THE PERFECT HONEYMOON...Paying for Your Honeymoon
By Emma McKnight 
Your honeymoon can be a "let's get away and regroup after this hectic time," or it can be your "once in a lifetime dream vacation." You and your fiancé will decide. Depending on how early in the process you start, you can pay your honeymoon over time and truly enjoy the time together.
If you want this to be your once in a lifetime dream vacation, you should plan on spending about 10% of your entire wedding budget. This is not included in your wedding budget--it is an entirely separate budget.
Deposits Several all-inclusives require only a deposit to book space and a final due date. Once the deposit is made, payments are usually accepted either bi-monthly, monthly, or even quarterly. If that option isn't available, you can also open a bank account and make regularly scheduled deposits just as you would make payments. When the final payment or balance due date occurs, the money is available.
Airlines usually require payment in full and tickets are usually charged or a debit card may be used. Just make sure you can pay it off before departure. If you book a cruise with air or a resort with air, the air portion is usually included in the total costs, so the deposit covers everything.
Honeymoon registries. Toasters, towels and blenders gave way to gas grills, flat screen TVs and now you can even register your dream honeymoon. Most wedding guests expect you to give them gift ideas in the form of registries. Your registry usually supplies them with a list of items you want. A honeymoon registry allows guests to cover a part--possibly all--of your honeymoon. This is a gift that will help you create an absolutely incredible memory.
Charge Cards. DO NOT CHARGE YOUR HONEYMOON. You want to enjoy this time not worry about future payments. When your trip is already paid, you can truly let go. If you see charging your honeymoon as the only way, why not try changing your destination or length of stay to accommodate your budget? You can always opt for local B&B for a few days after the wedding. Then opt for a longer more lavish destination for your first anniversary.
My daughter and her new husband married in September. They wanted to cruise the Greek isles and swim in the Mediterranean. They put off their honeymoon
until next summer for optimal weather. It also gave them the time to finish paying for their honeymoon.
There isn't any one size fits all. Whatever your idea of a honeymoon, with careful planning and sticking with your budget, you can make it as personal as your wedding day.
Emma McKnight is travel agent specializing in cruise vacation. View her website at Cruise With Emma or contact her.