Wedding Blog

The following tips were provided courtesy of Renee Meyer of Unforgettable Honeymoons.

1. Wait a full day or two before you take off for your honeymoon. Your wedding will be one of the most exciting and exhausting days of your life. The last thing you’ll want to do is wait in long lines at airports. Take a day or two to unwind; you'll be glad you did!

2. Don’t use the bride's new married name (if she’s changing it) for the reservations. It takes more than a few days to get your name changed. Your first snag will come when the airline checks to see if your photo ID matches the name on the airline reservation. If this is a second marriage, make sure that the bride has all necessary documents to show proof of name changes from her original maiden name to the one on the current picture ID.

3. Always ask for a queen or king bed when making your reservation. Recheck this before you depart. Often hotels have a variety of bed types and you don’t want to get stuck with two twins!

4. Always tell your travel agent that you are planning your honeymoon and ask them to pass that information on to the hotel, etc. Bring proof that you’ve just tied the knot. Many hotels now require proof that you are newly married before giving free upgrades, and honeymoon amenities. Your marriage certificate should do the trick.

5. Don’t skimp on accommodations! Think of your honeymoon is an investment in a lifetime of memories. You can always earn more money to make up for the difference in what you were hoping to pay. But you can never go back and relive those moments, no matter how much you spend.

6. Be cautious when taking honeymoon travel advice from friends and family. Just because your friend loved a resort or destination does not mean that you and you’re new spouse will. No matter how highly they recommend a place, remember that they may have different tastes and different travel expectations. Listen to all unsolicited advice graciously and then go find an experienced travel professional to help plan the vacation you want!

7. If you are on a fixed budget and haven't found anything that fits into your dream honeymoon, consider the following:

• Postpone your honeymoon until you have the budget to do what you really want.
• Shorten the trip. It's better to stay at your dream destination for only 4 nights than in a less desirable budget hotel for 7 nights.
• Sign up for a honeymoon registry. Give guest friends and family the chance to contribute to your honeymoon fund.

8. Plan your honeymoon with your fiancé. Each of you should list separately three dream destinations, three activities you want to do or try, and your ideal budget for the trip. Share this information with each other then go to an experienced travel agent who specializes in honeymoons. Also go to the library and check out books on your chosen destinations to get a better feel for each place.

9. Consider an all inclusive resort, but proceed with caution. They offer one price to cover the cost of your room, food, drinks, and tips. Many also include pre-planned activities. Sometimes the food is not the best quality so ask about the style of meals (Is it all buffet style? How many restaurants are included?) If you would like a more local experience, an all inclusive resort may not be for you. You'll be less inclined to get out and explore if you're missing all the food, drink, and activities back at the hotel which you’ve already paid for. And any sightseeing you do outside of the pre-planned activities will be at extra cost to you. If you want to book an all inclusive choose the hotel, not the destination since you won’t be seeing much of the area. Most people who go to an all-inclusive resort rarely leave the premises.

10. Choose a new destination. Visiting a new destination together will be an important shared experience. It will create an experience filled with excitement and newness for each of you.

For more information check out this DVD made especially to help you and your fiance plan the perfect honeymoon!