As restrictions continue to lift and we are able to return to a semi sense of normality, the events that we all know and love are able to happen – including weddings. 2020 and the first half of 2021 were tumultuous years for potential newly-weds. There was lots of uncertainty, last-minute cancellations and weddings that looked completely different to when they were first planned. Guest lists had to be cut right down, people had to wear masks, dancing wasn’t necessarily allowed and venues had to social distance. These were all distressing for a lot of people who have dreamed of this day for years. Luckily this is coming to an end and now weddings are happening meaning so are honeymoons. After months or years of planning weddings, a holiday after it is much needed. It is great to have a chance to escape the mayhem and just be able to spend some quality time as a newlywed couple. If you are currently looking to book your honeymoon, we have put together some top honeymoon planning tips that will enable you to have the honeymoon of your dreams.
Set a budget aside
The first on our list of honeymoon planning tips is an important one. One of the most stressful things about honeymoon planning is deciding what to spend. It is a good idea to factor what you want to spend into your wedding budget, so you don’t spend everything on the wedding then have nothing left for your trip. Do plenty of research before you go to try and think about where you want to go and what you want to do when you are there. Do you want to go all-inclusive? Or do you want to do B&B? Things such as this can affect how much you need to save. Consider if you are going to book excursions on your trip or if you are just going to relax. It can be a good idea to book ahead of time so you know exactly how much you have spent and how much you have left to spend for the rest of the trip. You could also set aside a certain amount to spend each day, or allocated to certain things on your trip.
Decide on the sort of honeymoon you want
There are so many different types of honeymoon, it is down to you to decide which is the best for you and your new other half. It might be that you are looking for somewhere hot and sunny where you can just relax and sunbathe on a sandy beach. It could be that you are looking to go and explore the sights of a cultural hub, finding out about its rich history and doing plenty of excursions. Maybe you want to do a road trip and visit a number of places? Or perhaps you want to do a sports holiday. Sit down together and think of what you want from your honeymoon – you could even combine multiple things if you can’t quite decide!
Be smart with your packing
When you are packing for your honeymoon, you want to be smart about it. Think carefully about what sort of honeymoon you have opted for and what you will be doing while you are there. If you are heading on a sports holiday, make sure that you have enough trainers, socks and the correct gear for what you are doing. If you are heading on a beach holiday, you will likely want plenty of bikinis, but not need so many daytime outfits as these will go to waste. It can be a good idea to get some packing cubes that can help you to plan ahead for your trip, with outfits for each day. This will help to avoid you overpacking. Be sure to pack outfits for day and evening as well as some sexy lingerie – it is your honeymoon after all! Do some research and find some beautiful and flattering pieces before you head abroad and it can be a nice surprise for your other half when you arrive!
Choose the right time of year for your destination
Next on our list of honeymoon planning tips is to choose the right time of year for where you are going. If you have a specific destination in mind, then it is important to think about the weather when you are there. If you are heading to certain parts of the Caribbean or places such as Florida for example, September can be a bad time as it is usually hurricane season. If you are going to Europe, then you will likely want to visit between the months of June-September for the best chances of warm weather and most of the attractions being open. If you are off to see the Northern lights, make sure you look ahead of time at what times of year are the best for this so you have the greatest chance of seeing them.
Make it extra special
You only get one honeymoon in your life (hopefully!) so you want to make it count. Let the hotel and airline know ahead of time that it is your honeymoon and they might do something special for you. Try to do something that you wouldn’t opt for normally or go the extra notch because it is an occasion you will remember forever. Where you might not normally upgrade your flights or go for an airport lounge, why not make it that little bit more luxurious? You could choose to fly first class, or have a nicer room in your hotel. These are the small things that can make a huge difference. You could choose excursions that you wouldn’t otherwise opt for, or plan to have a champagne breakfast in bed one day – the choice is yours!
These are just a few honeymoon planning tips that you need to consider to have the honeymoon of your dreams. It is the best way to relax after a manic few months of wedding planning and will enable you to head into married life on the best foot. Be sure to take plenty of photos – you could even consider a photo book if you want to have a printed memento of everything that you got up to.
