Once you’ve proposed, it’s time to start planning. Yes, wedding planning is obviously important and this will take up a lot of your time, but don’t forget about the honeymoon! A honeymoon is the perfect time to relax and celebrate your marriage. It's also a great way to finally get some down time after a hectic period of wedding planning.
If you’re planning your honeymoon, here are a few tips that will make the process easier and more fun.
Be Original
A honeymoon can mean laying around on the beach sipping cocktails and relaxing, but that’s not the only type of honeymoon there is. You also don’t need to have the same honeymoon as your friends or family members, even if they really loved their trip. Just because they enjoyed a particular resort or certain hotel, it might not suit your style.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t ask for help and advice, but it’s always important to remember that you’re doing this for the two of you, not for anyone else.
Your honeymoon can be whatever you’d like it to be, from a relaxing stay by the pool to an exciting visit to a vibrant city to a remote hike through a quiet region. You should always do what you want for your honeymoon. There’s no need to stick to the tried and true.
Keep Time in Mind
While you’re planning your big adventure, it’s also important to keep time in mind. You may want to see the whole world, but that might not be possible if you only have 10 days to travel. Think of how much vacation time you have and then plan your trip based on the available time.
It’s important to be realistic. It might technically be possible to visit five cities and take four flights in two weeks, this might not be ideal, especially for a honeymoon. You’ll want to spend some time relaxing, enjoying each other’s company, and doing some unstructured exploring.
If you try to cram too much into one trip, you’ll come back from your honeymoon feeling more stressed and exhausted than when you left!
Make Sure your Travel Reservations Match your Legal Documents
This isn’t a “sexy” or “fun” tip, but it’s a practical one that will really matter. While you’ll naturally be excited to start using your married names and calling yourselves “Mr. and Mrs. Whatever”, doing so can make traveling very complicated. The names that you book flights, tickets and hotel reservations under must be your legal name as it appears on your passport and other legal documents. Failing to do this can lead to a lot of stress.
The last thing you want is to show up at the airport or the hotel and not be able to board your flight or check into your room because your identification doesn’t match the name on your reservation.
Think about Packing
It’s important to think about everything you need to pack when you are planning your honeymoon. Remember that you can only carry so much! If you’re planning on putting together a trip where you’ll likely need a swimsuit, some formal attire, sweaters to keep you warm, casual clothes for sightseeing, and five or six pairs of shoes, think about whether or not this is practical. Remember, you’ll need to carry all of this stuff around on your trip!
You’ll also want to avoid bringing too many valuables on your trip, if possible. Yes, you’ll want to bring cash, your phone, a camera, and your wedding and engagement rings with you, but it’s often a good idea to leave many other valuables behind. If you want to bring them along, come up with a plan for where you will safely store them while you’re traveling.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
You wouldn’t wait until the last minute to plan your wedding, so you shouldn’t wait long to plan your honeymoon either! Most couples book their honeymoons about six to eight months in advance. Remember that flights, resorts and hotel rooms in prime destinations often book up very quickly.
Also remember that, if you’re booking eight months in advance, you’ll need to start planning even earlier. You’ll want to give yourself time to come up with ideas, read reviews, and make decisions before you finally book the actual trip.
