One of the best ways to save money on your honeymoon is to travel domestically instead of internationally. When you stay in the United States, you don’t have to worry about passports, exchanging your money, checking international luggage and going through customs, and a myriad of other concerns that will slow you down and drain you bank account. Luckily, there are a number of romantic, beautiful vacation spots right here in the United States. Here are ten awesome options:

10. Hawaii

Of course, even if you haven’t been looking at locations exclusively in the United States, Hawaii may be on your short list of honeymoon spots. The downfall here is that you’ll pay more for a flight to Hawaii than to most other locations in the United States, but the tropical weather and island atmosphere may make this the perfect place for you.

9. U.S. Virgin Islands

Made up of a number of islands, including Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas, the US Virgin Islands is a great way to travel to the Caribbean without traveling internationally. Most hotels and resorts on this island have honeymoon packages and suites perfect for romance.

8. The Pocono Mountains

If you like the mountains more than you like the beach, why not book a stay in the Poconos. This area of mountains in Northeastern Pennsylvania is known for catering to couples who want to plan a romantic getaway.

7. Aspen

For those who want bigger mountains, Colorado is the place to go – and Aspen is one of the most romantic and elegant of all the resort towns. They cater to travelers year-round, so you can plan a honeymoon that includes skiing or time by the pool.

6. New York City

Most people don’t think about NYC has a place to go for a honeymoon, but if you and your groom love being on the go, a beach or even mountain vacation may not be the best option. In the city, you can splurge and stay in one of the five-star hotels found near Times Square, as well as try out the best restaurants in the city and take in a show or two on Broadway.

5. Puerto Rico

Like with the US Virgin Islands, with a trip to Puerto Rico, you can enjoy a Caribbean island adventure without traveling outside of the United States. This is one of the most popular tourist locations in the entire country, and for good reason – the tourist attractions are plentiful, the beaches are beautiful, and the local food is delicious.

4. Las Vegas

Thinking about eloping? Why not stay in Las Vegas for your honeymoon too?! This this is exciting, and you can spend your nights celebrating your marriage with some gambling, concerts, or other kinds of shows. Almost all of the hotels in Las Vegas have honeymoon packages, so just find one you like and you’ll be set for some time away.

2 – 3. Disney

Disney World and Disneyland may seem better for kids of families, but in reality, there are a number of adult activities at both places, including shows, world-class dining, nightlife entertainment, and more. Both resorts have vacation packages specifically for honeymooners.

1. Niagara Falls

My number one pick for honeymoon destinations in the United States is Niagara Falls. This location in New York has romantic fireworks over the breath-taking falls, and you’re close enough to head into Canada for a day if you want.  You can also tour the Cave of the Winds, take a boat ride to the base of the falls, or ride the trolley through the area.

Most couples choose to have alcohol at their weddings, but depending on the size of your guest list and how much your friends and family members drink, this can turn out to be quite expensive. Here are the best ways to save money on the alcohol at your wedding:

~ Toast with sparkling cider. Most of your guests will want to participate in the toast(s) at your wedding, but there’s no rule that says the toast has to be made with Champagne. Use sparkling cider or sparkling grape juice for the toasts, since both are less expensive.

~ Have a semi-open bar. Instead of funding your friends’ tastes for top-shelf liquor, have a few types of beers and mixed drinks for free…but make everything else a cash bar. It’s the best of both worlds.

~ Have tons of fun non-alcoholic options for drinks. If you have smoothies, milkshakes, flavored coffees, and other fun drink options at your wedding, people will drink less alcohol. Also, tell your caterers to keep the water flowing all night!

Even if you work to keep costs low, weddings are extremely expensive. According to Cost of Wedding, the typical United States wedding costs over $20,000, and most couples spend at least $15,000. That’s not even counting the costs associated with honeymoons, engagements parties, bridal shower parties, and announcements. Needless to say, if you’re on a budget, you can benefit from innovation ways to save money for your wedding. Here are five ideas:

Have a Sponsored Wedding: Some companies might offer wedding services in exchange for advertising. For example, a limo company might give you a car for the day for free if you include an advertisement for their services on your programs or if you use a car that has advertising on the side to promote the company as you drive to and from your reception hall. Sponsored weddings are a lot of work, and many companies might say no before one says yes. Don’t go too overboard with the advertising at your wedding – too much can be really tacky.

Have a Dollar Dance: Traditionally, a dollar dance is at the reception, and guests pay $1 (many will donate more) in order to spend a minute dancing with you or your groom. It’s a fun way to make some spending cash for your honeymoon or to pay for your bills.

