Honeymoon Advice Archives
Please feel free to visit this page often, as I frequently update it with new questions and answers. You may find just what you're looking for to help you in solving whatever honeymoon dilemma you have - but if you don't, please send me your honeymoon advice question, and I'll respond personally and promptly!
Top 5 Honeymoon Questions:
- 1. What if I've booked my Honeymoon, then call off (or postpone) the Wedding?
- 2. We took some 'naughty' photos on our Honeymoon, and now I'm afaid to get our film developed - what should I do?
- 3. We're planning a destination wedding, and want to keep it small and intimate. How can we avoid hurting the feelings of anyone we're not inviting?
- 4. I want to go somewhere quiet and romantic, but my fiance wants to go somewhere with a lot of people and activites - how can we compromise?
- 5. My fiance is getting very involved in planning our honeymoon and we're starting to argue about it - I thought that was MY job, so how do I tell him to butt out?
Other Honeymoon Questions:
- 6. I keep hearing that we'll save money by going to an "all-inclusive", but they seem so expensive - how do they save us money?
- 7. Why should we use a Travel Agent - don't they charge money to make our travel arrangements?
- 8. What if we go somewhere tropical and then a hurricane hits us?
- 9. We can't take our honeymoon until 6 months after our wedding - how can we let our family know we want some privacy after the wedding?
- 10. We'd like to take a "toy" with us on our Honeymoon - how can I get it through airport security without being subjected to embarrassment?
- 11. Our Honeymoon will be the first time we've traveled together - how can I be sure it will go smoothly?
- 12. My fiance wants to bring his kids with us on our honeymoon. What should I do?
- 13. This will be my first Honeymoon, but my fiance has been married before - what can I do to make it more special than his last one?
- 14. My fiance and I are thinking of bringing our kids on our honeymoon, but don't want to spend our time babysitting. Are there any good options for us?
- 15. We only have 4 days for our Honeymoon, and a small budget, but want to go somewhere nice - with a beach and maybe a spa. Where can we go that is affordable and won't take all day flying to get there?
- 16. My fiance and my mom say that using a Honeymoon Registry is like "begging for money". How can I convince them that it's acceptable today?
- 17. Our Travel Agent has suggested Travel Insurance for our Honeymoon, but it's over $100 and we're on a very tight budget - is Travel Insurance really necessary, or can we save the money and skip it?
- 18. I have my heart set on having a weddingmoon on a tropical beach somewhere at sunset, but my fiance says that foreign places have too many legal requirements and that our marriage may not be valid - is that true?
- 19. I'm concerned about going to Mexico because I've heard so many horror stories about the water there and "Montezuma's Revenge". I don't want to get sick on our Honeymoon - is this still a problem nowadays?
- 20. I'm planning to get married at our honeymoon destination and setting up a Honeymoon Registry to help us pay for it, but my mom says that anyone we don't invite to our wedding will not contribute to our Honeymoon Registry - is that true?
1. What if I've booked my Honeymoon, then call off (or postpone) the Wedding?
Calling off or postponing a wedding is never an easy thing, however, we can help ease some of the sting:
- If its been postponed, we'll work to reschedule the trip, or place it on a "freeze" status for up to a year, subject to destination availability and airline restrictions (most airlines give you up to a year to use a ticket that's been purchased).
- If you've called it off altogether, we'll refund any amount that's already been paid by you, subject to the airline's and destination's requirements. We can also refund amounts contributed to your Registy by your guests directly to them.
2. We took some 'naughty' photos on our Honeymoon,
and now I'm afaid to get our film developed - what should I do?
Naughty pictures? I'm shocked! Well, not really - pretty much everyone
does this (I think that's why digital cameras were invented), so the best thing
to do is take them somewhere that does one-hour photo developing (maybe one
that's NOT near where you live?) and wait for them. Sure you may be a little
embarassed, but remember, the person doing the developing doesn't know you,
and has likely seen that type of thing many times. But this way
there's less chance that some of the "better" ones will make their way home
with someone else.....be sure you get your negatives too! And if
you're really shy, hit the Accessories department before you drop
off your film, put a scarf around your hair, don a floppy hat and dark sunglasses,
and peruse the new digital cameras while you're waiting.
3. We're planning a destination wedding, and
want to keep it small and intimate. How can we avoid hurting the feelings
of anyone we're not inviting?
