Too many bride-to-be’s get caught up imagining themselves heading straight to the airport where they’ll take off on a plane and jet to some tropical island or romantic European city. Unfortunately, the truth of the matter is that weddings are expensive and that faraway honeymoon might not be in the cards. If you need to save money and explore other alternatives that are closer to home, consider taking a road trip across the United States.

If you don’t think a honeymoon roadtrip can be romantic, think again. We’re here to show you how you can plan a budget honeymoon that’s nonetheless romantic and still super dreamy!

1. Start with the Right Car

Even though loading up the car will be the last phase of planning, knowing what car you plan to take on the road can help your sort through where you want to go, what you accommodations you’ll need, and how much to budget for.

For example, if you have a restored VW Bus that contains a mini kitchenette, you can probably get away with camping in it most nights of your trip, thereby saving a ton of money on lodging accommodations that can be better spent elsewhere. If you have a 4WD Jeep Wrangler, then you can plan a route with plenty of off-road adventures. Or maybe you shopped certified pre-owned Audi cars that shine in fuel efficiency, but lack a super roomy cabin. In that case, you’ll probably want to add a couple 5-Star hotels to your stop — and you’ll be able to afford your stays considering the savings you enjoy with that high MPG.

In other words, your car will largely determine the type of road trip you plan. It might mean spending your honeymoon in the moonlight, camping under the stars, or it might be a bonding experience as you travel between each metropolis. Whatever vehicle you bring on your voyage, make sure you consider all plans with your set of wheels in mind.

2. Pin Places of Interest on the Map

When most people get started planning road trips, they don’t really know where they want to go, let alone what routes to take. Now’s the time to get organized for your honeymoon with some tactical planning. Bust out an old-school map — the bigger, the better, because the more clearly you’ll be able to see — and decide how many states you want to travel through, how many days you plan on being gone, and which stops are totally non-negotiable.

Let’s say that you’re newlyweds in Southern California preparing to make a West Coast tour. You’ve always wanted to see the super bloom in Joshua Tree, kayak the Grand Canyon, hike through Zion National Park, and cross the Continental Divide in the Colorado Rockies. Take push pins or use a permanent marker to designate spots on the map where each attraction is located.

Next, take a piece of string or a ruler to draw lines between each of the closest locations. Scope the peripherals of each straight line for major cities, state parks, national monuments, and so forth to see what you might be driving past but have no idea about.

Once you have all points of interest pinned down, you can start planning where you’re going to stay near each destination and which roads you’ll take to get there. One good strategy is marking a half-way point between two major cities; you cut your driving time in half and will likely benefit from cheaper rates in rural areas. Other couples might choose a spontaneous stay in the heart of downtown, while still others might choose to camp as close to the action as possible.

3. Pack the Essentials

From portable chargers to eye masks, the best road snacks to moleskin journals, don’t forget all the essential items you need to stay comfortable and happy during your honeymoon bonding experience. You’ll be stoked on all the money you save up for your next romantic getaway!

Pro Tip: Consider picking up a postcard from everywhere you visit and making a scrapbook of memories to ensure this is a trip not soon forgotten!

For most, once they reach the ripe age of 25, there is already societal pressure from family and friends to get married and settle down. Many would agree that in this fast-paced age, it has actually gotten harder and harder to find the right person to settle down with.

It is then not a surprise that when individuals find the perfect mate for them, they choose to go all out, splurging on their wedding and honeymoon celebrations.

Wedding destinations has become the norm these days. A small, intimate celebration in a different country spells for a whole new adventure with your partner and your hand-picked guests. Many couples feel that this way of celebrating their wedding is much more fun as well because they are essentially having a vacation as well as a wedding. The honeymoon is, more often than not, also mixed in with the wedding destinations, a great way of minimizing wedding costs.

Here are 15 of the most romantic wedding venues in the world

1. Paris, France

Nicknamed as the City of Love, can you think of a better location to celebrate your love for each other? You would be hard-pressed not to feel the romance in the air. Tourists have reported that just by strolling through the cobblestone streets of Paris, they could feel the electrifying buzz of romance.

Paris has many old churches and cathedrals that you can get married in. Once the wedding is done, you and your partner will surely have the time of your lives going around this city.

There are multiple attractions in Paris that you will surely find worth your time. The Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower are just some of the world-class attractions of Paris.

2. Bali, Indonesia

If you fancy a beach wedding, then Bali, Indonesia is definitely the way to go. Surrounded by pristine, white sand beaches, Bali receives millions of tourists each year.

