Booking your honeymoon is one of the most fun parts of planning a wedding. Just like with planning any trip, the first step of planning the perfect honeymoon is to set a budget. Once you’ve done that, though, where do you go from there?
There are several approaches you can take to make planning your honeymoon a breeze. Here are a few of our suggestions:
- Consider all-Inclusives. Whether you’re thinking of cruising or finding a romantic island resort, all-inclusives can be a great way to simplify your honeymoon planning. A couple of key things to keep in mind:
- Find out exactly what’s included. You’ll want to find make sure all meals, alcoholic beverages, gratuities, taxes, and off-site excursions are included in the all-inclusive rate.
- Is it really the best deal for you? Do you drink alcoholic beverages and take excursions? Are you going to be satisfied only eating the resort’s or cruise’s food offerings? If you not, you might not be saving yourself any money. Make sure the package is right for your needs.
- Sign up for a honeymoon registry. If you’re a couple who already has all of the dish towels and pots and pans that you need, a honeymoon registry such as Wanderable, Honeymoon Wishes, or Traveler’s Joy might be a great alternative to a traditional gift registry. Honeymoon registries allow guests to contribute financially to your honeymoon. Things to note:
- Read the details about each registry and pick the one that works best for you. They differ in terms of customer service, years in business, site features, fees, security, and style.
- Your guests might not understand what it is. Honeymoon registries are a pretty new wedding innovation, so you’ll need to educate guests about it.
- The more flexible a registry is, the better. Most registries allow couples to register for services anywhere they want. Make sure your registry site will allow you to add what you want to your account.
- Redeem rewards. If you want to make the most of your honeymoon budget, consider redeeming rewards points to put towards it. A couple thoughts on this:
- Seek out hotel chains in your preferred honeymoon location that run specials, such as if you book a certain number of nights, you can earn some free.
- As you begin planning your wedding, apply for (and use) a credit card that offers airline (or other travel) miles/points, and use that card to pay for all of your wedding expenses to earn rewards for your honeymoon. Just make sure to pay off that balance every month!
- Look for rewards in unusual places. For example, a local mortgage company once partnered with an airline rewards program, allowing people to earn points towards travel. Couples often purchase a new home when they get married, so this could have benefitted some honeymooners.
- Consult a professional. If you still have no idea where to begin on your honeymoon planning, you can always reach out to a professional travel agent. They can offer you advice and insider’s discounts on travel packages. Just make sure to check their credentials to ensure you’re working with someone legitimate.
No matter which honeymoon planning option you choose, make sure you select a location you’ll both enjoy. That way, all of the planning will be well worth it!