Mass Produce Wedding Favors or Centerpieces: If you’re trying to save money on your own wedding, chances are that you’re making favors, centerpieces, decorations, etc. for your reception. Use those skills to help other brides as well. Through local craft shows or websites like Etsy, you can sell these handmade items to brides who are willing to pay for them, and since you’re already doing them for your own wedding, you’ll be able to mass produce them rather quickly.

Have a Yard Sale: You and your groom are likely moving in together, so there are probably a lot of items that you won’t need anymore. Even if you already live together, everyone has items they don’t need anymore. You’ll attract more buyers if the whole community has a yard sale, so talk to your neighbors about a weekend that works well for everyone and chip in to pay for newspaper advertising.

The last thing you want on your big day is an injury or illness. Here are some tips to keep in mind when planning your wedding so you can be sure that your guests and you stay safe:

~ Make sure that the bartenders will cut people off if they’ve had too much to drink. You want people to celebrate, but not have to have their stomachs pumped at the hospital.In addition, make sure water is available and encourage people to drink it between beers.

~ Provide busing or taxis to the hotel if there will be drinking or if the wedding goes late into the night. You don’t want drunk or tire drivers behind the wheel.

~ Test the dance floor to make sure that it isn’t slippery, even if people spill drinks or are wearing high heels.

~ Make sure that the catering company has full access to a kitchen with a refrigerator and ovens. You don’t want food at the wrong temperature to make anyone sick. Have appetizers removed to prevent people from picking at the buffet line after the food has been setting out for awhile.

~ If your wedding is outside during the day, provide suntan lotion in the bathrooms so guests don’t burn or get sun poisoning.

~ Know all of your guests. Wedding crashers might seem like fun, but they could be dangerous to your guests or even steal your gifts and cards. Say hello at every table and kick out anyone who wasn’t invited to give you peace of mind.

When you send out your invitations, they should note the appropriate attire for your wedding. Some brides don’t ind if their guests come in jeans, while others plan to throw elaborate black tie affairs. A black tie wedding isn’t always the best choice, though, even if your want your special day to be classy. Here are a few things to consider:

~ Can your guests afford a black tie wedding? If most of your guests have modest incomes and blue-collar jobs, they likely don’t own black tie attire. Not only will they be uncomfortable in such formal clothing, but the added expense of renting a tux or buying a long gown might be financially stressful.

~ Does your wedding involve a lot of travel? If your wedding is located somewhere off the beaten path or there is a long drive between the ceremony venue and reception venue, black tie attire might not be the best choice. Guests who are coming from out of town will also thank you for a more casual wedding, especially if they will have little time to stop at the hotel before the ceremony.

~ What is the style of your venue? Formal wear isn’t great for an outdoor reception or certain other venues, depending the overall style. If you demand that your guests dress up, you need to shell out the money for a formal venue!

You wedding can still be beautiful, even if the dress is more causal. It is fine to expect dress pants, but make sure that you’ve really considered the above questions before taking it a step further and demanding black tie attire. In any case, make sure you let your guests know the style you expect when you send out the invitations.

Photo by Unbowed

In the weeks leading up to your wedding, your bridesmaids will be your main support system. They’ll help you make favors, dress shop, and more, often dealing with your bridezilla-prone stressful moods. Why not do something nice for the ladies who are helping you plan the most important day of your life? Here are four great activities you can do together:

A Day at the Spa: Most spas have wedding party packages that are actually quite affordable. You can schedule massages after along day of shopping and planning together to help everyone relax, despite arguments during the day.

Wine Tasting: Most states have wineries, restaurants, or wine shops that offer wine tasting packages – you don’t have to live in the Napa Valley. Wine tasting together can be tons of fun, and if you live in a wine region, you can even consider renting a limo and doing a tour of a number of wineries in the area.

A Weekend at the Beach: If you’re within driving distance of a beach, you can actually spend a weekend there for a very low price, since your main form of activity, spending time in the sand and waves, is free. Book a suite for the weekend and invite the girls for a getaway.

Camping: If you and your friends love the outdoors, why not plan a camping trip together? For less than $100, you can rent a tent site, and spend the weekend hiking through the woods and exploring nature. This kind of trip isn’t for every girl, but it might be perfect for your bridesmaids if you’re not really spa people.

Your honeymoon is a way to start your marriage off on the right foot. To ensure that you have a stress-free, fun time together, avoid the following three honeymoon mistakes:

1. Don’t plan out every moment of your honeymoon. Wherever you go, there will be tons of things to do, and it is fine to make a few plans. However, the purpose of your honeymoon is to be able to relax together. If you’re hurrying off in a million different directions, you won’t have time just to enjoy one another.