Its beach resorts and hotels are not strangers to organizing a beach wedding so you and your partner will not be stressed due to mishaps on your wedding day.

Soak up the sun and forget your worries here at Bali, Indonesia. Many couples feel rejuvenated upon returning back to their normal lives after a visit to this paradise.

3. Bahamas

It’s a globally recognized fact that Bahamas Island is in another level of beauty. Its beaches and sandy shores are clean and have the untouched charm of nature. Many dreams of not only going on a vacation in the Bahamas but also getting married there. Its resorts and spas are guaranteed to give you the VIP treatment that you and your guests deserve.

Take note that if you want to truly enjoy your stay at the Bahamas, you should book your wedding at non-peak dates so you can avoid the millions of tourists that flock over to the Bahamas.

4. Japan

Japan acts as a unique wedding destination for couples who desire a new experience. Get your wedding photoshoot with Japanese Cherry Blossoms as the backdrop. Sakura or Cherry Blossoms also has a deep meaning. The Japanese believe that this is the perfect representation of life — both in its fragility and its beauty. The Cherry Blossoms remind everyone to enjoy life and take risks as life is beautiful yet tragically short.

There are traditional Shinto and Buddhist temples all around Japan where you can choose to get married. After the ceremony, there are multiple luxury hotels and gardens for their reception.

5. Maldives

This luxurious island is one of those places that you will ask yourself whether it truly is real. Until you’ve come to this place, you will not believe just how beautiful the Maldives is. Getting married in the Maldives is a dream come true. Located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is proud of its slow-paced and relaxed life, providing its visitors with a taste of the good life.

You can expect nothing but the VIP treatment, being served with a variety of world-class cuisine. A beach wedding in the Maldives is not a rare occurrence which means that its resorts and hotels will have wedding venues and packages for you and your guests.

The Maldives will give you a truly magical experience especially if you go during the season when the beaches glow in the dark due to the presence of bioluminescent phytoplankton in the sea.

6. Jamaica

Jamaica is one of those places that you go to when you want to escape the stress of your daily life. Fill your life with warmth, happiness, and adventure when you decide to get married in Jamaica. This is a popular vacation spot so schedule wisely to avoid getting stuck with fully booked hotels and resorts.

Home of the jerk chicken, beef patties, and the infamous Ackee and Saltfish, you and your guests will never be hungry when you are in Jamaica. Experience a whole new world of music as you celebrate your wedding as Jamaica is known to be the birthplace of Reggae.

Looking for a more romantic activity? Raft down the Martha Brae with your loved one. Bamboo rafting has been popularized by Errol Flynn in the 1950s. Since then, this activity has become one of the must-do activities in the country.

7. Scottsdale, Arizona

Earning the reputation for being an upscale location surrounded by high-end resorts and golf courses, Scottsdale, Arizona is a great place to get married at. It is a year-round destination which means whatever date you choose to get married in, Scottsdale will be pretty.

Its high-end, world-class restaurants provide only good food and service ensuring that your stay here will be nothing but topnotch. Scottsdale is also famous for the Scottsdale Wine Trail so you’re sure that you will be served only the best wine during your wedding. The desert is also not a bad place to do your wedding photoshoot.

8. Italy

This boot-shaped peninsula is known for a lot of reasons. As the hometown of the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet, getting married in Italy will truly be an uber-romantic experience. The Italian landscape also acts as a picturesque backdrop for your wedding photoshoot.

Take a step back to the past as the Italians have carefully preserved its proud Rennaissance architecture, surrounding their country with villas and castles that date back to the Middle Ages. The towns and countryside still look the same as it was almost 800 years ago.

Italy’s golden age is the Renaissance where it gave birth to famous household names Michelangelo, Botticello, and Da Vinci, earning it the nickname of the Cradle of the Renaissance. Another thing that Italy is known for is its food. You and your guests will surely be in for a treat once you decide to fly to Italy for your wedding.

9. Mount Hood, Oregon

This wedding destination is for couples who are nature lovers and ski enthusiasts. This 11.249 feet high stratovolcano is one of the major natural attraction in the American Pacific Northwest. What makes this active volcano a popular tourist destination is that you can ski essentially all year round.

This means that you can get married surrounded by ice no matter what month you plan to be your wedding in. Call it cliche but couples who get married at Mount Hood experience being on top of the world while they are literally on top of the world reaching altitudes of 6000 feet.

