One of the most exciting parts of any wedding planning process is when you start planning your honeymoon. After months and months spent thinking about the logistics for your Big Day, you’ll be longing to fly away to a dream destination. But, whether you’re aiming for a budget-friendly trip or an all-out luxury experience, you’ll need to dedicate some time to organizing where you’re going to go for that much needed break as a newly married couple.
There will be lots to keep in mind when you start to organize where and when you want to honeymoon. Do you want it to be straight after your wedding? Or do you want to wait a while? Do you want a city break, or a beach getaway? Find out how to plan a honeymoon with our essential guide. Even if you’re planning a mini-moon these tips can help you!
1. Get Ahead with Planning
The best timeframe to plan a honeymoon is around 6 months before traveling. The earlier the better! It’s probably a big trip you want to organize alongside planning your wedding so it’s best to give yourself plenty of time to avoid getting stressed out with both. In fact, planning early saves you money too! If you’re thinking of a summer getaway, you’ll want to begin deciding and booking in January. This is to make sure you don’t miss out on any deals, and that hotels or Airbnbs are still available. You might even want to splash out and stay in the best accommodation possible. You don’t want to end up in a 10 meter square hotel room over an hour away from your destination! If you’re going far away for an exotic adventure, then even consider planning one year in advance to get the best travel prices.
2. Where Are You Going to Go?
The hardest decision you’ll have to make is where you want to go. You’ll both have preferences and dream destinations, but you can only decide on one. Unless of course, you want to organize a multi-stop honeymoon. You could mix a few days visiting must-see European cities with an Italian beach break, or alternatively, opt for an exotic island hopping experience. To ensure that you don’t let time slip away deciding on your chosen destination, our tip is to pencil in a date by which time you would have to make a decision. Then leading up to this date, make sure to actively spend some moments together talking about and comparing ideas. If you’re super busy during the week, then perhaps a Saturday evening, while you’re enjoying a night in, might be the perfect time to chat about your favorite honeymoon locations. Make sure that you settle on a decision that you’re both happy with!
3. Choose Your Dates Early
Carefully think about when you want to go. You don’t have to jet off as soon as your wedding ends, nowadays more and more couples are waiting a few weeks or even months before enjoying their honeymoon. Traditionally, couples plan a honeymoon for the day following their wedding to enjoy a much-needed break. But life happens, and there might be other important commitments, such as moving in together or not being able to get the time off work. Think about what works best for both of you. Even consider going during an off-peak time of year if you want to save money or avoid lots of crowds. Some couples are choosing to go on a mini-moon for a relaxing weekend away and leave their honeymoon for later in the year. This option is perfect for couples that don’t want to get overwhelmed with planning a wedding and their honeymoon at the same time, or for those who have had to plan a wedding in a short amount of time. Also, consider where you’re going and the best time to visit that location.
4. Budgeting is a Must
One of the more boring yet essential decisions, when you plan a honeymoon, will be thinking about how much you want to spend. You’ll be paying for wedding costs, but it’s still important to leave a honeymoon fund to create lasting memories as a couple. That being said, there’s no need to go overboard. Set a realistic budget that means that you can relax and have fun, but aren’t worrying afterwards. You’ll need to make sure you’ve thought about any last-minute expenses such as taxis, overweight suitcases and visas. Also, leave some money for any activities or experiences you might want to do while you’re there, such as a cooking class, wine tasting or boat rides. Remember, expensive doesn’t always mean that it’s the best, this is where research is essential. For example, eating a crepe along the Seine River while gazing at the beautiful sunset over the Eiffel Tower can be under 5 dollars for an unforgettable moment!
5. Accomodation
One of the most important points when you plan a honeymoon, is selecting the right accommodation. It can truly make or break the experience! So it’s useful to work with a travel agent so that they can find you the best deals in the location you’ve chosen. Travel agents will have expert knowledge of the destination, so they can help you with what areas are best to stay in, which hotels have excellent reviews and what local activities are available. Their aim is to curate the best holiday package for you, and they might have insider connections to get you special offers! If you choose not to go with a travel agent, then dedicate time to researching. Read blogs, watch youtube videos and browse Instagram to get some local knowledge of the area and find out the best places for accommodation. Also, make sure you read hotel reviews carefully so that you don’t get any surprises!
6. Create a Packing Checklist
Who has arrived at their holiday destination and realised that they’ve forgotten something important? Most of us! Avoid this by creating a list early on, and keep adding to it as you think of things. When it comes to clothes, check the local weather so that you’re not too cold or too hot while you’re there. Make sure you have all of your tech essentials, such as phone chargers, cables, portable chargers, cameras, earphones and travel adaptors. Also, think about the activities you’ll be doing while you’re there, will you need sandals or some hiking boots? Think about any important toiletries such as bug spray, sun protection, and any medication. Don’t forget all of your documents and spare copies too!
7. Research is Key
For the best dream experience, make sure you do as much research as you can. Find those hidden gems and special activities that will make your honeymoon unforgettable! Indulge in the local culture and find out what speciality foods are in your destination. Talk to friends, family or co-workers who have been to the same place and gather a list of recommendations. Research also means checking anything important that you’ll need while you’re away, for example, currencies, weather, maps and any local phrases.
8. Plan Your Itinerary
One of the best tips, when you plan a honeymoon, is to organize an itinerary. Don’t overload the itinerary, as you’re there to relax, but do note down places you want to visit, restaurants you want to sample and any activities you want to try out. This definitely includes any spa days too! It’s important to find a balance between having fun and unwinding. You might even want to schedule some romantic surprises for your partner. Make sure not to copy other people’s itinerary entirely either, it has to be about you as a couple!
Now that everything has been planned, all that’s left to do is to wait for that special day and exciting trip to arrive! Dream about those beautiful sunsets, stunning scenery and delicious food! If you need some inspiration on where to go, check out of our roundup of the Most Romantic Places to Honeymoon in Italy. And for more wedding planning ideas, head over to WedBoard for essential tips!
Featured image: Jetset Christina
