So, you’re engaged – congratulations! One of the best things about getting married (aside from that whole thing of, you know, being married) is in planning your honeymoon (and, of course, going on honeymoon). Whether or not you want it to be a once-in-a-lifetime no-expenses-spared trip, or are just looking for somewhere low-key to spend a precious few days together enjoying your newly-wed status, the idea of planning your honeymoon can seem a little bit daunting, and it can be hard not to feel like the pressure’s on to get it all completely right and have the best holiday ever.
But it doesn’t have to be daunting, at all. Here’s a few tips to bear in mind when you’re first starting to think about and plan your honeymoon – for more, check out our Getting started section.
Decide on a budget Undoubtedly one of the most important factor in planning your honeymoon – the last thing you want is to have your heart set on an overwater bungalow in the Maldives and then discover that the most you can afford is a a partial sea-view in Bournemouth. Not that there’s anything wrong with Bournemouth, of course.
Stick to your budget You really don’t want to be worrying about money the whole time you’re on honeymoon, so do stick to the budget that you set yourselves.
If you can’t afford the honeymoon you want then think about setting up a honeymoon gift list, which will allow guests to contribute towards your trip.
Decide when you want to go Directly after your wedding, a few days after, or maybe even a month or half a year later – you may want to go away when the weather is best for your destination.
Check the weather If you’re after a beach honeymoon and can’t face the thought of rain, then make sure you’re choosing the right destination for the time of year – our month-by-month guide is a good place to start.
Pick up guidebooks My local library is always my first port of call when thinking about our next holiday – I usually come away with a stack of guidebooks to pore over until we come up with the perfect destination. Once we’ve decided on a destination, then I’ll buy a guidebook to keep.
Check out websites and chat to travel agents There’s now a huge amount of travel information available on the internet – your first port of call should obviously be The Honeymoon Project, but I’d also recommend checking out the other resources listed here. Even if you’re planning on booking your honeymoon independently (that is, putting it together yourselves by buying your flights and accommodation separately, or through an online specialist like Expedia), it’s worthwhile chatting to a travel agent or tour operator (see the links here for our recommendations) to get some ideas about where to go and prices – plus, they might be able to suggests options you hadn’t previously thought of.
photograph © The Honeymoon Project