It really doesn't matter what type of wedding any couple has - big, small at
home or somewhere else - it's bound to happen anyway - anyone who feels they
should have been invited and wasn't will experience hurt feelings, and there
isn't much you can do about that, short of inviting everyone you've ever met
in your life.
The best thing to do is to decide who you really want to have at your ceremony,
invite them, and don't feel that you need to apologize or explain to anyone
else.
Have a reception when you return home, and invite everyone else to that instead.
If anyone has the nerve to give you grief about not being invited to the ceremony,
simply smile and say "I'm so happy that we have the chance to celebrate with
you now!" and move on.
4. I want to go somewhere quiet and romantic,
but my fiance wants to go somewhere with a lot of people and activites -
how can we compromise?
There are many, many places that you can go that will accomodate nearly everything
each of you wants to do - I personally recommend all-inclusives, because they
offer so much on-site, which means you won't have to travel far from your 'base'. They
offer plenty of activities and sports, but you also won't have any trouble
finding a nice quiet spot on the beach to curl up with a good book. You can
each pursue what you'd like to do, and still re-connect often throughout the
day so you'll still feel "together". I'd also strongly encourage you to discuss
with him - in advance - about how much time you're willing to share with others
and what time you want to be just "the two of you" time, for example you could
make lunch your opportunity to meet other Honeymooners, and spend dinners by
candle-light at a romantic table for two.
5. Help! My fiance is getting very involved
in planning our honeymoon and we're starting to argue about it - I thought
that was MY job, so how do I tell him to butt out?
I hate to burst your bubble, but traditionally the job of planning the honeymoon
is the groom's job (planning the wedding is still your domain), but
in practice, many men prefer to let the bride plan everything. I think it's
great that he wants to help out, and after all, it IS his honeymoon too. Why
not let him handle this job? Just be sure he knows what's important to you,
and asks your opinions before committing to anything. That way, you can just
focus on planning your big day, and have a few less things to worry about.
To help him stay on track, give him a copy of our Honeymoon
Planning Checklist.
6. I keep hearing that we'll save money by
going to an "all-inclusive", but they seem so expensive - how do they save
us money?
It's easy to overlook all the incidentals when you're budgeting - you may think
about your airfare, hotel, and meals, but when you add in drinks, tips, activities,
and at some places rental fees for beach chairs & umbrellas, pretty soon you're
spending as much, if not more, than you would at an all-inclusive. Another
consideration is that at an all-inclusive, you won't need to worry about having
cash or credit cards on you, or small bills for tipping, so you can just relax
and have fun!
7. Why should we use a Travel Agent - don't
they charge money to make our travel arrangements?
Some Travel Agents do charge a service fee, so it's an important question to
ask, and the primary reason I always recommend couples use Honeymoons
By Sunset is because they don't charge any fees. However, there
are numerous benefits to using a Travel Agent that specializes in
Honeymoon Planning - namely that their experience alone will ensure that the
details will be handled correctly, and you'll be able to relax and enjoy yourselves,
and a good Travel Agent knows how to find the best deals.
8. What if we go somewhere tropical and then
a hurricane hits us?
It's always important to take into account weather patterns for the destination
you've chosen - even to the point of scheduling your wedding for the best time
of year if you really have your heart set on the tropics - so if you're going
during hurricane season, it is a risk you'll face. At Honeymoons By Sunset,
we work with top-notch destinations that are willing to guarantee your experience
by offering "hurricane" guarantees - just ask your Personal Honeymoon Consultant
for details - so that you won't be left in the cold (and rain and wind...).
9. We can't take our Honeymoon until six months
after our wedding, but we still want to have a romantic weekend alone after
the wedding - how do we tell our family that even though we're at home we
don't really want them all around?
By all means, let them hang around your house. YOU, however, don't have to
be there! Make reservations for yourselves at a local deluxe resort and spend
the weekend getting pampered together at their spa, and having romantic meals
alone - maybe even have a room-service dinner by candle-light!. Another benefit
is that you'll at least feel like you had a mini-honeymoon, which you would
miss out on if you stay at home, even if you are alone. And don't worry - your
family will understand.
10. We'd like to take a "toy" with
us on our Honeymoon - how can I get it through airport security without being
subjected to embarrassment?
