7 Ways to Have a Dream Honeymoon on a Tight Budget

Ah, your honeymoon. Time to throw budgetary caution to the wind and think big. Like a dream honeymoon on a private island in the Caribbean, with your own chef and a wait staff to tend to your every whim. Sounds good, right? Well, sure, if you're one of the lucky ones in this economy still making rock star wages. But, if you're an average couple starting your new life together, you may need to scale back a bit.

Now, now, don't despair. The good news is you can still have a dream honeymoon and do it cheaply. Not convinced? Maybe the following 7 tips for a cheap, but dreamy honeymoon, will help:

1. Go on a Cruise

Cruises can be an excellent way to have a romantic honeymoon at a cheaper price. They're all-inclusive, which means you know ahead of time how much the trip is going to cost, which makes them much easier to stay within the budget. You have a huge variety of destinations to choose from, including sexy Caribbean locations and quiet, romantic river cruises. And, if a longer cruise is out of your budget, there are many cheaper, 3- and 4-day cruises available which sail to romantic destinations at very reasonable prices.

2. Stay at Someone Else's House

This may not sound very appealing, until you realize that home exchanges are a great and inexpensive way to vacation in some very hot destinations like Italy, Ireland or Greece. There are several home exchange networks online where you can find people willing to swap homes with you. It helps, of course, if you also live in a desirable vacation destination.

3. Head to the Mountains

A romantic cabin in a mountain setting can also be an inexpensive, yet dreamy, honeymoon. The good news here is that most people live within a day's drive of a mountain community where you can rent a cabin for a few days. Walking hand-in-hand through a quite forest during the day, followed by champagne in front of a roaring fireplace - what could be more romantic?

4. Consider a Bed and Breakfast

Another romantic option is to stay at a Bed and Breakfast, particularly one that is historic. There's just something about a house built in the 1800s, with its dark woods and stained glass that raises the level of romance. Be on the lookout for B&Bs which have won "Best in Romance" awards in magazines and Bed and Breakfast guides. You can find inexpensive, romantic B&Bs all over the world.

5. Consider a Cheaper Beach Setting

Yes, renting an entire island in the Caribbean all to yourselves is very appealing. But, it'll cost you more for a 5-night stay on many private islands than most people make in a year. You can have the same million-dollar views for a tiny fraction of the cost in such beautiful places like Jekyll Island in Georgia, Catalina Island in California and Sanibel and Captiva Islands in Florida. No, you won't have the private butler and chef, but you will have romantic, gorgeous views.

6. Take Your Honeymoon During the Off Season

Think a honeymoon in Europe is too expensive for you? Then go when it's cheaper, like the shoulder season in the spring months of April or May, or late September or early October. Even if you have a June wedding, you can still put your honeymoon off until a cheaper time of year. It won't make it any less romantic.

7. Have Someone Else Pay for It

Caught your attention, didn't it? Of course it would be nice if someone else paid for it. But, maybe your family doesn't have the money to send you both to some exotic part of the world. What next? Get set up at a honeymoon registry, that's what. It's like a wedding registry, but instead of asking for household items, you ask for contributions toward your honeymoon. The focus of the gifts is on things and activities a couple will typically pay for on a honeymoon. It may be something as common (albeit generous) as a 3-night stay in a spectacular resort on St. Barts. Or, it could be a gondola ride in Venice. Honeymoon registries can even help pay for one meal or all of them at the couple's hotel.

The point is that a honeymoon doesn't have to put you in debt to be special and romantic. The memory of your honeymoon should last a lifetime, not the cost.