Choosing the perfect honeymoon destination is a wonderful way to celebrate your marriage and set it up for success. The best honeymoon locations help you relax in whatever style you prefer, while choosing poorly can lead to stress and even fighting.
Whether you’re having a San Francisco City Hall marriage or tying the knot at an outdoor ceremony, what comes after is just as important! So how do you plan the perfect trip? Read our tips below!
Tips to Plan Your Dream Honeymoon
Planning your honeymoon is more than just choosing a destination and making the best of it. It’s a relationship exercise and celebration! The best destination brings out the best in both you and your spouse and lets you make memories that last a lifetime.
1. Choose a Type of Honeymoon
Knowing what type of honeymoon you want is the first step, as it frames every other decision you make. Do you want to focus on food and culture? Do you want to stay busy and see all the sites, or do you want to stay in a hotel room with a laid-back vibe?
Deciding together what pace you want to move is essential for your honeymoon to avoid upsetting either partner’s expectations. Some other types of honeymoons to consider are:
- Wine tasting or brewery/distillery tours
- Camping or outdoor excursions
- All-inclusive resorts
- Thrill-seeking like bungee jumping, skydiving, or deep-sea diving
2. Compromise with Your Fiancée
You and your fiancée should decide what you are willing to compromise on. Does one person want to spend the whole time seeing the sights and the other stay in the hotel room? Find a place that offers both.
For most couples, a honeymoon is a unique vacation. While on other vacations, you might want to do some things separately, that’s usually not the case on a honeymoon. Finding compromise is essential.
Some other things to consider:
- Does each of you want someplace new or familiar?
- What climate do you each want?
- How long are you willing to spend in a plane or car?
Consider the importance of compromising as you think about the following steps as well!
3. Know Your Budget
Now that you know what you want, it’s time to consider your budget. Even if you can’t afford to honeymoon on private islands, you can still find an enjoyable destination with luxury elements.
Or maybe all you can afford is a camping trip. That’s fine too; just pick a destination with lots of natural beauty.
Don’t break your bank or rack up debt to create your perfect honeymoon. There are options for every budget, so set a limit and stick to it as you choose the perfect honeymoon destination.
4. Decide on Duration
After your budget, the next most important decision is how long you want to travel. There are a lot of factors that go into this:
- How much time can you take off work?
- How long before you get homesick?
- How big is your budget?
When you’re considering how long you want to travel, keep the off seasons in mind. If you travel to a Caribbean island in the summer, you’ll get more bang for your buck. This means you can stay longer without breaking your budget.
5. Don’t Forget to Consider Food
Even if you’re not traveling specifically for the food, you need to consider your dining options. Good food can make or break a vacation.
Make a list of “deal-breaker” foods for each of you. If a potential destination doesn’t have a variety of options, its restaurants have poor reviews, or they specialize in one of these deal-breaker foods, cross it off.
Also, decide if you’re willing to cook on your honeymoon. It means more work, but it’s cheaper and can be a fun activity. It’s a great way to serve your spouse.
Either way, whether you prefer cuisine that is world class or greasy diner food, look for a destination that will satisfy your stomach.
6. Determine the “Busy-ness” You’re Comfortable with
Do you like to be among a crowd, or do you prefer to seclude yourself and enjoy some alone time with your spouse? It may not seem important whether or not other people are around. However, it can affect how much you end up enjoying your time together.
If you thrive on the thrill of a crowd, consider traveling to a big city or a popular tourist destination. Even all-inclusive resorts can get packed during peak season. Choose a destination that’s likely to be crowded if you like meeting new people, talking to strangers, or being among crowds.
If you prefer the quiet that comes with solitude, you still have options! You can choose a tourist destination or luxury resort — just go in the off-season. Or perhaps this means a nature-focused trip, like camping or hiking, is best for you. Choose this option if people leave you feeling drained and exhausted.
7. Research Popular Destinations
Now that you’ve considered what you want, it’s time to choose your destination. Make a bucket list of all the destinations you’ve ever wanted to go to. Do some research on some other popular honeymoon destinations.
Go down the list and cross off the ones that don’t fit with your budget, the type of honeymoon you want, crowd preference, and food needs. What you have left are your options.
It might still take you some time and discussion, but all the options left on your list are good! Pick one, and then leave the rest for future vacations. You’ve put in the work; it’s time to enjoy your choice!
Start Choosing the Perfect Honeymoon Destination
Whether you’re choosing the best vendors for your wedding or trying to choose the perfect honeymoon destination, City Hall Wedding is here to help. Your honeymoon is the perfect opportunity to connect with your spouse and start your life together with a luxurious vacation.
Do you need more guidance in picking your destination or planning your wedding? Explore our blog for tips, ideas, and inspiration.