This morning, travel pro Pauline Frommer was on the Today Show talking about ways to save money on travel in the face of increasing airline costs, mostly due to our lovely dependence on oil (foreign and domestic).  Tips she talks about include being creative on where you search.  The same websites don’t always the same deals from the same carriers.  She likes sites like Kayak.com and Sidestep.com best with a couple others mentioned.  Also, be sure to think about when you book your travel.  She says the”smartest time to purchase is between 24 days and two months of your departure.”  Adding that airlines adjust price according to demand for a particular flight.

Video of her interview and the complete article can be found on the Today Show website.

The honeymoon can be a large portion of your wedding budget, but it also doesn’t have to be.  Trying to find a destination that will fit your budget may not be as hard as you think.  When considering destinations, think about what’s important to you.  Do you really need to have a beach honeymoon?  If so, consider destinations with all inclusive packages like Jamiaca or in the Carribean, but also don’t overlook locations like Hilton Head, SC.  If you’re getting married in late fall or early spring, think about going skiing in Colorado or Lake Tahoe.  Another option is to simply visit a city you’ve never been to, like New York City, San Francisco or Washington, DC. 

Also, be sure to look for travel specials.  Try this new site SideStep for some great travel specials.

Not convinced that it’s worth it to try to cut costs for the most important day of your life? Consider this: what if you had a small private affair for your closest friends and relatives and didn’t buy an expensive engagement ring, spending around $13,000 for your wedding instead of the average price tag of $27,000?

What if you invested the $14,000 you saved in the stock market and left it there until you retired (assuming 40 years later), earning an average of 10% a year? What would you end up with? A whopping $634,000!

It’s hard to look so far ahead when you’re just starting out in your life together, but the world is full of people who find themselves quickly approaching retirement age without the financial means to retire. When all is said and done, I’ll bet many of them would have traded a bigger, fancier wedding for the $634,000 nest egg.

For more tips on saving costs, see the full article on About.com

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If you’re looking to save some money by booking honeymoon travel yourself, try the new WeddingWire Travel Center in their new Guest Center. WeddingWire just released a new guest center that also includes a new gift registry search. The travel center is great for you or your wedding guests. We recommend linking to the guest center directly from your wedding website to make things easier for your guests as well.

Try it out, it’s free to use.