From The Archives: The Well-Planned Honeymoon

Planning a wedding is a whirlwind of decisions, but don’t let your honeymoon plans become an afterthought. Your first big adventure as newlyweds should be just as exciting, memorable, and well-thought-out as the big day itself. Whether you’re dreaming of a far-flung escape or a nearby mini-moon, these timeless tips from the archives will help you plan a honeymoon that’s romantic, stress-free, and perfectly tailored to you both.

From the Archives

1. Don’t leave honeymoon planning until the last minute.

Travel planning may be the last thing on your mind as you’re consulting daily with your wedding planner, touring venues, shopping for a gown and attending tastings. But if you wait too long to plan your honeymoon, or you neglect setting out a firm budget for your big trip, you may find yourself having to compromise on location, dates and amenities… not what you want to be doing with your vacation of a lifetime.

2. You’ll be traveling together…so plan together.

As with registering for wedding gifts—choosing the items you’d both like to have for your shared home and married life—honeymoon planning is an endeavor you should embark on together. Start your planning by sitting down together and talking about what the perfect honeymoon would look like, for each of you. Make it a date night, or a series of them, and take the time as a couple to look at maps, compare lifelong travel wish lists, and read up on potential honeymoon destinations.

3. Hire a travel professional.

Even if you’re used to booking your own business flights or weekend getaways, you’ll want to hire a professional travel agent for your honeymoon. Like a professional wedding design expert or baker will take your inspiration and ideas and turn them into flowers or cake, an experienced travel professional will listen to your vision for the kind of vacation experience you want (tropical, eco-tourism, golf and spa, European tour, fishing and sailing, skiing, etc.) and then help transform your dream into an itinerary, complete with flights, accommodations, transportation, and activities. A professional travel agent also will be familiar with the best hotels and resorts in your dream destination, and can snag you honeymoon amenities you don’t have access to yourselves (special suites, spa and dining vouchers, a welcome bottle of bubbly, perhaps).

4. Plan a trip you’ll both love equally.

Once you’ve narrowed down two or three locations, start to think about what kind of honeymoon vacation you would prefer. If you have markedly different ideas about what constitutes a great escape, choose a destination that accommodates both of your visions. Perhaps it’s a resort where championship golf and deep-tissue massage are both just a few steps away from your door. Maybe it’s a UK holiday that includes whiskey tastings and garden tours. No matter what, you should plan a trip you’ll both enjoy thoroughly, even if that means doing a couple of things individually (it’s OK, you’re married, not joined at the hip), while still taking plenty of time for romantic strolls, snuggles and sunset cocktails.

5. Figure out when to take off.

While honeymoons traditionally have followed right on the tail of the big celebrations itself, today’s wedding couples are all over the map when it comes to honeymoon travel dates. And with good reason: Most Houston wedding couples are working folks, who have just spent tons of time planning, then celebrating their nuptial event. Taking off for another week or two, immediately after the wedding, often isn’t an option in such cases. You’ll also want to consider school holidays, national holidays and seasonal weather, which can all affect travel plans and the availability of flights and accommodations.

6. Consider a “mini-moon”.

If scheduling a long vacation right after the wedding is difficult—especially if you’ve already taken tons of time off work to entertain visiting guests and participate in wedding activities—you may want to enjoy a two- or three-day “mini-moon” right after the wedding. This may be a jaunt to the Hill Country or a Gulf Coast getaway just a short drive from town. Then, later in the year, or whenever you have more ample holiday time (and, perhaps, your bank account has rebounded a bit), indulge in the dream vacation you and your partner have fantasized about for ages. You’ll have way more fun on your Caribbean cruise, French Polynesian insland-hop or Tuscan wine adventure, if you’re not worrying about pressing work deadlines or ballooning credit card bills.

7. Travel in style.

You wouldn’t wear any old dress to your wedding, now, would you? For heaven’s sake, you don’t take off for the islands with that threadbare bikini you’ve been wearing for three poolside summers, or the backpack you lugged around Australia as a hostel-hopping college kid. While you don’t have to replace your entire wardrobe for this special trip, your honeymoon is a great time to step it up a notch, and get yourselves properly outfitted for the fun you’re about to have. One fabulous way to upgrade your travel gear is with your wedding gift registry. Houston’s top registry retailers carry superb luggage selections, so make sure to check these out when you’re tagging gifts with that scanner gun. Fun additions include monogrammed “wet bags” for swimsuits and other water gear, designer passport holders and luggage tags, travel tech holders for mobile devices and cords, and elegant little travel sizes and kits of your favorite luxury skincare products and cosmetics. And don’t forget the honeymoon lingerie—while you may have planned every detail of your trip together, there’s still room for surprises!

8. Choose accommodations that suit your style…and your budget.

The hotel or resort you choose will need to appeal to you both. An all-inclusive property, can be somewhat more budget-friendly, and is great if you’d rather not arrange transportation or dining reservations every day, but can be limiting for true adventurers. Boutique hotels, meanwhile, can offer lots of unique design, edgy elegance and sophisticated fun, but may lack on-property restaurants and other amenities common to larger properties.

No matter where your honeymoon takes you—whether it’s a luxurious international getaway or a quick weekend escape close to home—the key is planning with intention and excitement. Take the time to dream together, lean on professionals when needed, and remember that this trip is about celebrating the start of your life together. A little preparation goes a long way in making your honeymoon the relaxing, joyful escape you both deserve.

Headed somewhere tropical? Don’t miss our Honeymoon Style Guide for must-have fashion finds perfect for sun-soaked escapes and stylish resort lounging.

“From The Archives: The Well-Planned Honeymoon” Spotlight WiH Partners- Venue, Hair & Makeup + Cake: The San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center | Jewelry: Shaftel Diamonds | Bridal Dress: Belle Âme Bridal

Contributing Photographers- Thanos Asfis Photography / Sean Thomas Photography / Amy Maddox Photography