Are you planning your honeymoon? We asked Tim and Trisha, a couple who went on a 12-day honeymoon to Riviera Maya, Mexico, to answer some questions that will help you plan your once-in-a-lifetime vacation, no matter the destination.

What did you do when you were in the early stages of planning your honeymoon?

My husband and I knew we wanted to go to an all-inclusive resort for adults only. While we love kids, we wanted it to be a relaxing, romantic trip during which we could create memories that would last a lifetime. Being from Minnesota, we knew we wanted to be near the ocean at a resort where we could take up activities or excursions and that could offer us the ability to truly “check out” from the busyness of life.

Did you use a travel agent? If so, how did he or she help you?

We knew we needed a travel agent. With both of us planning our wedding and working full time, we did not have the time to commit to searching on our own. We decided to go with a travel agent who offered us many great options and helped us narrow down our choices based on our budget and what we were looking for. She was very knowledgeable and was available to help us in more ways than we had anticipated.

How did you select where you were going on your honeymoon?

After my husband and I chose Riviera Maya, our travel agent provided us with links to view the top resorts within our budget. We spent time researching the resorts on our own and visited with our travel agent to gain her perspective on several items that only someone with first-hand knowledge of the resorts would know.

What advice do you have for couples planning their honeymoon?

Use a travel agent who has your best interests at heart, listens to what you are looking for, and is trustworthy and responsive. You should be careful when reading online reviews; many people who comment are those who were not happy with the resort. I think it’s a good resource, but not the only one to look at when planning your trip.

Once you set your honeymoon budget, book it. If I had to, I would consider cutting something from the wedding day and placing that money toward the honeymoon. You can’t put a price tag on the memories and time you’ll spend with your new spouse; it will be a trip you will look back on and reminisce about forever!

Have Fun! Do not forget that this is an exciting time of your life, so have fun planning. This will be one of the most important vacations the two of you will ever take as a married couple, so make it memorable.