Most toys are all plastic and should not set off any type of metal detector,
so my advice is to remove the batteries and pack them in your checked luggage
(so you won't have to spend a lot of $$ buying new batteries at your destination),
and put it into a carryon bag. As long as nothing arouses the interest of the
x-ray machines then it's unlikely that your carryon bag will be searched. If
it is, just look shocked and say "how did THAT get into my bag!!",
then glare at your new husband. Deflected embarrass-ment is easier to handle.
11. Our Honeymoon will be the first time
we've traveled together - how can I be sure it will go smoothly?
Two words to memorize - communication and compromise. Misunderstandings
cause most arguments whether you're traveling or not. Some people like - and
need -to have everything scheduled in advance, while others like to "play it
by ear", so be sure to discuss in advance what you'd like to do and see while
on your trip, and how much "unscheduled" time you'll want too. Talk through
any potential conflicts that your discussion brings out, and don't forget to
allow yourselves some time apart as well - maybe a spa visit for you while
he goes parasailing. You'll both benefit from a little time to truly relax
and recharge, and it will give you something new to talk about over dinner!
12. I'm getting married again, and my fiance
wants to bring his kids with us on our honeymoon (he has two daughters, ages
9 and 11). I'm not wild about the idea - in fact I was really looking forward
to some time alone with him - but I don't want to rock the boat and risk
upsetting the girls, who are just getting to know me. What should I do?
That's a really good question - one I get asked often, as many second marriages
bless us with step-children, and it's not uncommon for the new family to want
the children involved in not only the wedding, but the honeymoon as well.
SO, bring them on your Honeymoon trip? Obviously, you have two choices here: You can say "Yes", or you can say "No". BUT keep in mind that bringing them does NOT mean you won't have any romantic time alone with your new husband. There are many "family" Resorts - most of which are also all-inclusives - that have wonderful "kids" programs where they'll keep the girls involved in activities during the day, and even watch them in the evenings if you want to go out dining or dancing alone. My advice is to bring them along. You'll get to spend some time bonding with the girls, and still have plenty of time alone with hubby. The girls will have a trip they'll remember forever, and it will be especially important to them that they felt included. And lastly, but most importantly, your fiance will be forever grateful to you for not making him choose between you and his daughters.
13. This will be my first Honeymoon, but
my fiance has been married before - what can I do to make it more special
than his last one?
Part of life involves comparisons, but much of it does not. Don't put those
thoughts of "better than/worse than" in his head to begin with, and they're
unlikely to find their way there on their own. Your best bet is to just relax,
have fun, and make sure you let him know what a special time it is for you
- because that's really all that's important to him too.
14. My fiance and I are thinking of bringing
our kids on our honeymoon, but don't want to spend our time babysitting.
Are there any good options for us?
Yes - absolutely there are! In fact "Familymoons" have become so popular
that many destinations now cater to your unique situation! One of our
personal favorites, Beaches Family Resorts, has numerous age-appropriate programs
for kids of all ages and offers evening babysitting as well (for a small additional
charge) so that you can have a couple of romantic dinners alone - this lets
you spend as much time alone as you wish and still have plenty of opportunities
to spend time having fun as a family too. In addition, Disney Cruises does
an awesome job with similar programs, and Carnival has recently geared up their "familymoon" programs
as well - I could go on with more, but I hope this opens your eyes to the possibilities
- you no longer have to choose between leaving them at home (and feeling left
out) or bringing them and feeling like you missed out on some quiet,
intimate time with your new spouse - you can have it all
15. We only have 4 days for our Honeymoon,
and a small budget, but want to go somewhere nice - with a beach and maybe
a spa. Where can we go that is affordable and won't take all day flying to
get there?
Of the many places I would recommend, my favorite is the Aventura Spa Palace
Resort, in Cancun Mexico. It's just a short flight from Texas, so you can make
the most of what time you have, and it's an All-Inclusive, so you'll be able
to relax without worrying about busting your budget. Local sightseeing tours
are included in their package, and Cancun is world-famous for it's nightlife,
bargain shopping opportunities, and it's warm, caribbean ocean, so you'll have
a fun and relaxing four days!
16. My fiance and my mom say that using a
Honeymoon Registry is like "begging for money". How can I convince
them that it's acceptable today?
