Honeymoons are for celebrating the end of wedding planning and the start of your marriage—it’s a time to get away, decompress, and spend quality time with your partner in an exciting destination. You’ve probably already made a lot of decisions while planning your wedding, so when it comes to thinking about your honeymoon, it can feel overwhelming deciding where to go and what to do. The list of places to visit is never-ending, so how do you decide on a destination? Sit back, relax, and follow these 5 steps will help you pick a memorable destination that’s just right for you and your partner.
Discuss Your Interests
Getting on the same page with your partner about what you envision your honeymoon to look like is a great place to start. Consider both of your individual interests, then try to find some overlap. Discuss what your dream honeymoon itinerary would like and how you hope to spend your days—laying low at the resort, or following a jam-packed itinerary to help you explore all of the local spots? Determining the vibe of your honeymoon will help narrow down your options.
Talk About Your Budget
Planning a wedding can be expensive, and it can be tempting to cut costs for your honeymoon—or skip one all together. Talk finances early on and consider working your honeymoon budget into your overall wedding budget. The general rule of thumb is that your honeymoon should account for about 12-15% of your wedding budget. Once you know how much money you can afford to spend on your trip, only consider destinations that fall within your budget. Another way to maximize your honeymoon budget is to consider asking friends and family to contribute to experiences or travel costs in your Honeyfund registry.
Consider The Timing Of Your Trip
The time of year you plan to travel is also an important factor in planning your honeymoon. If you’re planning on taking your honeymoon in the winter, it might be helpful to remember that some warm weather destinations might be more crowded than usual. Visiting a destination in their off-season or shoulder-season is an easy way to beat crowds and score great travel deals.
Do Some Research
Once you’ve narrowed down your list, start researching your top picks! Read some blog posts on each destination to get a better idea of the food, culture, and things to do while you’re there. Asking for recommendations from friends and family who have visited that location in the past might be helpful, too! If you’re deciding between a few destinations, comparing airfare and hotel prices in each location may help you make your choice.
Don’t Stress
There can be a lot of pressure around making your honeymoon the best trip you’ve ever taken. At the end of the day, a honeymoon is a trip for you and your partner to celebrate your tour marriage, and should be something you both look forward to! Remember that no matter where you go, being together is what’s most important. Having this mindset will help take some pressure off decision making, and will help you roll with the punches when things don’t go as planned during your travels!