Planning your Honeymoon

With all of the decisions to be made in regards to your wedding, many times the honeymoon plans get put on the back burner. The key to both planning the wedding and still planning a fun and relaxing honeymoon, is to pace yourself. Here are some tips for staying organized with your honeymoon plans.

At the beginning of your engagement:

• Decide on the type of honeymoon you want.
• Decide on a budget for your trip
• Research possible destinations.
• Take inventory of any frequent flier mileage you and your fiancé might have accumulated that you can use.
• Read travel magazines and shop for travel guidebooks.

Six months before your wedding:

• Book your airline reservations
• Book your hotel room and be sure to ask about honeymoon specials and extras.
• Book a rental car
• Organize all of your honeymoon paperwork
• If you’re planning a foreign trip, be sure you have your passport in order.

NOTE: The names on your tickets must match the names on your passport. Be sure to use your maiden name for your airline tickets.

Three months before your wedding:

• Purchase any clothing needed for your honeymoon.

One month before your wedding:

• Call the places you’ll be staying and make any reservations for dinner, tee times, tours, or special events.
• Make an itinerary for your trip.
• If you have a pet, make arrangements for its care during your time away.
• Arrange how you will get to the airport for your flight.

Two weeks before the wedding:

• Pack your carry-on bag. Include reading materials, your toiletries, any medication you might need, and a change of clothes in case your luggage gets lost. Be sure all of your tickets and travel paperwork are easily accessible in your carry-on bag.
• Make arrangements to have your mail and newspapers held.
• Ask a friend to check on your home in case wedding presents are delivered while you’re gone.

One week before the wedding:

• Confirm all reservations and travel plans.
• Pack your bag.