Too often, a honeymoon takes a backseat to all the wedding planning. You give it just a little more attention! After all, the wedding is for your family and friends, but the honeymoon is just for you. It’s a time to relax and reflect, but most of all enjoy each other-for the first time as man and wife.
Budget!
First, figure out your honeymoon budget. Do you have any frequent flier miles or hotel miles that can be used towards your trip? If the wedding has set your honeymoon budget back, consider sites such as “Honeyfund” which act like a wedding registry alternative. Guests can donate towards your honeymoon instead of gifting you material objects. You can add activities from your honeymoon such as dinners, hotels, ferry and gondola rides, train tickets etc. and your guests can contribute or pay for selected activities!
When!
Deciding when to go is also very important. Depending on the location of your choice you may want to delay your honeymoon. For example, Sunny and I are going on our honeymoon in January instead of directly after our autumn wedding because the weather and climate is better in Bali during our winter months. Another thing to consider is time off. Figure out how many vacation days you have accrued, and how many of them you will need before the wedding for last minute planning. It is not uncommon for brides to take a week off, and grooms to take a couple of days. Do you want to leave the morning after your wedding? Or, do you want to have some time after the wedding to unwind and pack when you’ll be more focused on it, and take your honeymoon a few days or even a few weeks later? Another option, for those who don’t have a lot of vacation days, is to take a weekend “mini-moon” after the wedding, and then take a long second honeymoon on your first anniversary.
Where!
Discuss where you envision going and what you envision doing on your honeymoon. Do you want somewhere warm or cold? Do you want to go someplace far away and new or someplace close to home? Do you want a resort where there will be other honeymooners to socialize with, or someplace secluded where it will just be the two of you? Do you want to be in a city with museums, restaurants and nightlife or, do you want there to be lots of athletic activities available? There are many options so be sure to do your research!
Buy a travel book and learn about your destination of choice. Be sure to look into passport and visa requirements.
Remember, your honeymoon is a chance for you two to get away from the world and finally celebrate your union! Have fun!
Sorrento, Greece – Neeva and I went in 2012
Venice, Italy – The location I proposed to Neeva in 2011
San Juan, Puerto Rico – one of the first trips Neeva and I took together in 2010
Ubud, Bali – Our honeymoon location in 2012