The wedding fantasy of most young girls involves a dress fit for a princess, a sparkly ring, and we mustn’t forget about the handsome groom.  But when a woman reaches her twenties, priorities sometimes shift. Sure, the three Ds (dress, diamond and dude) are still part of the dream wedding recipe, but another important ingredient gets added to the mix: the indescribably excellent honeymoon.

If there’s not much money in the piggy bank, however, you may be worrying that a honeymoon isn’t in the cards for you. Not true. With just a little planning and some creative thinking, the perfect, affordable, newlywed getaway may be more achievable than you think.

Budget Honeymoon Tip #1: Stay Close to Home

The absolutely best way to make a budget honeymoon happen is to stick close to home. Take some time to look at your surroundings through a set of honeymoon lenses. Are there any romantic bed and breakfasts within driving distance? Perhaps you live in a great city, but never seem to take advantage of it all. We’ve all heard of “stay-cations”… why not plan a “stay-moon”?

Budget Honeymoon Tip #2: Beg (With Dignity, of Course!)

You’ve always loved Aunt Edna; she’s a little kooky and has a penchant for saying it like it is. Since she’s never been one to shy away from bluntness, why not ask if she’ll lend you her lovely timeshare as a wedding present?

Don’t have a relative with a timeshare? No Matter. Nowadays, it is perfectly acceptable for couples to create a honeymoon registry.  Don’t expect one person to fork over all the dough, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many people will chip in to make your honeymoon happen!

Budget Honeymoon Tip #3: Tropical Can Be Cheap

If a tropical honeymoon is what you’ve always dreamed of, you can still make it happen on the cheap. A lot of people forget that Florida is more than just Disney World and club-centric Miami. There are hundreds of hotels, resorts and getaways perfectly suited for a budget honeymoon. Other less expensive tropical destinations include Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

Budget Honeymoon Tip #4: Go Rugged

If the goal of your honeymoon is to really get away from it all after the wedding, consider camping. No longer is camping reserved for just the outdoorsy types. It’s the 21st century and “luxury camping” is en vogue. The best part, a 5-star camping trip is significantly cheaper than a 5-star spa getaway (and you can always choose a camping ground with natural, free hot-tubs). Besides, Mother Nature doesn’t mess around; the national parks are more beautiful and soothing than anything you’ll experience at a luxury resort.

Remember, don’t let a little thing like a bank account get in the way of making your dream honeymoon a reality.  When your big day comes to its emotional, exciting, whirlwind close, you’re going to want to escape, relax, decompress and spend time with your new spouse. So don’t be discouraged, and start planning that budget honeymoon today!

Author’s Bio

Heather Johnson writes for HoneymoonDestinations.org, the best honeymoon research and planning website.

Post to Twitter Tweet This Post