“In the Italian Riviera with an unlimited budget.”
It goes without saying that my future husband is, indeed, a Pinterest virgin. You can’t just ask a girl what her dream wedding looks like and expect a different answer.
That’s really the give-and-take with planning a wedding in the real world, isn’t it? Drinking in all the inspo you can, furiously budgeting, and trying to bring your vision down to earth.
Honeymoons are no different. We are absolutely inundated with ideas costing more time and money than we could ever dream of dropping on a vacation, no matter the milestone. Those made-for-the-silver-screen honeymoon photos would lose their lustre in a hurry if they came with an itemized expense list and timeline.
So, without further ado, I present to you the case for the “late bloom honeymoon.” “Delayed honeymoon” just sounds so procedural and sad, doesn’t it?
Good things come to those who wait, and they can for you too with a few prudent considerations. It’s a choice my fiancé and I have made, and I hope you’ll give it a chance too.
Give your savings a break
Weddings, no matter the size, are so expensive. Some sites recommend that you incorporate your honeymoon expenses into your wedding budget which is good advice to keep that fiscal anchor in place; however, that may leave very limited funds to work with if you’re dreaming big.
If you were planning on taking a smaller vacation the following year, what about merging funds? It’ll give you some more time to recoup your savings—going on vacation when you’re already stressed about money is not ideal—and while blending your future travel budget with your honeymoon fund will mean one less vacation, it’s sure to be one for the memories.
Dodge peak travel season
If you’re getting married in the spring or summer, leaving immediately after your honeymoon may mean flying straight into peak travel season. That means crowds as thick as flies, sweltering heat waves, hours-long lineups, and surge pricing. Bad news for your wallet, worse news for your sanity.
Choosing an off-peak season when the crowds and weather are more tolerable might just give you the relaxing honeymoon you’ve been looking for (just beware of monsoon season!)
Grant yourself a “newly-married” extension
If you’re like me and you’ve spent YEARS dreaming about getting and being married, why not extend your newly-married bliss period past a mere week or two? By postponing your honeymoon, you’re giving yourself the gift of walking through the resort telling everyone you’re newlyweds. Six to twelve months later and you’re right back in newlywed bliss mode.
Hello, PTO
I’m in the thick of remotely planning a wedding on the other side of the country, and if I’m being honest, it’s a logistical headache. It means using weekends for making decorations I can’t pack in a suitcase, and using paid time off not just in anticipation of clean-up and set-up, but making it to the altar in time too. Between that, visiting family throughout the year, and saving time for Christmas holidays, there aren’t many days left to work with. You don’t want to burn through your PTO, or worse, risk facing days without pay.
Postponing your honeymoon to the next calendar year likely means a fresh batch of PTO that’s ripe for the picking. And you know what that means: a lot more flexibility to drive, train, or fly further and spend a few extra days you otherwise wouldn’t.
There’s a season for that
Wildlife spotting in the Amazon? Northern lights in Scandinavia? Cherry blossoms in Japan? Kayaking on Lake Louise? Escaping the winter at a Mexican resort? Experiencing these bucket-list entries at their very best might not be immediately after your wedding. Is there a specific event you’re hoping to anchor your honeymoon around like a festival or concert? Forget the season; you might be looking at a set night time window.
There are also destinations and seasons for some peace and quiet too (hint: it’s not the dog days of the European summer when yes, everyone and their dog are out and about).
Pause the planning frenzy
It’s a wild feeling to realize that your one-woman wedding planning show (read: you) might be planning an event of the same size and scope as a company with an event planning team on retainer.
If wedding planning has felt like a dumpster fire, researching hotels, resorts, tours, car rentals, public transit, plane, and train tickets is a recipe for a nuclear meltdown. Now, imagine having to order foreign currency, apply for visas and electronic travel authorizations, and get travel vaccines and medications. Take it from me: you’ll be hard-pressed to find a 24-hour clinic for yellow fever shots and malaria pills if you’ve remembered the day before you leave for the jungle. And that was without “wedding planning brain.” Thankfully, I’ve lived to tell the tale, but that doesn’t mean I’d recommend it for you.
If you need to hear someone say it, I’ve got you: take a breath. We all deserve a break.
As for my plans?
Summer wedding this year, honeymoon in Greece next year. The wedding memories may be long in the rearview but they’ll still be as sweet as honey.
