Detroit Area Wedding Guide
Planning your honeymoon
Photo by Luca Biagiotti
Planning a Honeymoon
Honeymoons can be anything you want them to be. They can be exotic vacations in some far away land or they can be simple camping trips close to home. There is no etiquette on the duration of a honeymoon, where it should be taken or even whether a newlywed couple goes on a honeymoon.
Personal preference, as with most decisions, will influence where the couple goes on a honeymoon. If both enjoy a particular type of outing such as hiking or going to a cabin, then that is the perfect honeymoon for that couple. But if you do decide to go somewhere more elaborate for your honeymoon, then prepare in advance.
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Save Money - If the honeymoon is a special vacation that requires you to save up your money to go, then start a vacation fund in a separate bank account. Do not use your funds for anything else and deposit what you can afford so that you have enough when the time comes to book your honeymoon trip. Factor spending money into the total saved so that you are not stretched to the limit when you go.
Call Ahead - Airline flights and hotel reservations are best booked after researching date availabilities and prices. If your schedule has room for flexibility, book the trip around the periods where the pricing is less expensive. The honeymoon does not have to be taken the day after the wedding. It can be taken anytime that suits you, so save money by calling ahead and finding the slow periods.
Book in Advance - Some companies offer discounts for booking and paying in advance. They may offer a percentage off for booking by a certain date.
All-Inclusive Vacations - Resorts in the Caribbean offer all-inclusive vacations. Basically everything is included in the price except spending money and off-site tours. These types of vacations offer great value and are perfect for the honeymoon couple because the couple does not have to leave the resort if they are more comfortable staying alone and they do not have to think about where to eat, what to do, etc. Cruises are much the same idea and are convenient ways to keep to a budget.
Last Minute Deals - If you are not in any hurry to go on vacation and have the liberty of taking time off work when you request it, then watch for last minute deals. Airlines, hotels and all-inclusive resorts would prefer to be filled up then empty so they sometimes offer deals to sell space.
Always read the fine print and understand what you are buying before booking a vacation. Use a reputable travel agent or online self-serve booking company. It is bad enough to have your vacation go terribly wrong and lose your money but it seems to be worse if you start your married life off with a disastrous experience.
Other considerations when planning a honeymoon are clothing and packing the suitcases. The bride's trousseau refers to her "going away outfit", her clothing for the honeymoon and the lingerie for the wedding evening. Both the bride and groom should review their closets to determine whether they have the appropriate clothing for their honeymoon destination.
Check the clothing to see if it needs repairs and if it fits properly. Then go out and buy what you need. Also, remember items such as sun tan lotion, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, bathing suits and flip-flops. Of course, if the honeymoon is all about travelling to a ski resort or a winter lodge, pack the relevant items for the anticipated weather.
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Do not wait until the last minute to buy your clothes. In fact, if you know early enough where you are going, buy the clothes during the season so that you can find proper sizes and colors. Shorts or sundresses are difficult to find in the winter and the sizes will be limited. Buying these items in the summer when available will reduce your costs and permit you a choice of items.
Put everything together in the closet or at least in the same spot so that it is easier to pack and you won't forget what you have purchased. Maybe even a couple weeks before the honeymoon wash and iron everything so that all the pieces are fresh and ready to go.
As far as packing the actual suitcases, add the suitcases to your wish list or registry so that maybe someone will give a set as a wedding or shower gift and save you the expense of buying matching cases. Of course, if you have suitcases, they do not have to be matching in this day and age. But one thing you do not want to do is leave the packing until the day of the honeymoon. Do not spend the night before your wedding or the day of the honeymoon to pack your bags. Have everything ready including your tickets and identification. If you wait until the end, you will be too stressed and invariably something will get left behind.
And do not forget getting to the airport or train station. Book a driver, such as a limousine or shuttle service, in advance or arrange with someone to take you. If the airport is some distance away, the ride to the airport may be the gift from that person. The limousine ride may also be a gift from a group so place it on your wish list.
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