When it comes to finding the ideal honeymoon destination, most couples are more excited about this than planning their actual wedding! But how do you narrow down all those choices?
You have the dress, you found the perfect venue, scored wonderful entertainment and you and your future spouse are prepared and ready to face your big day. After meticulous planning of the wedding ceremony and reception comes the more fun part of wedding planning – choosing your ideal honeymoon destination!
Now how does one go about choosing the perfect honeymoon destination? Surely you and your partner might already have some locations or places in mind but cannot seem to narrow down your choices. You want to make sure you have the most romantic location that also allows you two to have some private time together.
They say that choosing a honeymoon destination should be a reflection of who you are as a couple. It should be the trip of a lifetime that you will never forget and always want to come back to for anniversaries. Planning the wedding is all about making it fun for your guests, but planning a honeymoon is just for the two of you to enjoy.
Every person is different, so your honeymoon choices might not be like everyone else’s, whether you enjoy thrilling activities every day or want to bask in the peace and quiet of a wilderness retreat, there is no limit to the destinations you can go to for your romantic honeymoon.
Couple enjoying a glass of wine by the beach
Narrow down your choices
The first thing you have to focus on when choosing a honeymoon destination is narrowing down your choices. You might have a wide variety of idea such as by the beach, in a Game Reserve, in the snowy mountains or maybe somewhere overseas.
You need to figure out which choice you and your partner can both agree on or prefer and narrow down your options to just those locations. Think about what you two would enjoy together on a vacation, you might not be completely on board with each other’s choices but some compromise is to be expected.
You might enjoy taking walks on the beach while your significant other would rather go hiking; try to find a way to combine the two interests so that you both can have a memorable vacation together.
Give yourself a cut-off date when to finalize your honeymoon destination so that you can focus on the rest of the planning process.
Make a list of your dream destinations
We all have that one destination that we all dream of visiting someday, when it comes to honeymoons choosing an international location is very popular, but also pricey. This allows you both to let you imaginations run wild and list all the places you both would love to go to.
Whether you want to experience the fun and interesting cultures of Brazil or Japan, or live it up and visit popular locations in America or England, simply write down where you would love to go and allow yourself to dream.
Once you both have your own lists you can compare them and see which ones you have a common interest in. Once you have similar locations in mind you can go online and do some more research on what fun things and sights you can experience while you are there.
Set up a honeymoon budget
There’s no denying that honeymoons are an expensive affair. In fact some couples have simple weddings with few people just to save money in order to go on a fabulous honeymoon together.
If you are set on a destination trip for your honeymoon make sure to only choose locations that fit within your budget. When creating your budget it is better to over-budget and end up being under-budget during your honeymoon; you are saving up to spend the rest of your lives together after all.
Be realistic about how much money you plan to spend during your honeymoon and the types of experiences you hope to have during it. You want to make sure you have enough money so that you can enjoy yourselves to the fullest without worry and have all the experiences you want to share together while you are there.
Once you have figured out what airfare and your accommodation will cost, you need to keep in mind how much the activities and restaurants in the area will charge as well. Try to find all-inclusive accommodations that provide dining and activities for you to help ease the stress.
Think about the time of year you want to take your honeymoon
When choosing your honeymoon destination you want to make sure that the location you have in mind is not too busy and has comfortable weather during that time.
When choosing a destination overseas you have to keep in mind that the weather will be very different from your own country. Keep up to date with weather trends for your destination so you are prepared for any surprises. If you prefer tanning and soaking up some sun you might want to avoid your destinations rainy season, though going during their off-season might actually save you some money.
Not only do you have to keep the weather in mind, you also have to keep an eye out for the busy season for your destination – it’s no fun when your perfect honeymoon destination is overcrowded and overbooked.
Figure out how long you can enjoy your honeymoon
Though I’m sure you would love to stay as far away from the real world as possible, the sad truth is that the honeymoon cannot last forever. But that doesn’t mean it has to be a short one either.
Check each other’s schedules to see how long you can take time off and enjoy your honeymoon. Will you have enough time to take off work for a week-long adventure? Be realistic about the amount of time you both can spend off work and take into account any mishaps that may occur during transport that might delay your return.
Make sure your boss is alright with the length of time you will be taking off and speak to them directly. Also, don’t try to rush your trip or have hectic daily plans during your honeymoon, you want to make sure you are relaxed and get to enjoy the experience together as much as possible.
Get to know your destination as much as possible
Knowledge is power, so make sure you learn as much about your honeymoon destination as possible. You want to make sure that they have good reviews from various validated sources and that most of them are good.
If you are visiting a foreign destination try to education yourself about the culture and customs of the locals so as not to offend anyone or get yourself in trouble during your visit. This will also help you to find beautiful places to visit during your stay and snap some great pics together – it also helps to learn the basics of their language.
Keep up to date with the world and check if there are any health or political problems in your honeymoon location – you want don’t want to be stressed out and avoid trouble as much as possible.
Looking for some romantic honeymoon destinations in South Africa? Visit the Wedding & Function honeymoon page for some recommendations or visit Home, Food & Travel for a wide option of beautiful accommodations of all types across the country.
Conclusion
At the end of the day you want to make sure that you and your partner find a honeymoon destination that you will find romantic and memorable while also trying to stick to your budget.
You need to keep the seasons in mind when choosing your destination so that you can enjoy your vacation together the whole time and not worry about getting rained on or dealing with a large crowd of guests.
Deciding on the perfect honeymoon destination can be challenging thanks to the many wonders and choices of this world. Keep these tips and tricks in mind so that you can work together and create unforgettable memories that you can brag about to your friends and family.
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