Planning the wedding was a huge undertaking. You spent months working out the place, the guest list, the clothes.... It was endless. Do you really want to go through that again to plan your honeymoon? Not necessary! A few simple tasks, an email here and there, and you can be set for the trip of a lifetime.

Topic number one in honeymoon planning, of course, is where to go. Sure, you could argue about it until your 50th wedding anniversary. But this can actually be one of the most fun parts of the whole experience. You had enough in common to get married. You can agree on a honeymoon destination.

Rather than try to pick the exact location at first, start by considering the type of honeymoon atmosphere you want. Do tropical beaches appeal to you? Maybe laying on the beach is about as exciting to you as filling out your tax form. Everyone is unique. The green hills of Ireland will sound romantic to one couple. Another may prefer sunny Rome. Still others may find Aruba the perfect honeymoon atmosphere. Choosing isolated versus metropolitan versus tropical will help guide your specific destination choice.

Once you know the type and place, it's straightforward to develop a budget. You might have received an all inclusive honeymoon vacation as a wedding gift. Signing up at a Honeymoon Registry will improve your odds, too! But even on your own, there's a place to suit every budget.

Inexpensive packages are available for honeymoon couples in Las Vegas. Or, suppose you live in London. You can set off on a trip around Paris, then stay in a ch?teau in the wine country for a very modest cost. The train trip in and out is easy and gives you something extra to do. For those with more to spend, of course, the options become wider. But even the Hotel Ritz in Madrid offers terrific deals for newlyweds.

Part of the process, which will affect choice of location and budgeting, is deciding on a time of year. Your wedding can take place in June, but you may want to have the honeymoon in February. You get to relax from all the craziness leading up to the wedding and can take advantage of off-season rates. Cruises and hotels often lower their prices during these periods.

Take into account that when it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere it's winter in the Southern, and vice versa. If you get married January 1 in Chicago, it's still January 1 in Sydney. But while you're fighting ice, the Australians are baking.

The key to any successful honeymoon vacation is to explore all your options early. Sure, your mind is filled with all the things you need to do to have the wedding come off perfectly. So treat yourself and look into the honeymoon of your choice. Location, budget and more will all be easier if you take it one step at a time well in advance.