Delaying the Honeymoon...

Ken&Cass

My fiancé and I have decided that we are going to wait a few months to go on our honeymoon partially because we are paying for our wedding ourselves so it's a big hit to our pocketbooks, and partially because it would be a bad time of year to be in the Caribbean (hurricane season). I know it's customary for the honeymoon to be directly after the wedding, but I'm wondering anyone else is going to be delaying theirs as well?

maratea

We waited to go on a honeymoon (which is at the end of March, so close!) because we paid for most of the wedding ourselves, so we needed to save longer, and we didn't have much vacation time left at work. We were able to do more research without the stress of wedding planning, plus we are going in a somewhat off-season for our destination, so it's cheaper.

veganbunny

I am having the same problem as you!  My wedding is in just less than 4 months.  I still don't know where I want to go for honeymoon, but like you my wedding is in hurricane season (June) and I REALLY would love to go to Sandals in Bahamas or St. Lucia, but am not going to go during the rainy season.  I am thinking about California, but that would be thousands of dollars as well and I dont LOVE any of the hotels, beaches, or areas there like I think I would LOVE the Carribean.  I also looked at Aruba, but also dont love any of those hotels either plus its more diffiicult to fly to (no direct flights from philly I dont think).  I basically don't feel like its worth it to go on a honeymoon in June to California, when I can just wait until Jan/Feb/March or so and go to the Carribean like I really want.  I think I would rather go to the beaches around here (east coast - DE/MD/NJ) to still have somewhat of a honeymoon, and then Carribean in early 2011.

SuMmErKuTiE

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_delaying-honeymoon?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:11Discussion:703a887a-19c7-4678-b6d6-834b7cc0684dPost:0d00df44-0362-4dc0-8155-e330b9925bbc">Re: Delaying the Honeymoon...</a>:
[QUOTE]I am having the same problem as you!  My wedding is in just less than 4 months.  I still don't know where I want to go for honeymoon, but like you my wedding is in hurricane season (June) and I REALLY would love to go to Sandals in Bahamas or St. Lucia, but am not going to go during the rainy season.  I am thinking about California, but that would be thousands of dollars as well and I dont LOVE any of the hotels, beaches, or areas there like I think I would LOVE the Carribean.  I also looked at Aruba, but also dont love any of those hotels either plus its more diffiicult to fly to (no direct flights from philly I dont think).  I basically don't feel like its worth it to go on a honeymoon in June to California, when I can just wait until Jan/Feb/March or so and go to the Carribean like I really want.  I think I would rather go to the beaches around here (east coast - DE/MD/NJ) to still have somewhat of a honeymoon, and then Carribean in early 2011.
Posted by veganbunny[/QUOTE]

Just some helpful advice... I've been to the Caribbean in June, July, August, and November and I've never experienced a hurricane or even any type of rain storm. I think I was in the Cayman Islands on a cruise stop and it rained for a minute or two and then cleared up. You should have no problem in June going to the Caribbean for your HM, just make sure to get some travel insurance.

heatherwu1998

I realize that a lot of people can't afford to go on an extended vacation right after the wedding, but IMO, a vacation a year after the wedding is no longer a honeymoon.  We're leaving for our honeymoon the Monday following the wedding.

mbcdefg

We're going someplace local for a long weekend after our wedding in April, then we're planning a European trip for the summertime.

Even before we officially set our date, we agreed that it'd probably be a good idea to not go on a big honeymoon right away. That way, we'd have time to save up some more money, versus paying for a wedding AND a big trip all at once. Plus we'd have some other big exciting thing to look forward to once the wedding was over.

Ken&Cass

Our wedding is in August, and we are thinking of going in January of 2011. Do you think that is too long to wait?

[Deleted User]

We just recently decided to adjust our honeymoon plans a bit for the same reasons. Our parents are helping with the wedding, too, but weddings are still not cheap!

Is it an option to not postpone the plans, but take a smaller trip?

We originally wanted to do Aruba, but then decided between all of the expenses that are due at one time between the wedding/living together/etc., now was probably not the best time to shell out an additional $3k+.. so we're going to do OBX for 10 nights (and it's significantly cheaper, obviously, espeically since it's close enough to drive) and then a trip to Aruba for our anniversary in September 2011.

There is nothing wrong with adjusting your plans to suit your budget - IMO, a honeymoon is a honeymoon whether in a tropical island or a nearby beach. It's all the same - as long as you're on vacation with your husband, who cares?

LaFemmeRousse

Our wedding is in mid-July, and within the two weeks after the wedding I will be moving across the country and starting grad school while also attending another wedding that FI is in.  There is obviously no time for a honeymoon in there!  We're going somewhere within the country for 3-4 days directly after the wedding, and then taking our two-week honeymoon over New Year's this year.  You've got to do what works for the two of you. 

atlcatlover

We delayed our HM by a month and it was one of the best decisions we made.  We were so exhausted after our wedding weekend that if we had left right away we seriously would not have enjoyed the first couple of days of our trip.  this way we were able to come home, decompress and when we did go we enjoyed every minute.

kaesha

I've said it before, but I think a honeymoon is really about a mindset rather than some arbitrary fixed date. My parents went for theirs two years after their wedding (my dad was constatnly at sea for those two years) and I don't think that time made any difference whatsoever to how they saw that trip.

