Wedding Bells

Smart Honeymoon Spending

Times may be tough, but that doesn’t mean your dream honeymoon can’t still be a reality. By Alison McGill

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You’ve always wanted to spend your first days as newlyweds under the Tuscan sun, but with your tight 2010 wedding budget, you’re not sure a luxury jaunt overseas is still doable. To this we say, yes you can! Here are four savvy spending tips to help you plan your perfect honeymoon.

1. Honeymoon at Home. Why not spend your hard-earned Canadian cash right here at home? From coast to coast, we have so many beautiful sights to see. Do a little research and find a romantic homegrown destination to explore. A few of our favourite places: Victoria, Banff, Muskoka, Quebec City, Newfoundland and Labrador.

2. Go Off-Season. Did you know by visiting a destination in low season you will pay up to two thirds less than if you visited during peak season? Do your research and find out if your dream destination is still a great place to travel to when tourism is low. As an example, much of Europe is lovely and mild in the winter months, particularly Italy and France. Paris in February, anyone?

3. Rent a Home-Away-from-Home. A posh luxury resort is lovely, of course, but by the time you add in your meals, it can get seriously pricey. Instead of booking a hotel for the length of your stay, opt to stay for just one or two nights, and then move to a condo, apartment or villa in the area. The savings will be huge, and just think: a villa in Tuscany where you can cook, eat and sleep in authentic Italian style. Now that’s romantic!

4. Create a Honeymoon Registry. Registering for experiences rather than things has become increasingly popular over the years and it’s a great way for your guests to gift you with something completely personal. Places like Walt Disney World Resort in Florida offer honeymoon registries, and you can find a few travel agencies online offering the service—thebigday.com is a particularly popular one.