The honeymoon is one of the most important aspects of any wedding – ideally, it’s a chance for the happy couple to relax after the pressures of the big day and to enjoy a trip that they will remember for the rest of their lives. However, it can also be one of the most costly aspects of a wedding – the cost of a honeymoon at a luxury resort now averages between $7,000 and $10,000.

Some obvious advice is don’t spend more than you can afford on your honeymoon. An exotic location or a luxury resort is nice, but an enjoyable honeymoon can be experienced closer to home – and at a fraction of the cost. A week at a resort in the Caribbean will cost less than the same week in the South Pacific; and an all-inclusive package will help keep the costs down. Consider taking your honeymoon in the off-season – sometimes even a couple of weeks can mean a big cost saving.

Traditionally, the honeymoon is the groom’s responsibility, although ideally couples should plan their honeymoon together. Determine whether you want a honeymoon where you are busy and active, a relaxing honeymoon, or a combination of the two. It’s also a good idea to plan for some down time during the first day or two – especially if you are leaving on your honeymoon immediately after the ceremony. Choose a destination that is new to both of you.

Start planning your honeymoon ahead of time – don’t leave everything until the last minute. Many popular honeymoon destinations can get booked up a long way ahead of time. Try to pack lightly and have your luggage ready to go ahead of time – it is one less thing to do on the day of the wedding. A good travel agent can put together a honeymoon package for you – it’s worth any extra cost.

Don’t forget all the practicalities – the bride should book airline and cruise tickets in her maiden name, to match the name on her passport and then change her name later. Take a copy of your marriage license with you on your honeymoon in case it’s needed for any reason and call your credit card company to let them know that you will be using the card out of the country.

One effective way to reduce the cost of the honeymoon is to allow the wedding guests to pay for it. A honeymoon registry works in much the same way as a bridal registry – the couple comes up with a wish list for their honeymoon that includes any airline tickets, accommodation, meals and other extras. Guests can choose to purchase components of the honeymoon package, or contribute to the total cost of the trip.

One final tip – when you are planning and booking your honeymoon package, make sure people know that it’s your honeymoon! It may mean an upgraded room, or flowers or champagne waiting for you. It all helps to make your honeymoon special.