The view on top is also a magnificent sight that will remind you of how beautiful the world is. This is magnified, of course, by the fact that you will be witnessing this scene with the person you’ve promised to love forever.

10. Agra, India

Indian weddings are known for their loud music, lively people, and of course, delectable cuisine. This is why many couples have chosen to fly to this exotic land to celebrate their marriage.

Agra, India is also where you will be able to see the Taj Mahal. Isn’t it romantic for you to profess your love to your partner while overlooking the monument of true love? The Taj Mahal is part of the Wonders of the World. Its romantic yet tragic backstory makes the Taj Mahal so much appropriate for a romantic celebration such as a wedding. History lovers will also find Agra, India as a fascinating place. Its rich history is carefully preserved by the Indian government allowing it to showcase remnants of the Mughal empire during its peak.

11. Costa Rica

Because of the sheer number of couples flying into Costa Rica to get married, it is not uncommon for Beach Resorts and Luxury Hotels to offer a Costa Rica all-inclusive Wedding package. Costa Rica is one of the more affordable countries to host your wedding at. While weddings normally cost an average of a whopping $30, 000, a wedding in Costa Rica for 20 guests will only cost them an average of $5, 000. This is an insanely huge amount to save up which could go to plane tickets for you and your guests.

Its affordability, however, should not be mistaken for a lower quality of service. With four and five-star hotels all around Costa Rica, you can be sure that you and your guests will be treated like VIP. It should also be noted that the beaches of Costa Rica rival that of the Bahamas when it comes to beauty.

12. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is 800 straight miles of clean and breathtakingly beautiful sandy beaches. Punta Cana, the most popular location in the Dominican Republic is a 20-mile coast lined with coconut palm trees and clear waters.

Punta Cana is littered with all-inclusive hotels and resorts which also offers wedding packages, thus lessening the things that you have to worry about. Get crazy at Punta Cana by ordering the traditional alcohol beverage Mama Juana. This cocktail is so strong that it is recommended to have only two shots. The nightlife in Punta Cana is similarly as wild which would definitely boost your wedding revelries.

13. Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel, Mexico is an underdeveloped island on the Carribean. It has an untouched charm that attracts many tourists. This paradise is framed by one of the largest coral reef systems in the world which could be sighted even from afar. Cozumel is perfect for couples who love the outdoors and beautiful sights. Cozumel’s Chankanaab National Park will definitely wow you and your guests with its lagoon, botanical gardens and a replica of the Mayan village.

Experience a week of affluence when you book an all-inclusive resort and spa. You and your wedding entourage will have the time of your lives going around the shops and restaurants of downtown San Miguel.

14. Hawaii, USA

Hawaii is a tropical paradise. That much is a known fact. Many brides and grooms plan their dream wedding in Hawaii. With beautiful beach venues, private resorts, luxury hotels, and charming chapels, Hawaii has something for everyone.

The gorgeous scenery, aloha spirit, and the stunning beaches of Hawaii make it a top vacation destination all over the world. This is perfect for couples who want to take a step back from their personal lives and just relax. Hawaiian parties are also known to be fun, lively and filled with music.

15. Miami, Florida

There is no need to go that far as Miami, Florida already offers stunning beaches and the perfect weather. This is the perfect alternative for couples who don’t have the resources to go to another country. Miami, aside from its sandy beaches, is known for its art-deco architecture.

Your reception will definitely be flavorful as Miami showcases over 150 ethnicities. Miami is surrounded by award-winning restaurants selling Caribbean jerk chicken, fresh sushi, and traditional Spanish tapas. Miami is also known for pre-wedding celebrations so why not go forward with the wedding here?

The following are the best wedding destinations of Turkey that only requires you to have a Turkish Visa

 1. Oludeniz Beach

Oludeniz is considered as the best and an idyllic location for hosting your wedding.  It offers three styles of venues that are exclusive hence guarantee you a successful wedding. This destination guarantees privacy of garden wedding, gullet celebration on the Mediterranean blue waters and a romantic beach ceremony. The three venues provide you with perfect settings to choose from. There are standard packages for each wedding venue.

2. Turunc Bay

This destination is only accessible by boat and it is considered as your dream venue for Mediterranean wedding. This destination boasts of marvelous pristine beach, romantic waterfront restaurant and crystal waters. All these are located in secluded cove on Fethiye Bay Islands. The bay is surrounded by phenomenal cliffs hence offers you and your guests an exclusive setting for beach wedding.

