Are there wedding bells in your near future? If you’re engaged and reading this article, you likely have a lot of questions on your mind. How can I plan an unforgettable wedding? Should we go on a honeymoon right away? Where will we live once we’re married? Should we combine our finances? Thinking about all of these questions can begin to feel overwhelming. The idea of going on an extravagant honeymoon, a bucket list trip, or your dream vacation is what most people think of when they hear the word honeymoon. But with sky-high wedding expenses, rent, and home prices going up, how can you make your dream a reality? Well, we got you! 18 Tips for Planning a Honeymoon That Doesn’t Break the Bank But before you pull out a credit card and begin booking first-class flights and a 5-star hotel in Tahiti, take a deep breath and close your eyes to imagine your life upon return. Does a credit card bill that could take years to pay off sound appealing? While your tropical tan will fade in just a few weeks, your family finances could be devastated for years and prevent you from living the lifestyle you desire. Fortunately, there are many people who have walked in your shoes with real-life experiences and professional insights to help you plan a honeymoon you’ll remember forever, without breaking the bank. We asked others to share their honeymoon budget tips so you can spend less time worrying about how to pay, and more time thinking about how you’ll play (while keeping enough money in the bank for a rainy day). Because those rainy days may come faster than you think! When we returned from our honeymoon, our only car died two weeks later and we had to get a new one. That was definitely not in our plan! 1. Avoid Going into Debt to Pay for Your Honeymoon Planning for a honeymoon should be considered an early financial fire drill for newlyweds. Much can be learned about the health of your communications around money and your mutual willingness to delay gratification if needed. There is no scenario where debt should be incurred in planning a honeymoon. Having a functional household budget and a healthy emergency fund will feel softer than the pillows at any resort. Russ Kefauver, AWMA, CRPC | Kefauver Financial Planning 2. Prepare a Honeymoon Travel Budget Even a trip as special as a honeymoon can be stressful if you’re on a limited budget.  Worrying about money is the last thing you should be doing while celebrating with your new spouse. Before you book your trip, brainstorm what costs you will incur and estimate the amounts. Put all of the information together to create a travel budget that will act as a roadmap to guide you through the process of planning and saving for your honeymoon. Taking some extra time to prepare a travel budget will ensure you can focus on enjoying your honeymoon instead of feeling overwhelmed