wedding

Pros and Cons of a Mini-Moon

The honeymoon is that part of the wedding preparations that can often seem as if it’s far in the distance. It’s something you plan for, but it can be hard to focus on it until you get the wedding behind you.

But trust me, by the time you’ve finished celebrating your wedding day or weekend, a breakaway is going to very soon become an absolute necessity!

Today, the trend for honeymoons has moved toward shorter breaks or ‘mini-moons.’ But that said, the traditional 2-3 week honeymoon is still very much alive and kicking.

Whichever you decide to go for of indeed both, make sure it fits in with your overall plans and budget.

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

What is a Mini-Moon?
A mini-moon is essentially a shorter break taken right after the wedding. Generally speaking, the idea is you then take a fuller honeymoon at some point later the future.

 

Mini-Moon Pros

Budget
The reasons for the rise in popularity of the mini-moon are tied to the fact that these days most couples tend to pay for all of or part of their wedding themselves and it can really take a huge chunk out of your savings. By waiting to take your full honeymoon for a few months, it will allow you to replenish your savings.

Less Travel Time
Generally speaking mini-moon destinations are not that far away, which means you’ll spend less time travelling to your destination and more time enjoying it.

More for Less
Often if you aren’t going as far afield or somewhere exotic, you can get a lot more bang for your buck and can avail of midweek specials, with say a luxury country house hotel.

Mini Moon Cons

Too Short
After the huge run up to the wedding and all the work that has gone into it, often a long break is needed for both your mind and body. So a mini-moon can run the risk of being too short.

The Honeymoon Won’t Feel Special
There’s a real sense of excitement about going away right after your wedding for the first time as a married couple. If you wait to do that properly, you can sometimes lose that special sense of being newlyweds.

Procrastination
Let’s face it, you may very well end up putting the honeymoon on the long finger, so sometimes it can be better to strike when the iron is hot, rather than wait.

Top Tips for Choosing The Honeymoon

Choosing your honeymoon destination is hugely fun. It’s exciting because it’s the first trip you’ll take as a married couple! It’s also in many ways meant to be a trip of a lifetime. Something and somewhere you’ve probably never been to and may never go to again.

In short, it’s special.

But that said, there are no hard and fast rules about where you should go and what you should do. You don’t have to go to some far flung beach and sip cocktails under an umbrella for two weeks. Likewise don’t feel you have to trek through the Andes or go on safari to achieve that once in a lifetime vibe.

The crucial thing is to choose a destination or destinations that you both want to visit.

Here are some top tips to consider, but in the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly if you wish to chat about any aspect of your wedding planning and décor.

 

 

Make a List
Firstly, make a dream list of destinations you’d both love to see. Forget about budgets, time of the year and how far away these countries are. Just make the list and be sure to both contribute ideas to it. Once you have the wish list, you can then sit down and get more practical.

 

Budget
This might be a downer, but the fact is we ALL have a budget so bear this in mind after you’ve set out your wish list. Honeymoons are generally speaking meant to be a luxurious, pampering experience, which can be expensive. If you both desperately want to go to Vietnam for example but don’t have the budge to stay in 5 star hotels and go on escorted tours, then don’t strike it off the list, but be prepared to do it on a more backpacking approach. Also consider the time of year you are booking and if there are any seasonal sales to be had.

 

Time of Year
You might desperately want to go to Thailand for your honeymoon, but if its right in the rainy season, then you’d need to really think about whether you want to spend your time getting drenched? It doesn’t mean you can’t go, but it might mean having a short mini moon right after the wedding and then going on that big honeymoon later in the year.

 

Relax or Active?
Why not both. In the past, the idea of a honeymoon was that you went to one place and flopped. But now honeymoons are more and more combing destinations. For example, why not a safari, a city break and a final relax on a beach for a few days? There’s no reason you have to just pick one destination. You can combine lots into your honeymoon and end with a bit of relaxation, because while you’ll be on cloud 9 right after the wedding, you will eventually need time to relax too.

 

Tell the World You’re Newlyweds!
Finally, make sure you tell your travel agent or hotel you are newlyweds so you get all the little extras you deserve! And on check in at the airport, don’t forget to share your good news, who knows you might get upgraded!