1. Money

Believe it or not, money is the best gift to give a new couple, whether or not you attend the ceremony.  This is agreed upon by married couples, engaged couples, and those who write the rules of etiquette for things like weddings.  People who are just starting out together need big things.  Your wedding couple might need money to buy a new house or car.  The thing they most need to start a new life together might be to pay down past debts or pay off school loans.  Giving the gift of money is traditional for a reason.  It gives the bridal couple the choice of how to spend it, and that ensures they will get exactly what they want most as a gift from you.

2.  An item from their registry

Many people bypass the wedding registry when trying to decide on a gift for the bridal couple.  Maybe they want their gift to be seen as more creative and heartfelt than something that might be on a list.  The problem with this is if you buy something that isn’t on the registry list, you run the risk of getting the couple something they do not want, have no use for, or already own.  The wedding couple registered for things they needed.  If you cannot be there to watch them walk down the aisle, you can at least give them something you know they will use.

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3. The gift of a memory

Buying picture frames and engraved wedding goblets is popular because there is a desire to give the couple a gift that will remind them of their wedding day.  These ideas could use some creative twists.  One way to do this is to buy the couple a bottle of fine wine or aged scotch engraved or labeled with their names and the wedding date, coupled with instructions to enjoy on their first, fifth, or tenth wedding anniversary.  Another gift in this theme is to commission a portrait of the two of them.  Select a portrait artist and send them photographs of the couple, both posed and candid.  Your wedding couple will enjoy the resulting painting for years to come.

4.  The gift of an original

This is a category you don’t want to go crazy with, but which can produce really nice gifts if done right.  The wedding couple probably doesn’t want a set of handmade macrame plant holders, but a carefully-selected handmade, antique, or heirloom can be an excellent wedding gift.  These gifts will truly show that you have put thought into the gift and will remind the couple of you whenever they see it.  Works of art, a wedding ring quilt, handmade wooden furniture, and antique silver all fall into this category.

5.  The gift of a honeymoon

Find out if the wedding couple has registered at a honeymoon registry.  This is a service that allows guests to gift the couple with dollars toward a vacation or toward specific items they might enjoy on a honeymoon, such as dinner, massages, drinks, or adventures.  These gifts are truly memorable because they allow the couple to make the kinds of memories together they may never have a chance at again.

Sometimes life prevents us from being present to witness the marriage of those we care about.  Sending a gift from one of these categories, along with a personal message of care and well wishes, will show the wedding couple how much they mean to you and contribute to the gift of their togetherness for many years to come.

Alex Lemone is a wedding and engagement writer.  For more wedding gift ideas and wedding ideas go to Wedding Ideas Etc. 
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Travel to honeymoon resorts can be an exciting time in newlyweds lives, as their focus is on their recent wedding and their future life together. When planned appropriately, the only things on their mind when they reach the destination is, checking in, looking forward to their time together and to get to know each other better on a more personal level. Newlyweds also watch and observe how each other interacts with their new spouse in a variety of situations.

While there are numerous ideas concerning the origins of the term honeymoon, as well as the tradition of newlyweds, when traveling for a honeymoon one popular theory is that it began when men and women often eloped and traveled to distant, secluded spots in order to hide from their families and others who were not in favor of their marriage. Today, honeymoon resorts cater to the newly weds, whether it is a far-off distant or a destination close to their home, the time is meant to be together in solitude and in an exotic and intimate atmosphere.

Some believe the term is lunar related, with weddings and trips taken between the time of main planting and harvest, when the first of the honey crop was ready for gathering. Others contend it has to do with the time of the year when the sun is low in the horizon, shining through the atmosphere offering the color of honey. Many of the honeymoon resorts have special rooms for the newlyweds, with decorative colors relating to the honeymoon.

There are honeymoon resorts offering simple accommodations such as a room with motel facilities open to guests and other that offer the chance to spend time in a secluded bungalow away from the rest of the guests. Access to motel amenities is typically through private passages to insure the couple has the privacy they expect when they travel to their honeymoon.

