Honeymoon planning mistakes can cause you to not have that much needed dream vacation.

The honeymoon is a much-needed reward after months of wedding planning. For many couples, it’s also the trip of a lifetime — the first long trip taken together. Avoid these planning mistakes:

1. Procrastination

The ideal time to book your honeymoon is six to eight months prior, especially if you’re planning to go to a specialized resort, as premium rooms book up early.  Mergers between major airlines means fewer flights, longer layovers, and higher prices.

2. Not sharing the planning

When it comes to wedding planning, divide and conquer is often the best approach. . Too often, if one person handles the planning, you end up with a trip that’s more tailored to his or her desires. Unless your spouse-to-be is uncommonly perceptive about your travel wishes and peeves, honeymoon planning should be a joint effort.

3. Choosing your friends honeymoon

They had the best honeymoon, right? It’s tempting to simply copy another couple’s honeymoon itinerary. Your pals may have loved that no-stress all-inclusive resort, but you might find it limits you. It’s okay to get ideas from friends and family, but take it as an idea. This is your big trip; make it to yours.

4. Not being clear about what you want

When you think “exotic destination,” does that mean a luxury resort on an island renowned for its natural beauty? Or do you define it as a faraway foreign country where you don’t speak the language? The difference between your “relaxing” and “boring” isn’t always immediately clear. Define it! If you’re using a travel agent, a good one will know the right questions to ask. We at Brides Travel will always ask you, what are the three words that describe your dream honeymoon?  This will start the process.

5. Relying on Internet research

Web research can provide good ideas, but a friend or travel agent with first-hand knowledge is the best resource.  Reviews can help you get a feel for a place, the information can be outdated, biased, or worse: fraudulent. Maybe the reviewer had different expectations because of poor planning!

6. Not using a travel agent

It’s true that travel agents make their livelihoods by booking trips, but using one doesn’t mean your honeymoon will be more expensive. In fact, travel agents have insider knowledge on deals and discounts and cultivate personal relationships with hoteliers, which can sometimes mean a room’s suddenly available in a booked-solid hotel. They also save you endless research time and can offer first-hand destination knowledge.

7. Shortchanging the honeymoon budget

Weddings can get costly quickly, and it’s tempting to take it out of the honeymoon budget. But think about it: The typical wedding ceremony lasts six hours, while honeymoons usually last 10 to 14 days. Which one do you think you’ll remember more? You may also consider a destination wedding.  The honeymoon starts immediately and the costs compared to a wedding at home could be dramatically less.

8. Leaving too soon after the wedding

It happens in movies: The happy couple floats strait from their reception to the airport, en route to their honeymoon. But the pros advise giving yourself some time to catch your breath between the ceremony and the big trip. You may have had a little too much to drink the night before, and you’ll definitely be exhausted, so give yourself a chance to rest.

9. Not balancing your activities

For most couples, a mix of adventure and relaxation makes for the perfect honeymoon. You’ll want to explore new lands and take part in exciting activities together, whether that means horse back ridding through the rain forest or exploring a European city on foot. But you’ll also need time to recharge before getting back to reality. Be sure not to wear yourselves out — or give yourselves an opportunity to get bored.

10. Winging it entirely

Remember, your honeymoon isn’t like any other vacation. It’s the break between one of the biggest moments in your life and your new life together. Give yourself a break by going with a basic structure — booking your hotel rooms for the whole stay — then make room for adventure by choosing activities on the fly.

Source: Brides.com