A WHITE-SAND BEACH, a suite with its own private Infinity pool and five-star dinners are what perfect honeymoons are made of. But in the current economy, as airfares get costlier and the U.S. dollar weakens against the euro, booking your fantasy honeymoon may be just that a fantasy.

The average wedding costs $27,882, according to wedding planning web site TheKnot.com, and that doesn't even include the honeymoon. Add in current economic factors, including skyrocketing gas prices, grocery and travel costs, and affording that ideal honeymoon seems almost inconceivable.

"Planning a great honeymoon is still possible," says Richard Markel, director of the Association for Wedding Professionals International. "It takes time and research and a bit of flexibility on where you want to go."

Here are five tips to planning an affordable and unforgettable honeymoon.

Book Early

Just as brides- and grooms-to-be shop around for months to find the best deal on florists and photographers, they should do the same when it comes to their honeymoon, says Loris Fusco, a honeymoon planner with Glendale, Calif.-based Montrose Travel. To land the best deals, she suggests booking nine months in advance. "The closer it gets to the travel date, the less likely [you are] to find that discount," says Fusco.

Booking early is also important if you have your heart set on a destination with few hotels, like St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, that tend to fill up fast, says Sherri Schreckenghaust, manager at AAA Minneapolis Ridge Square travel agency in Minnetonka, Minn.

If you're planning to use your frequent-flier miles to save cash, booking early is imperative. Airlines are reducing the number of flights and tightening travel requirements. Wait too long and you may not even get a seat on the same flight as your new spouse, says Fusco.

Seek Favorable Exchange Rates

Sure, sitting in a Paris caf on your honeymoon sounds like the epitome of romance. But the romantic feelings won't last long if you're busy worrying about how much that cup of coffee is costing you.

Currently, $1 (U.S.) buys you 0.63 euro. One way to escape that dismal exchange rate is to pick a destination where the dollar still has a lot of buying power, like the Caribbean, Mexico, Thailand or Bali, says Markel.

If you're intent on going to Europe, try countries that don't use the euro. Head to the beaches of Turkey or Croatia, for example, or go to Switzerland where, with its restaurants, shops and architecture, "you still get the European feel," says Carl Schwartz, chief travel officer with Cheapflights.com.

Another option: Book with a tour company like Trafalgar Tours. Tour companies typically offer better rates because they buy up hotel rooms well in advance. Those that purchased inventory a year ago, for example, were able to lock in more favorable dollar-to-euro exchange rates and now offer better deals to U.S. travelers, says Schreckenghaust.

Set Up a Honeymoon Registry

If your honeymoon is more important than a 10-piece Calphalon pot and pan set, consider signing up for a honeymoon registry on sites like

. You and your soon-to-be-spouse choose the hotel, spa sessions and water sports (among other activities) that you want and your wedding guests can purchase them for you as a gift. You can also set up a similar registry with a travel agent.

Take Advantage of All-Inclusive Packages

One of the easiest ways to save is by purchasing an all-inclusive package. With it, "you know exactly what you're spending upfront," says Fusco.

At the Rose Hall Resort & Spa in Jamaica (owned by Hilton), an all-inclusive seven-night stay between Jan. 6 and Jan. 13, 2009, in a mountain-view room costs $2,668 (per couple). Opt out of the all-inclusive package and pay $1,688 for the room. To stay within the same price range of the all-inclusive package, you'd need to spend less than $70 per day per person on food, entertainment and other expenses.

Skip Popular Destinations

Going off the beaten path can save a bundle in travel costs. One example: visiting Panama instead of Costa Rica. "It's not as sexy as Costa Rica, but...the weather is similar...and it's more affordable," says Schwartz.

"You can get a lot of what you're looking for in a honeymoon in Panama, including beaches, spas, dining and shopping," he says. And at the Coral Lodge resort you can book an over-the-water hut with double occupancy for $260 a night from Dec. 22 to Jan. 6 (a five-night minimum stay is required). Compare this to the French Polynesian islands where over-the-water huts can cost $1,000 a night.

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