To limit the amount of travel on their wedding night, some honeymoon resorts offer wedding services on the premises along with the reception following. In these cases the weddings are usually small with a select number of guests traveling with the bride and groom to the honeymoon resorts and leaving once the reception ends. The newlyweds of course, will stay and enjoy their honeymoon. Typically, these arrangements are available in traditional vacation spots.

Benjamin Scott offers a private travel membership that has helped many organize their honeymoon resorts vacation. For more information on this membership plus travel secrets and tricks visit his blog at: http://www.resortsmaniac.com
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Here are some tips for how to plan the kind of honeymoon you both want.

Budget

Sure if you had an unlimited budget you could rent yourself a private island, or frolic with celebrities at an exclusive resort in Bora Bora or Parrot Cay. But weddings are expensive enough and you don’t want to dig yourself into an even deeper hole by adding on a pricey honeymoon. On the other hand, you don’t want to penny-pinch so much that your honeymoon is short and unmemorable. So discuss with your spouse how much you are willing to spend as a couple – and then stick to it.

One of the greatest ways to score an amazing honeymoon on a budget is to travel in the off-season. Whether this means rescheduling your wedding, or holding off on the honeymoon for a few months, you can often find incredible deals if you’re willing to compromise on your dates. Many places such as Bermuda are busiest in the summer – which is traditionally the most popular time for a wedding. But by travelling in the fall or early spring, you can often find high-class hotels at a deep discount.

Another way to have a wonderful, yet inexpensive, honeymoon is to stick close to home. While you might dream of jetting off to an exotic location, try searching for romantic getaways within driving distance from where you live. You would be amazed at the beautiful destinations that lurk in your own backyard. This kind of honeymoon can make you feel like you’re worlds away – without having to spend like you are.

Discuss the type of Honeymoon you want

Maybe you’re the kind of couple who dreams of a relaxing walk on the beach. Or maybe your idea of romance is scuba diving with sharks. The key is to discuss your dream honeymoon with your significant other and then be willing to compromise if the two of you have very different ideas of what you consider to be a romantic vacation. Often something like a cruise can be an ideal solution for couples who can’t agree on what they want. Many cruises offer both relaxation and pampering but with plenty of opportunities for on-shore adventure activities.

Get off the beaten path

One way to design a memorable honeymoon is to skip the usual resorts and tourist activities. For instance, instead of opting for an escorted tour, try renting bikes and exploring your honeymoon destination on wheels. You’ll still be able to see all the highlights your destination has to offer without the crowds of a tour– and you’re likely to discover some hidden gems along the way.

Another great way to plan a unique visit and save some money is to do as the locals do. It’s great to try out the expensive restaurants designed for tourists. But try saving your high-priced meals for dinner, and then dining at local spots for your other meals. Or check out a farmer’s market for fresh local produce and baked goods.

Don’t be Shy

Hotels and tour operators often have deals that cater exclusively to travellers on their honeymoon. If you are using a travel agent, let them know you’re newlyweds. In fact, tell everyone – tour groups, hotels, and restaurants. You may find yourself getting small perks and upgrades, such as chocolates on your pillow at a hotel, or a restaurant table overlooking the water for your special occasion.

Terry Telford is the publisher of Kingston East News and an avid promoter of Kingston Ontario. He highly recommends the European style and elegance of the Kingston Best Western http://www.KingstonBestWestern.com
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Remember after everyone else witness the wedding they walk away hoping that the newly weds could live happily ever after and it is the honeymoon that marks the beginning of that explaining why it need to be planned carefully. The following tips for your honeymoon may be advantageous to those who are engaged and are waiting to walk each other down the isle soon.

One of them include finding a travel agent because the honeymoon is a getaway that everyone want to remember with pleasure many years later and trips made to beautiful places by air, sea or train is part of the beautiful picture. The role of the agent is helping the couple visit fantastic places within their budget limits and when they do not have an idea where exactly they want to go these experts can offer useful tips.

If for instance they choose a Caribbean, Barbados, Bermuda honeymoons or wherever there is a particular travel agent that would know any of the islands inside out. Find the massive information on this online in order to book a flight and hotel to live in for any the admirable destination.

