Seven mistakes to avoid
on your honeymoon

One of our favorite honeymoon sites is Honeymoon Disasters, which collects stories of truly awful, disastrous honeymoons. Now, we know your honeymoon won't win the honeymoon disasters contest . . . but it never hurts to be a little careful, does it? Start out by reviewing these common-sense tips.

1. Don't sweat it.

It's your honeymoon, not a Broadway production and certainly not the Normandy invasion. Yes, you're going to need to do some planning to have a fun and safe trip, but more than one honeymoon has been killed by an overzealous planner. Even if the whole honeymoon is a disaster, you've still got each other...not to mention the rest of your lives to travel together, and to laugh about your honeymoon mishaps.

2. Don't blow off planning.

Life's all about balance, isn't it? So you don't want to make your honeymoon into a do-or-die production, but a reasonable amount of planning can save you a lot of money—and a lot of trouble—in the long run. First, if you aren't experienced travelers, get some general travel advice from good travel guides, either in your local library or online. (You can begin at our Travel Guides page.) Next, read up about your destination in professionally written guides. (See our Destination Guides page.) Finally, find out as much as you can from others who have actually been to your destination—either friends or family, or people who have posted their honeymoon stories online.

3. Don't go into debt.

Yes, it's your honeymoon, and it should be memorable and romantic...but you don't have to spend anything (or at least not much) to create memories and romance. So resist the temptation to splurge on the ultimate honeymoon, especially if it means you'll be going into debt to do so—double especially if it means racking up credit card debt. Money issues are one of the leading causes of tension for married couples, and you don't want to start out your married life worrying about how to pay off your $10,000 credit card bill for that honeymoon tour of Europe. (For money-saving tips, see our Cheap Honeymoon Ideas section.)

4. Don't wait too long to book your destination.

You know how reception sites tend to fill up as much as a year in advance? The same is often true when it comes to the most popular honeymoon destinations. Even if a destination has lots of accommodations (think Vegas or Hawaii), the best ones—and the best deals—fill up early. You will need to apply for your passport (or renew it) well in advance of your departure date, too. So narrow down the possibilities for your honeymoon as soon as possible, and do a little research to find out how early you have to make reservations.

5. Don't ignore the fine print.

Before you pay for your travel, read the fine print. Are there hidden fees or charges? (Be especially wary of hidden expenses on package deals.) Are the accommodations guaranteed? Can you get a refund if you have to reschedule? Is there a detailed description of what is being offered, not just vague promises? Bring along any paperwork documenting the purchase agreement (including printouts of promises and policies from company websites) so that you have something to back you up in a dispute.

6. Don't leave right after the wedding.

Unless you're getting married at your honeymoon destination, it's probably wise to schedule some downtime after the wedding before you have to travel anywhere...at the very least, avoid taking the red-eye flight the day after the wedding.

7. Pack your sense of humor.

All of the couples who shared their stories at the Honeymoon Disasters website managed to survive their ordeals—often with the help of a good sense of humor. If you don't expect your honeymoon to be perfect, you'll be in a better position to treat whatever may come as an adventure...or at least fodder for a good story down the road. To help put things in perspective, take a whirl through the Honeymoon Disasters website. Then, if anything goes wrong on your honeymoon, you'll be able to say, "Hey, at least we didn't find a dead body in our suite!" It's also a good place to pick up more honeymoon tips, like...don't bring your best friend on your honeymoon...and don't burn down the bed-and-breakfast with your romantic candles....