Have Everything You Need For Your Honeymoon
If you’re like most brides, you’ve dreamed of your honeymoon almost as long as you’ve dreamed of your wedding. The very word brings to mind romantic midnight strolls, beaches, cocktails and room service, and your new hubby at your side. In the midst of all your wedding planning, we'll make sure the second half of your new-life celebration goes off without a hitch.
A night to remember.
Back when your parents got married, couples more often departed for their honeymoons immediately after their wedding ceremonies. Nowadays, many newlyweds choose to wait a day or two, or even a week after the wedding. The advantages are plentiful: Chances are, with all the preparations leading up to your ceremony, you’re exhausted, and if you drink at your reception you might wake up in Paradise with a hangover. Waiting a few days also gives you time to open gifts and write thank-you notes, or just relax.
If your ceremony was held in a different city than your own, you will also have time to explore, sightsee and hang out with those friends who flew in to see you walk down the aisle.
Traditionally, the groom pays for the honeymoon and picks the destination. While many couples still abide by these “rules,” you’re no longer required to go by the book. Some couples pay for the entire ceremonies themselves, and brides often want a say in their travel plans.
While the groom traditionally carries the bride over the threshold of their new home, we also love the newer tradition of the bride being carried over the threshold of the honeymoon suite—especially for couples who already live together.
Happy trails.
Regardless of honeymoon plans, you should have your trip arranged 5-7 months before you leave. As for the prep work, set aside a few days about a month before your wedding to devote to honeymoon plans. Packing alone will take a day (not including shopping for a fabulous bikini). A general rule: Pack your suitcase, then go through it and take out everything you don’t absolutely need. You’ll want the extra suitcase space for all those souvenirs. Make sure that vitals (medication, documents, and contact numbers) are in your carry-on, so you have them in case your luggage is lost or stolen. You should also pack one day’s worth of clothing in your carry-on.
Before you leave, make sure your passports are current and any vaccines needed are up-to-date. Passport rules and identification procedures are stricter now than they were 10 years ago. Since a passport can take up to 6 weeks to process, if you need to renew yours, don’t wait! Arrange to have your newspaper and Netflix suspended, and tell neighbors that you’ll be gone so they can keep an eye on the home. Also, pack essentials like sunblock and aspirin and you’ll save the cost of mini-bars and expensive tourist centers.
Make sure you have at least one hundred dollars in the local currency and traveler’s checks. Should you need to update your cell-phone service for a foreign trip, call your carrier and arrange the coverage. Make sure your destination accepts your ATM cards, and more importantly, that they have ATM machines. You can find out from your hotel about the easiest way to get local currency once you arrive.
And be sure to tell everyone, starting with the counter person at the airline, that you’re on your honeymoon. It’s the best way to get upgraded plane seats, upgraded rooms, and a bottle of bubbly to toast your love.