com, the average honeymoon costs around $3,400-$5,100 for a week-long vacation. So, how can you get the most bang for your buck and honeymoon on a budget?

  1. Establish a Budget:
  • Overall wants and needs: Think about what is most important to you both during the honeymoon. Do you like to lay low on the beach all day? Are you looking for an all-inclusive experience, so you don’t have to lift a finger? Do you want to travel abroad and backpack through other countries? You need to establish what you wish to experience overall out of this adventure.
  • Be honest with yourself: Is this a realistic option based on time and cost? You have created the trip length and experiences you hope to have. Now consider the cost of flights, accommodations, locations, transportation, meals, special excursions and honeymoon packages offered by different accommodations. Establish a range of prices based on your current savings and income. As much as it hurts, you need to be as realistic as possible while planning this romantic adventure. 
  • Details, details, details: You have established an overall baseline budget. Now you can look into specific excursions or restaurants that you long to visit. It can seem daunting and nit-picky, but mapping out the foundation of each day such as; breakfast at your hotel for free, horse rides on the beach for $100 total, then lay on the beach and finally dinner at that restaurant on the beach your dying to try (around $75-$120). Going day by day will help you effectively balance your spending during the week.
  1. Begin Saving:
  • You have established your budget, and now you can start tucking away money! If you know, you will merge your savings accounts after the wedding; you could consider opening up a joint savings account that you can both start pooling money in as soon as possible.
  • Your bank will also allow you to set up a reoccurring deposit into the account each pay period or monthly. The automatic transfer will ensure you stay on track with saving. There is a multitude of apps available to help manage your spending habits and help you identify where you can cut costs. Some budgeters’ favorite apps include Mint or Digit. These many not completely fund your honeymoon, but they offer insight into spending and saving habits and are useful for any budget planning.
  1. Booking Tips:
  • Travel during the off-season. Businesses that are dependent upon tourism will offer deals on travel and accommodations to bring in customers. Do some research on the destination and when their off-season tourism months are.
  • Don’t automatically fall for the Honeymoon Package. Do the math if the cost of a room upgrade, champagne in your room, and possibly a credit at the bar is really worth it. These packages tend to be more expensive but could offer additional amenities that you are seeking.
  • Try a road trip. You could visit multiple places while having that time together while driving to your next location. You will be able to avoid pricey flights and international traveling. It is relatively easy to find budget-friendly accommodations and unique local businesses to explore.
  • Book off-hour flights. Many people avoid the early morning or late night flight times. You could save a considerable amount of money by booking that 7 a.m. flight instead of the 2 p.m. flight.  
  1. Destinations:

      Here are some budget-friendly destinations in the US and internationally to consider:

  • Philippines
  • Cape May, NJ
  • Jamaica
  • Puerto Rico
  • Carmel, CA
  • Riviera Maya, México
  • Portugal
  • Sonoma, California
  • Charleston, South Carolina
  • Cape Cod, Massachusetts
  • Sedona, Arizona

Planning your honeymoon when funds are tight may seem like a daunting task. Make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare. That way, your budget can accommodate all of the fun activities you are planning. And remember, the most important thing is you have married the partner of your dreams, so even a weekend away with your new bride or groom can be special.