Honeymoon Planning: For a Romantic Honeymoon Vacation

From tropical honeymoons in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Jamaica and Mexico, to cruises, and all inclusive packages, there is a myriad of choices for today's newlyweds.

With all the details going on in planning your wedding day, thinking about the details for your honeymoon should not be stressful. In fact, it should be fun.

Staying organized will help ensure that you enjoy planning what should be one of the most memorable trips of a lifetime.

Below is a checklist and calendar of to-do's to help you stay organized during this most busy time:

6-12 months prior:
Discuss your honeymoon ideas with your fiancé. Talk about your budget, where you want to go and how you can work out accommodating both budget and ideal location.

Finalize your destination and select a travel agent. If you don't have a passport or need to renew your current one, now is the time to do it. Do not wait until the last minute.

4-3 months prior:
Make your reservations and send in your deposits. Start thinking about your packing list (clothes, items necessary to the climate to where you're going), what travel documents will be necessary, etc. For suggestions on packing tips, click here.

Check with your bank and make sure your ATM card will work if you plan to use it to withdraw cash while you're traveling. Ask if there are any fees and request a list of ATM's in your destination.

If you are going to another country, find out how you can use your cell phone abroad (what the fees are, what the access codes are and if you will need to rent a different phone altogether).

2 months prior:
Get confirmation numbers for hotels, car rentals and airlines.

1 month prior:
Make sure you have your luggage and camera.

Photocopy itinerary, travel documents (tickets, passport), and leave copies with friends or family at home. Take some photocopies with you and keep these separate from your purse and carry-ons. Arrange for someone to care for pets, garden, plants and other responsibilities while you are gone.

With the advent of the Internet, most financial obligations can be pre-programmed in advance on line for automatic debit, providing bill-paying service even when you are not home.

1 week prior:
Start packing. Now is the time to make sure that everything will fit and what you need to adjust in your packing. Don't wait until your wedding night before you leave on your honeymoon, when you're exhausted.

Arrange for someone to pick up your wedding clothes at your hotel so you can just leave for your honeymoon.

If you are having a destination wedding, see How To Pack Your Wedding Dress. Purchase your traveler's checks, get your travel cash, and check your camera and other electrical equipment to make sure they're all working before you leave.

Don't forget your driver's license! Even if you're going to a different country, you will need this to apply for a temporary international driver's license.

Day of Departure:
Double-check to make sure you have all your tickets, passport, drivers license, currency, lots of one dollar bills for tipping, and call your airline to confirm your flight one last time before you leave.

Allow plenty of extra time for security check-in procedures, especially with all the new regulations since 9/11.