Budget-Friendly Tips for Planning Your Honeymoon

Congratulations, you are engaged! The wedding planning is in full swing and you have realized that you must also plan your honeymoon. Here we go, another thing to add to your to-do list and budget. The good thing about your honeymoon, like your wedding, it is YOURS. It is a time to bond, laugh, love, relax, and enjoy the new excitement of being a newlywed before returning to your normal. Planning this aspect of your wedding can be manageable with a well-thought-out plan.

- Determine Your Budget -

Planning your honeymoon is a project, as with any project, you need to establish a budget. When thinking about how much money to set aside for this expense, you need to think of the basics: Where, When, What, How, and Home.

Where: Where are you going, and where will you stay? Do you need a passport? Do you want to sip fruity drinks on the beach or are you a couple that would love to backpack through Europe? Are you trying to stay close to home? Do you want to hit the slopes? Your stay is not required to be luxurious and expensive. There are plenty of Air BnB rentals that are often a great money saver instead of booking at a hotel or resort.

When: Will you leave immediately after the wedding? Some couples can take their honeymoon immediately after their wedding, which is great! But if cost, getting time off from work, or other life facts prevent you from doing both together, that is okay. You can always push off your honeymoon for a later date that is convenient with your life schedule; no rule says you must take a vacation immediately following the reception.

What: What are you going to do while you are there? You may plan to be loved up every day in your room, but I promise you will venture out at some point and will look for something to do. Make sure to budget accordingly for meals and activities.

How: This one has three parts.

• How will you get there? Plain, train, car, bus?

• How long will you be gone?

• How will you get around while on location (rent a car, Uber, taxi, or Public Transport?)

Home: Who will take care of your home while you are gone? Do you have kids, pets, or plants? If arrangements need to be made, include this in the budget! The best way to save money is to ask a trusted person to help you while you and your partner are away.

-Book Your Travel and Stay -

Stick with your budget! You do not have to travel first class to have a good time. Don’t get me wrong, first class is nice, but it is unnecessary. Sites like Hopper or basic Google/Bing searches provide decently accurate price calendars. It may be cheaper to go to your desired destination at a different time of year than your wedding. Remember, you don’t have to travel immediately after the wedding. Airbnb, VRBO, and Home Away are all places to book a stay that doesn’t break the bank.

- Plan for Activities -

If you are a couple that loves to get out and do things, I highly recommend planning a couple of activities in advance. This allows you to properly allocate spending money in the budget and ensures that anything that needs to be reserved in advance is done before you leave. Planning early also reduces the inevitable amount of time you both will spend on Google, looking up things to do and places to eat while you are there. Check out the local restaurants as well, and see what other people recommend. I always love to check out reviews from residents; they tend to lead you to the best places!

- Cover Your Bases -

Secure your plans for a sitter if you need to. I don’t need to educate you on the importance of finding a good sitter for your kids, home, pets, or plants. I am just here to remind you to do this step!

- Packing -

What to pack, what to pack?! If you are the type of person who loves a little quality time, your honeymoon is the time for that! In addition to your weather-appropriate clothes, feel free to add something sexy or unique to your suitcase. Avoid battery-operated supplies in your carry-on, which may make for an interesting trip through TSA.

- Honeymoon Fund -

Set this up on your website. It allows guests to opt for a monetary gift instead of a physical one. On The Knot, your guests can even gift you money towards things like a couples massage or cooking class. I often have brides ask me if this is tacky; it's not! These days we see more couples getting cash gifts whether they have a registry or not. This is convenient for your guests to give you exactly what you may want/need. Of course, this step is entirely optional, and I only advocate for you to do what you are comfortable with.

Weddings get expensive, and the honeymoons inflate along with them. If you have a coordinated plan that is mutually understood, you can have both and get the most for your money. I will never recommend just winging it; that is a quick way to cause unnecessary and avoidable stress. The honeymoon is about deepening the bond and connection with your partner through a shared experience. Make it a positive core memory for you both to kick off your wonderful wedding bliss.