Honeymoon Planning

Too often for couples, honeymoons are an afterthought to wedding planning. If you think about it, you spend a year or more planning your wedding which takes place in one day. However, the majority of couples fail to plan appropriately for their honeymoon which is usually anywhere from one week up to as long as two weeks.

Renee Duane of Unforgettable Honeymoons says “A honeymoon is an investment in memories for the rest ofyour life. Don’t take chances with it.” Instead, she recommends starting with a conversation. “Sit down and talk about the level of luxury and privacy you want, what you want to do every day, and the type of entertainment you desire.” This will better help youdetermine where and what type of honeymoon you want to go on.

Where to Begin?

Talk! Talk! Talk! Communicating will get you everywhere not just in planning your honeymoon but in planning your new lifetogether. Finding out what your mate’s expectations are and matching them with yours will make honeymoon planning easy.

Here are a few basic questions you might want to discuss with your mate:

1. Do we want to save or splurge? (I say go ahead and splurge, it’s your honeymoon)
2. Do we want sunshine or snow (we opted for sunshine… Mexico here we come!)
3. Do we want a cruise, a honeymoon package and all inclusive resort or a trip tailored just for the two of us? (Matt and I are going with the all inclusive resort. It’s easy, convenient, and affordable!)

Your honeymoon is the trip of a lifetime and perfect honeymoons don’t just happen. They have to be carefully planned. The more you do your honeymoon homework, the more romantic-and the more fun-your honeymoon will be.

Honeymoon Planning Timeline

Sometimes we just need someone to help us get the ball rolling. I found a great timeline for planning your honeymoon in the 2005 Bridal Guide & Planner/Herald Mail Company that has helped me and my husband-to-be plan our honeymoon. Now take into consideration that if you don’t have quite a year to plan like we did (10 months), then you don’t have to follow this exactly.

Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get all your planning done because if you plan carefully you’ll be all smiles during your first vacation as husband and wife.

6 months to 1 year: If your honeymoon is during a high travel time, select your destination. Decide on a location that you are both happy with (go to www.palaceresorts.com if you are interested in an incredible all inclusive resort). Book airline and hotel reservations and make any initial deposits if required.

3 to 6 months: Apply for a passport or renew the one you have if needed. Passports require at least 6 weeks. Make sure you check your countries requirements. For instance starting Dec. 2005, I believe, you will be required to have a passport to enter Mexico and Canada. Some airlines require that you have a passport now to enter those countries. Matt and I just made the deadline for our passports so don’t be like us and wait until the last possible minute because you are unaware of the policies of travel to foreign countries. Get those passports right away!

2 to 3 months: Make final travel arrangements. Write a list of items to pack (but if you are like me you are a last minute packer). Don’t wait until the last minute to at least write out a list of everything you might need. Make sure you purchase travel items like film, batteries, toiletries, and electrical adapters. These things can be very expensive to buy if you forget to take them.

1 month before: Distribute your travel itinerary to your family. This includes a copy of your passport to give to your family. Get foreign currency or traveler’s checks. Reconfirm travel reservations.

2 to 3 weeks before: Go over your packing list, and get anything else you need. Assemble tickets, boarding passes and all important documents. Have any clothes altered, laundered or dry cleaned. Begin setting things out to pack.

1 week before: Temporarily suspend mail and newspaper delivery. Make and pack a list of addresses and stationery for thank-you notes. Arrange transportation from the wedding to the airport.

2 to 3 days before: Reconfirm flight reservations. Clean out the refrigerator. Empty the garbage. Buy flight items, such as magazines, books, gum, etc. Pack your luggage and carry-on. Set up automatic reply on your e-mail and change the message on your voice mail. Check the weather for your destination.

Departure Day: Make sure you are carrying all your travel documents, and allow enough time for airport check-in. Have Fun!

Special thanks to Palace Resorts for providing the photos and for sponsoring our up-coming honeymoon. We are very excited to be staying at the Aventura Spa and Palace.