This blog post has been authored by Stand Out Online Member Christy Knowles, Branch Out Travel
Congratulations! You met The One, got engaged, and are planning your wedding and honeymoon. YAY! After all of the stress and time spent planning your wedding, a much-needed pampering and romantic vacation sound fantastic, right? Assuming you have these eight essentials in place! This honeymoon planning guide is precisely what you need to have a truly fantastic honeymoon!
1. Make a list of “Honeymoon Wishes.”
Before you begin honeymoon planning, you and your future spouse should sit down and make a list of what you both hope to get out of your honeymoon. It’s what I call a “honeymoon wishlist.” Is gourmet food important to you, and do you prefer ala carte restaurants over buffet restaurants? Do you value having a beautiful honeymoon suite more than having a standard room? Do you both want a beautiful long stretch of swimmable beach, or do you prefer pools? What kinds of excursions do you want to go on? Before you begin researching destinations and resorts, you should have at least some of these resolved.
2. Don’t Base Your Decisions Soley on Recommendations!
Recommendations are great, but keep in mind that you and your partner are not the same as they are. What works for one couple may not work for you! Your honeymoon is very important, and you don’t want to risk having a disappointing or bad experience. It is acceptable to accept a recommendation, but only as a starting point, not as your final destination. And PLEASE, don’t go to Trip Advisor until you’ve narrowed down your honeymoon resort options to two or three!
3. Instead, try this:
Remember the list I told you to make in point 1? Once you’ve compiled your list, consider your previous travel experiences, both good and bad… What did you like or love about a recent trip, and what did you dislike or despise about a previous vacation or getaway? Make a “honeymoon wish list” out of these. You are now ready to proceed to point number four.
4. Make a List of Possible Honeymoon Locations:
It’s now time to start thinking about potential honeymoon destinations! Make a list of potential honeymoon resorts based on your honeymoon wish list to help you narrow down destinations that offer what you want. You might be interested in my article on The 6 Loveliest Places to Go on Your Honeymoon.
5. Research Honeymoon Resorts in Your Desired Locations
Once you’ve decided on a few honeymoon destinations, it’s time to decide which resort will host your ceremony and group. One of the most effective ways to choose a wedding resort and venue is to go there first. In fact, many resorts offer special “wedding visit” packages in the hopes that you will choose them for your destination wedding. Read my article on The Top 6 Honeymoon Resorts to Reserve a Once-in-a-Lifetime Vacation.
6. Get a New Email For Only Wedding Related Conversions
This is an excellent way to stay organized and not miss any important communication regarding your honeymoon. I always recommend that you create a separate email address for your wedding and honeymoon. All of your wedding correspondence and conversations will be in one place! Believe me, this will save you a lot of time and money in the long run. The last thing you want is to miss a booking confirmation email from your honeymoon resort suite because it was sandwiched between emails from Beach Body and your Grandmother’s cataract surgery!
7. Consider Getting a New Credit Card That Earns Miles
If you’re going to charge your wedding expenses, you might as well earn some reward miles to help pay for your honeymoon, or at the very least to compensate you for booking your honeymoon. This is an excellent time to apply for a new credit card that will earn you miles or points toward future or current travel. If you use your credit cards wisely, you may be able to get a discount on your airfare!
8. Consider Working With a Honeymoon Designer or Specialist
If you want to ensure that your honeymoon is not a letdown, as well as reduce the stress and frustration that comes with trying to plan everything on your own, it may be worthwhile to hire a honeymoon designer or planner. A properly trained honeymoon planner or designer can take your honeymoon wishlist and quickly narrow down destinations and honeymoon resorts that are ideal for both of you! They will also ensure that you receive ALL of the honeymoon amenities and perks that you are eligible for.
At the end of the day, you want your honeymoon to be your reward after all of the stress, and time you spent planning your wedding. By taking this honeymoon planning guide to the heart and putting these 8 steps in place, you can ensure that your honeymoon experience will be everything you hoped for, as well as one of your fondest new memories as a couple.
For me, traveling is about more than just seeing new locations and crossing them off a bucket list. It involves consciously slowing down life and making the decision to invest in your health and wellbeing. It’s also about allowing a place’s charm to uplift you and give your spirit, marriage, and closest relationships new vitality.
It gives me chills to go to work and is the reason I do what I do that we are able to assist our clients in making wonderful, lasting experiences that they will think back on frequently and keep with them for the rest of their lives.
It’s never just about the trip logistics (although I handle that, too). It’s about getting to know you and ensuring that your ideal holiday will be one you will never forget.