Honeymoon Countdown: A Travel-Planning Timeline

Ready, set, relax! Ahhh, the honeymoon. Your hard-earned reward for months of stressful planning. The only catch? You have to plan that, too! Here's our guide to pulling off a glitch-free getaway.

As Soon As You're Engaged

• Charge everything possible on a credit card that allows you to accrue frequent flyer points. You'll need every point (and likely then some) if you hope to purchase a ticket or seat upgrade for your honeymoon.

Six Months or More Ahead

• Set a budget
• Start trading honeymoon fantasies. Where do you want to go? What do you want to do? Bat around destination possibilities, troll the Internet, talk to your travel agent, and poll friends for ideas.
• If you're planning a wedding abroad, get the ball rolling on paperwork and/or contact a wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings.
• Find a travel agent (if you don't already have one) who specializes in your destination, activity (an adventure tour or scuba trip, for example), or mode of transportation (a cruise specialist, say).
• If the price tag for your dream trip is off the charts, brainstorm ways to save money. Investigate what your frequent flyer point balance can buy you and/or research honeymoon registry options with tour operators, travel agents, and on the Internet.
• Book your tickets, get seat assignments, order special in-flight meals, and check luggage allowances (you'll need these for buying -- or registering for -- luggage later), especially if you're carting skis or scuba gear. If you hope to cash in frequent flyer miles for a trip or upgrade, purchase or transfer points (if necessary) and make your ticket request from the airline as soon as possible.
• Research hotels, check room availability, and reserve a room.
• Reserve a rental car.
• If you're traveling abroad -- and feeling ambitious -- sign up for a foreign-language class or buy a language course on tape and start practicing at home or on your way to work.
• Ask your travel agent or visit the CDC Travelers' Health Site to check whether certain vaccinations are recommended or required before visiting your destination. (Some programs need to start months in advance of your trip.)