Congratulations! You’re in the process of planning your wedding. Amid picking decorations, hiring vendors and finding the perfect dresses for your bridesmaids, take a break to dream of your honeymoon. As the first trip you’ll take as a married couple, the honeymoon is a special romantic getaway. But don’t let that put too much pressure on the planning. With tips for planning a honeymoon in mind, you and your spouse-to-be can sit down together and arrange your trip.
A lot goes into planning a honeymoon! Get ready for an unforgettable getaway, and learn how to plan your honeymoon with the checklist below.
1. Plan Early
The first step to learning how to plan a honeymoon is starting early. Ideally, you’ll start thinking about your honeymoon six months before your wedding or sooner. You’ll be thinking of your wedding favors, cake and invitations at that point, so you may want to delegate those tasks to a friend or family member. Then, schedule time to sit down and plan your honeymoon with your significant other.
If you’re getting married on a shorter time frame or you haven’t planned for your honeymoon, don’t worry. You’ll just have to dedicate more time to sit down and plan. Prepare to wait to travel for possibly a month or two after your wedding based on what options are available. No matter how close you are to your wedding day, use the rest of this honeymoon planning checklist to help you plan.
2. Set Your Budget
Before you start dreaming about month-long getaways to exotic islands or a hop around every country in Europe, set a budget. This will give you an idea of what is within your means and get you where you want to go. It’ll also guide your decisions for other factors while planning. While creating a budget isn’t the most exciting part of learning how to plan a honeymoon, it’s the most essential.
What you spend on your honeymoon will vary based on your situation. In 2019, the average amount couples spent on their honeymoon was $5,000, but you can spend less or more than that and still have a romantic honeymoon. When you think about your budget, split areas of your travels and give each section a specific amount. Consider these categories for your honeymoon budget:
- Travel fees there and back
- Local travel fees for public transportation or car rentals
- Accommodations and resort fees
- Travel insurance
- Meals
- Visas or passports
- Excursions or activities
- Souvenirs and gifts
Those and other categories will differ for each couple. Research averages based on where you want to go to have a better idea of how to plan your budget. From there, you may have to compromise or make changes to certain categories to save money. To move some of the budget for meals to another category, for instance, choose accommodations where you can cook for yourselves a night or two.
3. Decide Where You Want to Go
This is a big — and exciting — decision. If you and your spouse-to-be haven’t talked about potential travel destinations, now’s the time. Deciding on a destination may involve a bit of compromise if you both have your own ideas of where to go. If you and your partner don’t have any ideas, it’ll take a bit of time to generate some options. In either case, consider these ideas for inspiration:
- A place you’ve never been before
- A place you’ve had a special romantic trip to before
- A popular romantic destination for honeymoons
- An exotic destination for a unique experience
- A familiar destination to create new memories in
One factor that will narrow down your choices is deciding whether you want to stay in the country or travel somewhere else. If you’ll be going out of the country for your honeymoon, make sure to get or renew passports if you or your partner need to. You should also research the currency in your country of choice, along with factors like the language and cellphone data abroad. Don’t forget to see what sort of adapters and converters you need for your phones and electronics, as well.
Ultimately, the destination you pick should reflect what you and your spouse-to-be enjoy. Do you prefer arts and culture? Are you looking to have outdoor adventures and activities on your getaway? Do you hope to witness famous monuments and history? Don’t choose a location for your honeymoon simply because it’s a well-known spot — unless it’s where you want to go. Brainstorm together what you would both love to do on your first trip as a married couple.
4. Decide When and How Long You’ll Be There
How long you go away for your honeymoon will depend on work and other obligations. Your budget and where you’re going will play roles, too. You don’t want to pick a place that’s full of things to do and see only to have little time to experience it all. But you probably can’t be away for too long, either.
Get the perfect balance by picking a length of time that works for you and your partner. If you fall in love with the location, you could always resolve to visit again on a future anniversary to see what you’ve missed the first time around.
Deciding when you travel will be pretty straightforward — most couples go one or a few days after the big celebration. But if you have to wait a bit longer, that gives you extra time to plan and get finances in order. Having a gap between your wedding and your honeymoon also lets you reminisce about your special day and relive the romance all over again.
Waiting to take your trip until after your wedding could also be ideal based on what season you plan to get married in. If you’re having a dreamy winter wedding but traveling in potentially bad weather isn’t an option, wait until the warmer months to go. With a warm summer wedding, travel could be at its peak, making your honeymoon more expensive. Wait until off-peak or shoulder season — that is, the time between peak and off-peak travel. That’ll save you money and let you experience a destination with fewer crowds.
5. Consider a Travel Agent
Perhaps you’ve never planned a big trip before, or you have too much to plan with your wedding. A travel agent offers insider information about the best places to go and the best experiences in those destinations. Working with a travel agent takes plenty off your honeymoon planning checklist, giving you time to de-stress and focus on your wedding.
Hiring a travel agent may not be in everyone’s budget, and that’s OK! Seek advice from friends or family members who travel often or recently planned a honeymoon. Ask if they have any tips for your honeymoon to take a bit of pressure off you and your partner. And, of course, the internet is rich with travel advice and resources for how to get the most out of your trip.
6. Arrange Travel Plans
With a date and place in mind, it’s time to plan how to get there. This will vary with your budget and where you’re going, but it’s an essential step whether you’re going by bus, train, car or plane. Book your tickets, arrange for a rental and do whatever you need to get to your honeymoon destination.
