Why on earth would you want to plan the honeymoon before you even set your wedding date? As crazy as that may sound, that may be the WISEST decision you could make. So many couples get so involved in the excitement of the engagement and then the wedding planning that the honeymoon takes a back seat and then, unfortunately sacrifices have to be made.
So, here are some reasons why you should plan the honeymoon before you set the wedding date.
You want to make sure that you have enough money to take that dream honeymoon.
Although traditionally, the bride's parents pay for the wedding and the groom's parents pay for the honeymoon, in today's world, that may not be the case. Many times the couple is responsible for paying for many of the wedding expenses and the honeymoon.
So, if you have that ideal honeymoon in mind, you should get an idea of how much that might cost to make sure that you don't spend all of your funds on the wedding.
Are you dreaming of spending a week in an over the water bungalow? How about 2 weeks traveling through #greece and #italy making some unbelievable memories before settling in to real life? Or how about a Butler Suite with your own private pool at a Sandals Resort or another luxury resort relaxing after all of the wedding festivities?
What I have found is that many people know what they want, but have no idea what it might cost. I have been an advisor for many years and can usually tell you very quickly if your budget and your expectations will line up. It's a good idea to have this information so you can prioritize your spending. For more information click HERE.
If you are a a little bougie, but you also find yourself on a budget, I do have access to offers by Sandals Resorts on a weekly basis for various room categories. Because of this, I have been able to get many couples to a Sandals Resort when they thought it might be out of reach!
If you have a certain honeymoon location in mind, you need to see what the ideal times to visit that location might be.
For example, If you plan to honeymoon in the Caribbean, there is a high season and a low season. Costs will fluctuate based on the season and there will be pros and cons to the weather during those times.
If you have always dreamed of snowmobiling through the Grand Tetons on your honeymoon, but you are getting married in October, you may be a little disappointed to have to put your honeymoon off for a few months.
If an Alaskan Cruise is your dream trip, then your wedding date needs to be between May and September or else you will literally miss the boat.
A good travel advisor, that would be me, can help you make those decisions up front and my services are completely complimentary to you and you will be amazed at the personalized service that you will get from the planning stages all the way until you return home a very happy traveler. In fact, most people don't realize that when you book yourself, you are paying for a service that you are not receiving.
You need to know how much time to plan for your honeymoon.
Planning a European honeymoon? Most flights will leave in the afternoon and you arrive in the morning due to the time change. So, you need to take that extra day into consideration as well as the jet lag you will have going and coming home.
Dreaming of Bora Bora, then, you will need 7-9 days of vacation time planned because of the time change. You will lose 2 days on the way there and one on the way back. And, then, you need to factor in the jet lag you will have due to the time change and the long flights. You may need to plan a couple of days to recover when you get back!
Most of the flights going to the Caribbean will leave really early in the morning, like around 5 or 6 am. If your wedding is at night, do you want to go straight to the airport or do you want to sleep in the next day and head out a day later? Or do you want to postpone the honeymoon until a more ideal time?
Many of the flights coming home from the Caribbean will be late arrivals. So, if you are getting back at midnight and then have to drive 2-3 hours to really get home, will you want to get up and go to work the very next day?
And, of course how long you get to stay may also be dictated by your budget and your wants. So, refer back to point #1 in this article.
Planning the honeymoon before you set the wedding date can ensure that you have the wedding and honeymoon of your dreams. So, keep these three things in mind before you set the date! And, of course, reach out to me to make sure that you have that fabulous honeymoon experience that you have always dreamed of.
I'm Rhonda, and I am a Certified Silver Sandals Specialist who has been to 14 of the 18 Sandals Resorts and will be checking off 2 more this year! I have also stayed on the majority of the Caribbean Islands and toured some of the most luxurious honeymoon resorts that you can imagine. I can help you find that perfect spot to celebrate the beginning of your lifetime together.
Reach out to me to start planning now!
Visit Rhodes Travel Company to find out more about me and the services that I offer.