2. Don’t spend your last dime on the honeymoon. While a month-long trek through Europe or a beautiful tropical vacation on your own private island both might sound perfect, they’re also expensive. Coming home to a bank account that reads $0 is a sure way to have marriage problems right out of the gate. Instead, plan a more modest honeymoon somewhere closer to home and just enjoy one another instead of focusing on where you are or how much money you’re spending.

3. Don’t focus too much on the problems. Whenever you travel, there will be a few problems. Try not to focus on the little issues. You don’t want a little jet lag or one night of food poisoning to ruin your entire trip together. Instead, focus on everything good in your life!

Registering for wedding gifts is a much more organized way to handle your reception than just allowing your guests to show up with gifts. However, with so many options for places to register, it can be difficult to choose just one or two places to register. Which are the best for you? Here are a few tips to consider:

~ Not all of your guests have online access. Make sure that you register at a place where guests can physically visit the store, like Sears or Macy’s. Otherwise, those without Internet access won’t know how to purchase a gift.

~ Consider your guests’ price range. Registering at a very expensive store might leave some of your guests feel pressured to spend more money than they can afford. People shouldn’t feel obligated to purchase you a gift at all, let alone that $500 crystal vase. If you register somewhere that only has pricey items, also register somewhere with inexpensive items or where guests can purchase a gift card in any amount they want.

~ Register to pay for your honeymoon. If you and your new husband already have everything you need in terms of household items, register instead to pay for your honeymoon. Most travel agents can set up accounts so guests can call or go online to pay for a little piece of your trip, and the extra is your spending money. It’s a great way to save a little money, plus guests can give whatever they’re comfortable giving, instead of feeling like they have to spend a ton of money.

You’ve ordered the flowers. You’ve tasted cake. You’ve chosen your gown. Few brides overlook these tasks when planning a wedding, but there are some smaller tasks that people generally overlook. However, forgetting to do these things can make your wedding day extremely stressful. Here are some of the top tasks brides forget:

Take Time Off Work: Most employers will work with you to give you time off for your wedding a honeymoon, but  you need to request days off well ahead of time. Otherwise, they might not be able to approve your request, as much as they wish they could. You don’t want to lose your job because you’re getting married.

Get Your Passport: You can’t just apply for a passport the week before your wedding and head off to your Caribbean honeymoon. You need to apply for your passport months before your wedding so that you get it on time. Don’t wait.

Schedule Dress Alterations: Your wedding dress will likely not fit perfectly, so you’ll need to get alterations done. Schedule them as soon as you order your dress and know when it will arrive, and schedule a second (or third) fitting within two weeks of your wedding in case you lose or gain weight.

Make Arrangements for Gifts: Even if you ask guest not to bring money or gifts, so will. When you leave the reception hall, what happens to them? Make sure you make arrangements with a family member or someone in your wedding party so that you can take care of gifts when you get back from your honeymoon.

File the Proper Paperwork: The paperwork you need to file to be legally married depends on your state or city. In some places, like Las Vegas, you can be legally married in just a few hours. In other states, you need to visit your doctor and file paperwork in advance. You can still go through with the ceremony, but unless you sign the right documents you won’t be legally Mr. and Mrs. until you do.

As a bride, it is important to be firm with your vendors and wedding party in order to have the big day run smoothly. Otherwise, you won’t get what you want, people will be late to every event, and your wedding day will be extremely stressful. However, too any brides take this opportunity to become bridezilla. Yes, this is your day, but there’s no reason that your attitude should be ugly. Here are three tips to keep in mind to help you be firm without being mean:

Realize that People aren’t Obligated to Help: Your wedding party is your wedding party because they want to be, not because they have to be. When they accept this position, make sure that the realize the work and money it entails, and allow them time to really consider if they want to be such a large part of the wedding.

Use Manners: Saying please and thank you can go a long way in the world of weddings. You should be direct about your wants and needs, but appreciative when someone is helping you. Yes, even if you’re paying for them to do a job, you should mind your manners!

Plan Ahead of Time: You’ll most likely run across problems if you do your planning at the last minute. When you speak to vendors and your wedding party be very clear about the dates and times you need things. If they can’t provide what you need in that time period, find someone who can, rather than getting upset about it. The more specific you are about your expectations, the better.

Remember, after your big day, you’re going to see many of these people again. You may even deal with some of the same vendors for other events or see them other places in your community. So, even though you may be entitled to get what you want on your big day, stay classy throughout the planning process so that you don’t burn bridges with the people in your life.