Just as your wedding ceremony and reception are the public celebration of your marriage, your honeymoon is your own very private celebration. It also is a time to relax and unwind from the excitement of the wedding. And it serves as an important bridge for the changes taking place in your life and your relationship.

Where you go and for how long will be determined largely by your personal Style and finances, but attention to the planning of your honeymoon will make it a special time. While the possibilities range from luxurious cruises to camping in the wilderness, increasing numbers of honeymooners are selecting the intimacy of bed and breakfasts and small country Inns. Typically these smaller accommodations have few rooms but loads of character and many very special touches - such as antiques, brass beds, pretty linens and lace curtains.

Often there are flowers in your room, candy on your pillow at night, a glass of wine in the evening and a sumptuous breakfast in the morning. You may have a fireplace in your room or a whirlpool tub for two. There maybe a limousine to whisk you off to dinner or an antique carriage for a romantic ride in the moonlight.

Many bed and breakfasts are beautifully restored Victorian homes, but there are a variety of other options including private cottages in the country, house - boats, southern plantations even a treehouse or a lighthouse.

Bed and breakfasts and country Inns are located in all areas of the country. However, finding the place of your dreams may take a littie research. There are some guidebooks available. but one of your best resources may be a bed and breakfast reservation service. Make reservations as far in advance as possible - six to twelve months or more is advisable for some of the better accommodations.