Hi, loves! This post is an important one: pin it, tweet it, facebook it (however you’d like to share it) because you’ll want it for later! Today we’re sharing part one (of four) on How to Plan a Honeymoon. In this post, we’ll cover what you need to do to plan a honeymoon eight months to one year before your trip. (Did you know you needed to start planning that early? It was news to me when I planned my honeymoon, too.) We’ll be doing one post a week, so by the end of July you’ll be on your way to planning the perfect honeymoon vacation. Now, some of these may seem obvious, but it helps to have them all in one (easy-to-reference) place. Let’s get started, shall we? Oh, and I wanted to mention that there is an awesome giveaway happening inside this post by ArenLace… so don’t miss it!

How to Plan a Honeymoon – Part 1

Eight Months to One Year Before the Trip

1. Set your budget.

Set your budget right off the bat. This will also help determine where you’d like to go, based on what you can (comfortably) afford. Don’t forget to allocate funds for activities, food, and incidentals while you’re there. It’s always better to have more than enough money than to be worried about every penny while on your honeymoon. Need help setting a budget? Read how to plan your honeymoon on a budget.

2. Call a travel agent (if you plan to use one).

If you want to take the guesswork out of planning your honeymoon, a travel agent can be an invaluable resource. A good travel agent will know the best locations, deals, and places to visit while you’re there. Most times, the fees that travel agents charge is nominal.

3. Pick a place.

Narrow it down and pick your perfect honeymoon destination. We’ve showed some amazing destinations in the past here.

4. Make travel arrangements (flight + hotel).

Once you’ve picked the place, book it! Book your flight and hotel accommodations as soon as possible. Read this excellent post about the best time to book airline tickets before you buy — it could save you a bundle. Look up ticket prices on Kayak — I’ve always saved the most money on my own trips using that service. Don’t forget to pick the best seats on the plane before you book by using this. It will actually look up the type of plane being used on your flight and then give you a breakdown of the best seats on the flight. I used to book corporate travel for a past employer and I always picked the best seats (most legroom, away from the lavatory and galley, largest armrest).

5. Get a passport or renew yours (if you need one).

Since a passport lasts four years, you can renew or get yours now and save yourself the headache closer to the wedding.

Giveaway: Win a honeymoon dress!

Now that you know the first steps on how to plan a honeymoon, it’s time to win a little something to take with you! We’ve teamed up with ArenLace to offer a ‘Bride’ honeymoon maxi dress to one lucky reader! It is black and white with ‘Bride’ on the front in rhinestones. Dress is long-length and has a strapless top. So cute! Perfect for wearing on the beach.

Giveaway Details

o Enter between 7/2/14-7/9/14 (11:59pm EST) using giveaway form below
o Prize: Bride maxi dress by ArenLace

• 95% rayon 5% spandex
• Machine wash cold, gentle cycle, hang dry

o Winner will be randomly selected and announced on 7/10; winner announced on this blog post and emailed
o Winner has 72 hours to respond to email or new winner will be selected
o No purchase necessary
o Winner has 6 months to claim prize
o Prize value: $35.00
o Shipping included to U.S. only
o Past giveaway winners within 30 days not eligible to win
o Use entry form below to enter
o No cash value

Good Luck!

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Look for part two on How to Plan a Honeymoon coming next Wednesday! Better yet, subscribe for FREE so you don’t miss it!

Have any tips to add?

Leave your comments below!

xo
-E.

Want more? Check out these 50 best honeymoon tips!