A good idea to raise cash for the honeymoon from the same people invited to the wedding is setting up bridal registry. All the gifts they are supposed to shower the just wedded couple with could be bought directly from there and this is a typical norm that can be found at the websites such as honey moon wishes.com and others. They offer such registries in exchange for a share of total gifts and the proceeds can fund the most memorable honeymoon.

When selecting a destination for a honeymoon, it is important to focus on the budget again so that if there is need to be savvy then the couple can always decide to travel when the prices are moderate and the weather is great. It is what they call the shoulder season either when everyone is traveling and the charges are high or the times when few people are traveling and the prices are low due to harshness of weather.

In other words the honeymoon can be set at the end of spring or early fall but the latter is better because the vacation can be extended till the sunny summers. Another good idea when choosing a perfect destination is finding out how the home country currently compare with that of the country chosen for the honeymoon.

Some people want to fly away to see the savanna grasslands wildlife in Africa, others in Asia, Europe or whatever other international tourist attraction. Not unless money is not really an issue it is imperative to consider how the value of the currency of whatever foreign currency compare.

Find more honeymoon tips and ideas from this author
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There are many possibilities when it comes to destinations, and we shall look at a few of those options here, along with some other important questions to ask and find answers to as well.

For thousands of brides and grooms, the wedding preparations add a tremendous amount of stress to the occasion. Everyone wants their wedding to be perfect, which is understandable, but at the same time, you need to be realistic, especially when it comes to the finances of this venture. Many people put themselves into debt so that they can have that perfect wedding, not realizing that it may be very difficult for them to pay off these large bills once they are back to work after the wedding. Some kind of comprise is necessary between being extravagant, and realistic. Weddings can still be perfect even though the costs are low. It is all about expectations, and if you set the bar too high then these dreams may be shattered. But it is better that your dreams are shattered than your marriage, as many marriages fall apart because of financial issues.

So, for your honeymoon, choose a destination that you can afford to go to, and if it means staying in the same state or province, that is fine too. It is essential that on your honeymoon the bride and groom spend some time together, quality time, as this has probably been in short supply because of all the wedding preparations, but this doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune on your honeymoon.

Do some financial planning about what you can afford to spend on your honeymoon vacation, working out a maximum amount and then stick to it! Hopefully this honeymoon will be your only one, and this makes the temptation to do it right even harder! But do not go into debt over this if you can possibly avoid it – hopefully wherever your new partner is, you can have fun, and you can buy one another small thoughtful treats rather than large expensive ones.

Now we have covered that, what honeymoon vacations and destinations are available? With so many beautiful places that you can consider, you need to decide on your budget, and decide a few basic things like a hot vacation, or a cold place. Decide the type of honeymoon vacation you would like. It doesn’t have to be hot and sunny with golden sand beaches. If you or your partner prefer snowy scenes, then go for that, but decide between you whether you want hot and sunny or cold and snowy, or whatever works for you.

Currently the top five honeymoon destinations are Venice, Paris, Tahiti, Rome, and of course Hawaii. Note that not all of these honeymoon destinations have sandy beaches – but places like Rome and Paris are still thought to be romantic cities to wander around. The advantage of places like Venice, Paris and Rome, is that there are plenty of attractions that you can visit if you choose to, and if not they are all interesting places to wander around.

If you are interested in Tahiti, this gives you the option of white sandy beaches, but also rugged mountains too, as well as plenty of marine life. There are plenty of islands to snorkel around, or go cruising to, so it can be very restful. There are bungalows that are built over the water, which can be very romantic.

Hawaii too has the sandy beaches, but it also has great night life, so if you want this contrast of romantic beaches during the day and then a busy nightlife, this may be for you. There are islands to visit, and a dormant volcano or a live one too, so the choice of Hawaii as a honeymoon vacation is one with which you can’t really go wrong.