Hmmm...let's see if I understand.....they think that registering for your honeymoon
is "begging for money", but that registering for china and cutlery
isn't "begging for kitchen items"? Perhaps if you share with
them the fact that the concept of a registry - any registry - is about two
things - getting what you want and need to start your life together, and making
the gift giving process easier for your guests. What could be easier than picking
up a phone and contributing to the honeymoon of your dreams? After all,
most people lead busy lives these days, and/or don't like to go shopping. We
get an enormous amount of positive feedback from contributors who are very
happy - and greatly relieved - to have this option (especially the ones who've
waited until the last minute to get a present!).
17. Our Travel Agent has suggested Travel
Insurance for our Honeymoon, but it's over $100 and we're on a very tight
budget - is Travel Insurance really necessary, or can we save the money and
skip it?
You could, but then you assume all the risk if something happens that threatens
to ruin your honeymoon (for example if a hurricance destroys your hotel on
that lovely tropical island, where you were planning to be married on the beach,
just a week before your departure). Just like car insurance or homeowner's
insurance, travel insurance only pays for itself if something "bad" happens,
but you'll be glad you have it if it does. Many people spend their whole
lives without ever having a car accident, or damage to their homes, and many
honeymooners never have anything go wrong, but when you consider that a typical
honeymoon costs anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000, a travel insurance premium
of $150 to $250 is a small price to pay to have the peace of mind you'll get
knowing that if something does happen at least you won't have a total
loss. Your Travel Agent is looking after your best interest, so
my advice is to get the insurance and then stick a rabbit's foot in your pocket!
18. I have my heart set on having a weddingmoon
on a tropical beach somewhere at sunset, but my fiance says that foreign
places have too many legal requirements and that our marriage may not be
valid - is that true?
Yes and no. Everywhere you go, whether inside or outside of the U.S.,
will naturally have some legal requirements, but as long as you meet
those requirements then your marriage will be perfectly legal and recognized
everywhere. It's true that some places DO have pretty
stringent requirements (such as a 30 day residency requirement in the Tahitian
islands), so those places may offer a "blessing ceremony" only that
does not constitute a legal marriage (great for renewing your vows though),
however, there are a great many places that have some very easy-to-comply-with
requirements, so you shouldn't have any trouble choosing a beautiful tropical
location for your dream weddingmoon. Be sure to look at the Island
Wedding Requirements and Mexico
Wedding Requirements pages on this site, and don't forget to check with
your Honeymoon Consultant to be sure you fully understand the requirements
of your chosen destination, or to enable you to choose your destination based
on the requirements.
19. I'm concerned about going to Mexico
because I've heard so many horror stories about the water there and "Montezuma's
Revenge". I don't want to get sick on our Honeymoon - is this
still a problem nowadays?
Most larger hotels, resorts, and restaurants use purified water in beverages,
ice, and for cooking, but when it comes to drinking water, to be safe, always
ask for bottled water (auga purificada, por favor). I would suggest
that you not drink the tap water from a small hotels, condos, or private
homes, unless you know there is a purification system installed, and working. Tap
water in Mexico is not necessarily contaminated, but it is processed differently
than Americans and Candians are used to, which can possibly cause problems. Buy
bottled water to take with you to the beach or on tours, and at small cafes
and snack stands be sure to request your beverages without ice.
If you do experience water related distress, Pepto Bismol or any anti-diarrhea
medication like Imodium will help. Most of the brand-name medications
used in the US or Canada are also available at grocery markets and pharmacies
in Mexico.
Lastly, be sure to keep in mind that maximum exposure to the sun in Mexico
can also cause similar symptoms (from heat/sun sickness), not to mention a
bad sunburn that can also ruin a honeymoon or familymoon.
20. I'm planning to get married at our honeymoon
destination and setting up a Honeymoon Registry to help us pay for it, but
my mom says that anyone we don't invite to our wedding will not contribute
to our Honeymoon Registry - is that true?
It's true that anyone who is not invited to your wedding is not obligated to
give you a wedding gift, which could include making a contribution to your
Honeymoon Registry.
However, quite often close friends and relatives will want to give a gift (or make a contribution) regardless of whether or not they are invited, once they know you're getting married.
My suggestion is to go ahead and plan the WeddingMoon of your dreams, but make sure it's within your budget. Do set up a Honeymoon Registry, notify your closest friends and relatives, and any contributions to your registry can help pay for some nice "extras" like a tour or spa treatments for you and your new spouse
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