Weddings can be a whirlwind of excitement, planning every aspect of the big day, and when the wedding is over you get to jet off on your honeymoon. It’s no secret that weddings are expensive. In 2012, the average cost of just a wedding reception was $13,106. That’s why, when it comes to weddings and honeymoons, the more detail that goes into the budget, the better. With endless locations to travel to, you need to have a set idea of where you would like to go. After that, it becomes all about the numbers and roughly determining how much you will need to make your dream trip a reality.
Include Your Honeymoon In Your Overall Budget
When you have a set budget in place for your wedding, including the honeymoon, that overall cost is a must. Sit down together and plan where you both would like to go. Whether it be a resort or a location that you both have always dreamed of visiting, there are costs that need to be taken into account. Airfare or gas, lodging, activities, pet boarding, and money for food should be estimated and set aside.
Including your honeymoon in the overall wedding budget lets you know what ideas are realistic. Funds from different areas can be moved around to keep you on the budget while still creating your dream wedding and honeymoon. Try a budgeting app like Simplifi so that you can budget your wedding better.
Book Early
It might feel like you’re getting ahead of yourself to book the honeymoon straight away after deciding on your destination. It’s not. With around one billion passengers flying each year in the U.S. alone, booking early is important in many ways. For one, the earlier you book, the more likely you are to get a better price on airfare.
Secondly, depending on where you are going, if you do not have flexible dates and book closer to when you plan on traveling, there is a chance that you won’t find tickets that match your schedule. Booking early takes that money directly out of your wedding fund, meaning that there is no chance that you’ll overspend in another area – only to find out that you can no longer afford your travel costs to your dream location.
Be sure to book lodging, regardless of your location, plan where you would like to stay, and book early. As with airfare, you can often find lower rates or deals the earlier you book. Depending on where you are planning to travel to, many activities can also be booked far in advance. While prices on activities rarely vary, having them booked ahead of time lets you see exactly how much of your budget you have used.
Find Additional Areas to Save
With 88% of Americans marrying for love, weddings are an expression of that admiration and loyalty. It is a special event that should be celebrated. When booking both lodging and activities, mention that you’re traveling for your honeymoon. Many places offer specials or packages for those that are choosing to celebrate the first trip of their marriage at their property.
You can find discounts on activities as well. If you are staying at a resort and inform them that you are attending for your honeymoon, the resort may be able to offer you bundles that include your room and activities that can provide you with lower rates.
Always ask when booking if there are special deals for honeymoons. These deals often may not be listed on their website and need to be asked for. Remember to finance an affordable honeymoon; it never hurts to ask about all of the options available!