3. Meri Resort

This destination is set high on a mountain side that overlooks the famous Oludeniz blue lagoon. Meri is a private resort hotel with three secluded sand beaches all with phenomenal beach and lagoon back drops. Because of the unique location and size of the property, located at quite edge of the Oludeniz beach, the destination offers romantic venue for beach wedding.

4. Red Island

This is a unique venue for your wedding in Turkey. It provides you with 360 degrees view from all the terraces, isolated alcoves as well as sensational sun setting over Mediterranean. The venue also has good Taurus Mountains in its backgrounds.

5. Paradise Gardens

Paradise garden is a boutique hotel with hidden oasis located on the mountainside that overlooks Oludeniz.  This hotel has the best and extraordinary wedding gardens in Turkey. The garden is spread all over a large maze of bougainvillea terraces and boasts of beautifully scented flower gardens, exquisite stone masonry terraces, fruit trees and hidden dining alcoves. The hotel grounds provide isolated terraces that can host your guests.

6. Paradise Beach Oludeniz 

This is located 2 minutes away from Oludeniz buzz. It is a sparkling jewel of the Mediterranean situated in the shady forest of pines with a pristine beach that offers it unsurpassed beauty.  The beach is located around the grounds of a famous national park and situated between the Likya world resort and Oludeniz main beach. This venue was open for the first time for wedding in 2012. It offers unprecedented beach setting environment and because of poor transport access and location, there is minimal tourist traffic hence making it a private wedding destination.

7. Oyster Residence

This is located on the shores of Oludeniz and it is a beautiful boutique restaurant within the courtyard overlooking Oludeniz beach.  This venue is decorated tastefully by use of wood, organza, ceramics and stone. The wicker sofas and silk cushions that are of Ottoman style, gives he venue a general Mediterranean effect.

The above mentioned are the exotic Turkey’s best wedding destinations that only requires you to have a Turkish Visa and your loved one with you!! To explore a great and make your wedding a best memory for you and your family.

UK Night Life

Trying to save money by staying home for your honeymoon? Interested in seeing parts of the motherland you have never seen before? Just because you know what you do on a normal Saturday night in the UK doesn’t mean you have to do the same things on your honeymoon. Here are a couple of ideas of how to make the most out of familiar territory:

• Catch a play at the world famous Shakespeare’s Globe theater in London.
• Check out one of the biggest pubs the United Kingdom can offer at The World’s End in Camden.
• Laugh together at one of Jongleurs Comedy Clubs located all around the United Kingdom including locations in: Glasgow, Bristol, Birmingham, and more.
• Not tired from sight-seeing all day? Keep the adventures going with a London by Night Sightseeing tour
• Ready to move from a solo move maker to a dynamic dancing duo? Show off your dance moves to your new partner at any of London’s unique clubs.

Night Life Abroad

If you have decided to leave your normal stomping grounds and adventure to another country to celebrate your wedding, chances are you will be going to be in unfamiliar territory. This is no reason to stay cooped up in your hotel room all night. Since we can’t predict exactly where your dream destination is, allow us to provide some night time suggestions for popular honeymoon locations around the world:

• If you decided to visit Mickey Mouse at his Florida home in the states, Orlando’s Magic Kingdom offers a brilliant fireworks show that will no doubt remind you of the sparks flying between your partner and you on this romantic occasion.
• If you have set sail on a cruise to far off lands, don’t feel obligated to stay in your cabin just because you are on the high seas with nowhere to go. Most cruise lines offer night-time activities onboard including dancing, night swims, casinos, or outdoor seating to enjoy a romantic full moon at sea.
• If you have decided to celebrate your love in The City of Love and Lights, it might be illuminating to check out a night tour of Paris. Such tours show the Eiffel Tower and all of Paris lit up like the smiles on your newlywed faces.

Honeymoon Safety Tips

Regardless of whether you are celebrating at home or abroad, don’t forget that not everyone has something to celebrate about and may want to take advantage of you. Here are a few safety tips no matter where you are to make sure your honeymoon is not only an enjoyable one, but also a safe one:

• Even though you may be tourists, try not to appear like obvious tourists. Keep your passport and funds well hidden, but on you at all times in the event of an emergency.
• Never travel alone in unfamiliar territory. Those who appear lost can become easy targets for crooks looking to prey on unsuspecting tourists.
• If you are traveling within the United Kingdom, keep the ukba phone number handy so that you can let them know if you are in need of assistance.

No matter how you decide to spend your honeymoon, remember to keep both the happiness and safety of each other in mind.