Of course there are plenty of other cities that offer plenty to the tourist. Niagara Falls, in both Canada and the US is one place that looks entirely different in the middle of winter compared to summer. It depends a little on the time of year for your honeymoon, but more so on the type of vacation you want, whether it is relaxation on a white sand beach, or a week of skiing in the Alps.

Look out for package deals, but you need to have some kind of idea if the activities you want with the deal, otherwise you may end up paying a lot more for items you don’t want or need. The package deals can be a great way of knowing beforehand exactly what your expenses are since many offer restaurants on site that are included in your package. This can make it a fun way to try different foods too, as their cost is included, so if you don’t like something, you won’t go hungry.

No matter what you plan for your honeymoon, where you go, or what places you visit, remember that this is the time for you and your loved one to enjoy a little relaxation after the hustle and bustle of your wedding.

The top honeymoon destinations that other people have chosen may not be suitable for you, but there are plenty of other options you can find for your honeymoon at funhoneymoonideas.com

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As a result they may want to save up a share of everything since weddings do sweep many bank accounts. Planning an inexpensive honeymoon means looking for alternatives to the elements that otherwise inflate the budget in a way not desired. Couples at all times know of their financial situation before tying the knot and it is still the ideal time to start organizing the honeymoon.

In fact the easiest and the most traditional method that could potentially raise money for a couples honeymoon is signing up a registry and select all the custom gifts that should make up a wish list. The guests that purchase those gifts stand for the cost of honeymoon and the couples can save up the money they intended to use for that.

Be careful when selecting those registries because the owners still want a share of the proceeds and no one would like that to be too much if the point is a cheap honeymoon. The other point that may make this possible is checking on budget and by a simple research online it is easy to find tips on how to spend while saving such as travel plan worksheets.

This should help because when booking for the flights, cruises, hotels and other fun ideas for honeymoon the pricing of each is considered and in the end a cheaper deal is intended. Needless to mention, travel by air may be luxurious but not always cheap in comparison to a cruise by ship to the Caribbean or wherever else. Additionally it is easy to capture the beauty of places at the sea using binoculars, cameras and other latest photographing devices.

Another advantage with the cruises is the fact that the couple can choose to spend more days in the water or touring the mainland depending on the selected destination such as the aforementioned. Cruises are some of the best cheap honeymoon ideas that can bring down the transport costs and still enable the couples to get to the same destinations as those that prefer travel by air.

Trace cruises that are exclusively for the lovebirds and their packages too specially for the upcoming summer 2010 weddings and honeymoons. Always make sure to find cheap deals for hotels, airlines, and cruises from the incoming brands in the travel industry that are willing to offer incomparable services at best pricing.

It could even be cheaper to take off to some place in Europe or wherever by flight and spend just two fun days in a new continent and country instead of spending a whole month near. Moreover the couples should also try to fix weddings and honeymoons during the seasons of the year when they can really enjoy.

Grab more ideas, tips and information for a cheap honeymoon
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There are also some interesting possibilities for those who have a home or apartment ready to occupy. There are some great home exchange programs. These programs help people make arrangements to exchange accommodations. Since the accommodations are often the most substantial expense of any trip, a home exchange can provide a fantastic honeymoon on a budget. There are people looking to exchange homes in Europe for similar accommodations in the United States. A honeymoon couple could trade their home for one in London, Paris or Berlin.

Couples who love the great outdoors could have a honeymoon on a budget by planning a camping trip. Life out in the wilderness could be the most romantic trip possible. Many of the national parks have great camping facilities that would provide magnificent settings for those ready to get away from the pressures of every day life. The parks also have some accommodations that offer shelter for those who like nature but not camping. Europe also has some great camping facilities so a couple could get to Europe and still have a honeymoon on a budget.

A honeymoon on a budget might mean just staying closer to home. Disneyland and Disney World are favorite spots and couples should go to the amusement park closest to their home to save some money. There are beautiful beaches on both coasts and a trip to the closest coast could bring some great savings. Driving to a destination saves the money of airfare, and a well-planned road trip could be a great time. There are wonderful sights such as the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls that are beautiful and inspiring. A road trip that includes such a destination could be the perfect honeymoon on a budget.