Congratulations! You found The One, got engaged, and are planning your wedding & honeymoon. YAY! After all of the stress & time of planning your big day, having a much-needed pampering & romantic vacation sounds fabulous. I assume you have these eight essentials in place! This honeymoon planning guide is what you need to have a honeymoon that will genuinely be fabulous!
Create a Honeymoon Wishlist
Before you start planning, you and your fiancee need to list what you hope to get out of your honeymoon. I call it a "honeymoon wishlist" Is gourmet food important to you? Do you prefer ala cart vs. buffet restaurants? Do you care more about having a stunning honeymoon suite, or are you okay with the standard room? Are you both wanting a beautiful long stretch of swimmable beach, or are pools more critical to you? What type of excursions would you like to enjoy? Before researching destinations and resorts, you want to have some of these settled. I recommend dreaming separately and then spending a romantic evening reconciling your lists.
Don't Base Your Decisions Soley on Recommendations
Recommendations are great, but you must remember that you are not your friends or family. What is perfect for your best friend may not work for you! Your honeymoon is essential; you don't want to take a chance at an underwhelming experience. Getting recommendations is okay, but use them as a starting point, not your end point. And PLEASE, don't go to Trip Advisor until you've narrowed your selection of honeymoon resorts down to two or three options!
Do This Instead
Remember that list I told you to create in point number 1? Once you have that list made, you'll want to start thinking about past travel experiences, both good and bad. What did you love about a trip you took? What did you dislike or hate about a past vacation or getaway? Add these to your "honeymoon wish list ." Now you will be ready to move on to point number 4.
Make a List of Potential Honeymoon Destinations
Now it's time to start making a list of potential honeymoon destinations! Use your honeymoon wish list to help you narrow down destinations that offer what is on your list, then make a list of possible honeymoon resorts and hotels. If you need help finding where to go, check out my 10 Questions to Help You Find Your Perfect Destination.
Research Possible Resorts on Your Destination List
Once you have a couple of honeymoon locations chosen, then it's time to figure out which resort to have your ceremony and host your group. One of the most effective ways to select a wedding resort & venue is to visit it before you decide. Many resorts offer special "wedding visit" packages to encourage you to visit their hotel, hoping you will choose them.
Get a New Email for Wedding Info Only
Create a unique email address exclusively for your wedding & honeymoon. A wedding-only email is a great way to stay organized and get all vital communication about your honeymoon. This way, all correspondence & conversations will be in one spot! The last thing you want is to miss a confirmation email that your preferred suite is almost wholly booked because it is between emails from Beach Body & your Grandmother's cataract surgery! A new email will save you so much time and money.
Consider Getting a Credit Card to Earn Miles
If you want to ensure that your honeymoon won't disappoint and reduce the stress and frustration you may feel when trying to plan this all on your own, it may be worth investing in hiring a honeymoon designer or planner. A properly trained honeymoon planner or designer knows how to take your honeymoon wishlist and quickly narrow down destinations & honeymoon resorts that will be perfect for both of you! They will also ensure that you receive ALL the honeymoon amenities & perks for which you qualify.
Hire a Honeymoon/Romance Travel Specialist
If you want to ensure that your honeymoon won't disappoint and reduce the stress and frustration you may feel when trying to plan this all on your own, it may be worth investing in hiring a specialist. A properly trained honeymoon planner knows how to take your honeymoon wishlist and quickly narrow down destinations & honeymoon resorts that will be perfect for both of you! They will also ensure that you receive ALL the honeymoon amenities & perks for which you qualify.
You want your honeymoon to be your reward after all the stress and time you spent planning your wedding. By taking this honeymoon planning guide to heart and putting these eight steps in place, you can ensure that your honeymoon experience will be everything you hoped for and one of your fondest new memories as a couple.