When you’re booking your travel plans, keep when you want to be there in mind — but be a little flexible. For flights, certain days are cheaper to fly than others. It could be more cost-effective to fly in the middle of the week and stay over the weekend into the next week. If you’re driving or taking a different transportation method, this may not be much of a concern.
If you’re flying, one of the most important tips for a honeymoon comes in again: plan early. Try to book early, especially if you want to use frequent flyer miles or schedule a nonstop flight. Prioritize getting a nonstop flight for your honeymoon to cut down on the stress of catching your connection on time.
As you arrange your travel plans, have accommodation ideas in mind. You’ll want a general feel of when check-in and check-out times are, especially if you’re flying in or taking another form of transportation. Many hotels allow check-in around late afternoon, and you don’t want to arrive too early and wait around with your luggage. Some hotels and resorts offer to hold your luggage while you explore the area. Double-check that they’ll keep your luggage safe before you book travel that arrives early in the morning.
7. Research and Book Accommodations
Odds are, you’re going to travel at least a bit for your honeymoon. And with your travel dates confirmed, it’s the perfect time to book accommodations. You’ll know exactly what stretch of time you need to schedule your stay, so have your travel itineraries or tickets with you as you book.
You’ll likely want a central location for your accommodations or one that’s close to your activities of interest. You don’t want to spend most of your trip traveling between your hotel and the hot spots of your destination. For more specific needs, consider what comes with the honeymoon suite, if you’ll be booking a stay there. Many hotels offer opulent suites for just-married couples, and you may want to choose one that offers:
- A fireplace for romantic lighting
- An in-room spa tub for a relaxation
- Special services and extras, like wine or chocolates
- Concierge services to offer local advice
- High-quality furnishings and linens for a comfortable stay
Book as early as possible if you have your heart set on the honeymoon suite. If you don’t have a preference, look for a hotel that offers extras for any room. Choosing a laid-back suite could help save your budget, and it’s ideal for low-key couples.
8. Research Your Destination and Book Extras
Now that you’ve followed honeymoon planning tips and know for sure where you’re going and where you’re staying, think about what you want to do. If you’re going to a popular tourist destination, this will be easy research, but every location has something special to offer. What you do for your excursions and extras will depend on where you go and what you and your significant other want to do. Potential options for your travels include:
- Spa treatments
- Sightseeing tours
- Local workshops
- Tickets to a live show
- Museum passes
- Hiking excursions
- A must-visit restaurant
Get tickets or make reservations ahead of time when you need them. Buying tickets online could save you time when you get to your honeymoon destination. Ensure that you can access the tickets digitally, and have printouts with you to be safe.
9. Schedule a Surprise
During your planning, sneak away to plan a surprise for your significant other. Book something special like a honeymoon meal or different short-term excursions. Your surprise could be as simple as having wine, chocolates and flowers ready in your hotel room when you arrive. Think about what your spouse-to-be would want to do or appreciate, and show your love with a thoughtful surprise.
10. Make an Itinerary
With your travel plans, accommodations and extras booked, keep yourself organized with an itinerary. What’s on your schedule will vary based on how long you’re going and what you’re doing when you get there. In general, your honeymoon itinerary could include a detailed version of this list:
- When you’ll leave for the airport or begin your drive
- What time your flight or transportation leaves
- What time you’ll arrive at your destination
- Check-in time for your accommodations
- Your plans for each day, including excursions and meals
- Check-out time for the last day of your getaway
- What time your flight or transportation leaves to go home
- When you’ll get home
Having a written itinerary will guide you throughout the planning process, especially when you’re booking your extras. Feel free to keep a running list or make a calendar as you book everything if that’s how you prefer to stay organized.
11. Share Your Travel Plans
With your itinerary made, share the calendar or your list with a close friend or family member so they know your travel plans. You don’t need to tell everyone in your life when you’re going and the exact timeline, but feel free to share your excitement for your honeymoon destination! Sharing your plans with a few people is useful if you’ll be gone for a bit and need someone to watch your house, pets or children. Use that opportunity to see if your friend or family member will be free while you’re away and can help you.
12. Pack for Your Honeymoon
Pack early instead of waiting until the last minute, especially if you’re leaving shortly after your wedding. The weeks before your ceremony can be full of nerves, excitement and final things to do. You don’t want to worry about packing for your honeymoon during that time. Take a day or two with your spouse-to-be and plan what you’ll need and get packing. What you bring and how much you bring will depend on:
- The length of your trip
- The weather where you’re going
- If you’ll be swimming at the hotel or a beach
- If you have carry-on luggage only or if you’re checking a bag
Here’s where you may need to research your destination if you’ve never been there. Look into the weather and your activities as you pack. Light layers are always a smart way to go if you’re not traveling during the winter. Don’t forget to pack comfortable walking shoes if you and your significant other will be enjoying outdoor activities. And remember to leave some extra room in your bags for gifts and souvenirs!
Find Your Dream Wedding Dress at Alexandra’s Boutique
As you’re planning your honeymoon, you may find yourself dreaming of your wedding day. You’re eagerly anticipating your beautiful venue and celebrating your love with family and friends around. But what are you wearing as you walk down the aisle? That’s where Alexandra’s Boutique comes in. Our large selection of show-stopping wedding dresses includes designers like Stella York, Martina Liana, Maggie Sottero and plenty more. You can find exactly what you’re dreaming of wearing on your wedding day with help from Alexandra’s Boutique.
Schedule your appointment today to visit us at Alexandra’s Boutique and find your perfect dress!