5 Tips for Stress-Free Honeymoon Planning

NEWLYWEDS TAKING A SELFIE.

​A honeymoon is not only one of the most romantic expeditions of a lifetime but also a badly needed respite after months and months of your wedding prep. Sounds heavenly, doesn't it? Unfortunately, and as much as we hate to say it, planning a getaway can be stressful as well – unless we take a few key steps, that is. All you need is a good plan, a positive mindset, and perhaps some expert guidance. Here are five tips for stress-free honeymoon planning to help newlyweds eliminate any issues from the get-go.

HONEYMOON IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT, NOT A SOURCE OF STRESS.

 1. Fix a budget.
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For a good, worry-free honeymoon itinerary, you ought to plan a personal budget. It is only after you set a budget that you can start planning your honeymoon trip. Having a budget in place will not only point you in the right direction in terms of choosing the destination and booking the accommodations, but also prevent overspending down the line. 
After you've come up with an overall amount of what you can afford to spend, start breaking that down into daily expenses. Ensure you account for airfare and travel insurance, accommodation, meals, sightseeing, baggage fees, taxis, etc. Finally, back this up with some extra cash for shopping and other miscellaneous expenses, as well as any other predictable expenditures. That makes a great starting point, but there's still room for flexibility. For a more elaborate getaway, you can shorten the trip and upgrade the accommodations. This works vice versa as well.

2. Start early
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​Wondering how early you should start planning your honeymoon? It mostly depends on you as a couple. For instance, some people can't wait to be sitting on that beach, sipping on cocktails, and soaking in the sights with their spouse. On the other hand, others get so caught up in their wedding planning that booking hotels and flights becomes secondary. The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle - about 10 months before travel. 
The main problem with booking too soon is that the pricing may drop right before you're ready to depart. Still, you don't want to wait too long until all the best rates are gone or until you're already too deep in your venue walk-throughs, meetings, band rehearsals, dress fittings, etc. 
Deciding on a destination, booking a hotel, and researching things to do is something you might want to get out of the way before starting your wedding preparations. Knowing you did may be the only thing to restore your sanity after the wedding mayhem.

3. Think about using a travel agent

​That last phrase – the wedding mayhem – brings us to our next point and one that may be key to stress-free honeymoon planning. Weddings are nerve-wracking. Truthfully, you cannot nitpick every single detail, and things will go out of control. Odds are, then, that you're already feeling overwhelmed as it is, and you don't want the added stress of planning your honeymoon, especially if you waited too long to book it. Plus, a honeymoon is a once-in-a-lifetime getaway and one of the most romantic trips you will ever take – so, why leave anything to chance? Why not leave it to someone who has the training and experience to craft your custom honeymoon itinerary instead?

PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE WILL MAKE YOUR HONEYMOON PLANNING STRESS-FREE.

4. Consider taking a buffer day

Weddings.They're fun, but they also take a lot of your time and energy. So, while it may be tempting to float straight from the reception en route to your honeymoon (yes, like in the movies), make no mistake - after the frenzy of a wedding, you'll be flat-out exhausted. You will need sleep, even though you may not realize it right now. Therefore, instead of leaving for your honeymoon straight away, consider catching a breath between the ceremony and the trip. You can sleep in, watch movies all day, eat your wedding cake in bed… Doesn't exactly sound like a bad day now, does it?
​This way, you'll be able to enjoy the whole thing a little bit longer because, before you know it, you'll be back to your routine. Even new milestones, such as moving to a bigger house to start a family, will require your energy, especially if you're moving to another country. While it may be an exciting time, moving overseas will exhaust you. You're looking at more planning, budgeting, and packing. Also, unless you plan on selling everything you own, you'll need someone to handle the transport of super bulky pieces of furniture along with your other belongings, which calls for in-debt research of moving companies. So, take your time to enjoy your honeymoon as much as you can.

CATCH A BREATH BETWEEN YOUR WEDDING AND YOUR HONEYMOON.

5. Blend adventure and relaxation

Some newlyweds prefer an action-packed adventure, whereas others would rather spend 90% of their honeymoon in bed. While neither is wrong, pros advise couples to make a fine blend of the two. It's great if you can both plan a handful of activities and establish some relaxation time. Keeping your schedule flexible will allow you to experience something new and make memories, as well as give your body and mind some space to breathe and a chance to unplug.
Finally, for any stress-free honeymoon planning, remembering to pack that go-with-the-flow attitude is what matters the most. You and your S.O. should try to keep your cool and carry on in the face of unexpected events. Have a drink or two, laugh about whatever is going sideways, and revel in the fact that you now have someone for all of life's highs and lows.

This article was written by Sophia Perry.

Author’s bio:
Sophia Perry has been engaged in creating content for Transparent International and other moving companies for the last 8 years. In her spare time, Sophia enjoys running, reading books and spending time with her dogs Loo and Sill. As a great lover of life, she finds something practical and useful in every experience, which contributes to her portfolio as well.

​Sophia Perry
Outreach coordinator 
Phoenix, AZ
Arizona Moving Professionals
  202 807 7658
  904 406 8157
  [email protected]
  www.azmovingpros.com