NuggetBrain

We're getting married on Friday and leaving on Sunday morning for our honeymoon.  We considered pushing it back a few weeks just because we wanted to decompress a little but we were lucky enough to find an amazing DOC that's actually more of a wedding planner, and she'll be taking almost all of the stress off of me so I can just enjoy the day.

bellebride116

We had a destination wedding and stayed at our destination location with our family and friends for a week after the wedding {not a honeymoon in our opinion}... but after taking off for 2 weeks hub couldn't take off any longer to go anywhere substantial. Therefore, we postponed our actual honeymoon until April. I agree, it's a minset, and you should do whatever you want to do!

jessNlane52804

We are getting married in August and planning to honeymoon immediately after new year's. We are getting married, moving, and FI is *hopefully* starting a phd program and TA appointment. I'd rather take about two days after the wedding to chill, then spend the rest of August getting moved and organized. I will probably be one of those brides with post wedding disappointment, so it's probably a good thing for us to have something to look forward to a few months after the wedding.

Scorpiogrrrrl

I agree with one of the other posts...in that there is no set time or date you HAVE to go...these are more modern times and we all are doing things a bit different then they used to be. You do whats best for you and your FI..do know if you delay it too much you may keep pushing the date back more and more and might not make it for quite awhile..that happened to a gf of mine..they pushed it back for a few months then did again then got preggers..lol What luck! She did finally get one a few years later though and I dont care what anyone says it WAS her honeymoon! =0)

We are only pushing ours off by a week. We are getting married on a sat and are doing a cruise. The cruise we are doing leaves on a sunday so doesnt give us much time and too many possibilities of missed flights, delays etc..so we opted to wait a week and leave the following week figureing too we would get a bit of a break and take care of things at home and see family off and such.

AJA1970

We are getting married in November and going on a honeymoon in February. We'll probably go somewhere for a few days after the wedding that is not too far away and go on a big trip a few months later.

Scorpiogrrrrl

Yeah since we are leaving a week later though we are still getting a hotel and having our special wedding night later after the reception..=0)

Pirata13

We are going a few weeks after the wedding. But we are doing Vegas & California. My brother & SIL got married in December (years ago) and chose London & Paris for theirs, so they waited til July to go.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_delaying-honeymoon?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:11Discussion:703a887a-19c7-4678-b6d6-834b7cc0684dPost:d0d38778-7600-439d-963b-b1939e6ccce4">Re: Delaying the Honeymoon...</a>:
[QUOTE]We're going someplace local for a long weekend after our wedding in April, then we're planning a European trip for the summertime. Even before we officially set our date, we agreed that it'd probably be a good idea to not go on a big honeymoon right away. That way, we'd have time to save up some more money, versus paying for a wedding AND a big trip all at once. Plus we'd have some other big exciting thing to look forward to once the wedding was over.
Posted by mbcdefg[/QUOTE]

This! We're going away for 2-3 days after the wedding and then doing a week in Paris about 7 months later. Because 1) Paris is best in spring! and 2) money/vacation time issues. We'll still be within the first year of our marriage, i.e. the "honeymoon phase," right?

abriscoe84

Same as a lot of other future brides.  Taking a couple of days close to home and then taking our honetmoon a month later due the cruise we want being a special cruise that is only a few months in the year.  I'm just glad we're not the only ones postponing becuase I was starting to second guess it myself!

luckyme502

We are waiting because of all the family that is coming for the wedding.  Some of them are planning on staying the week after to sight see and hang out. 

golden1215

Once I knew our reception site was open on our wedding date (before I had even technically booked it) we paid for over half of our honeymoon.  If we dont go right after- literally less than 30 hours after our reception ends- Im afriad we'll make excuses to never get around to it.  In our 4+ years together we've never gone on vacation just the two of us so I'm not missing out on this!

Plus, I think there is something to be said about the romance and giddiness you feel if you honeymoon right after your wedding :-)

SuMmErKuTiE

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_delaying-honeymoon?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:11Discussion:703a887a-19c7-4678-b6d6-834b7cc0684dPost:0c207b95-4dfd-475f-9c00-0b4c94bb3785">Re: Delaying the Honeymoon...</a>:
[QUOTE]Plus, I think there is something to be said about the romance and giddiness you feel if you honeymoon right after your wedding :-)
Posted by golden1215[/QUOTE]

This is how we feel exactly! We've been so stressed lately, we just keep looking at each other and saying, "I can't wait not just for the wedding but our HM, because it means all the planning is over and we're finally married and we can just relax together in paradise". I'm very much looking forward to a much needed vacation after the wedding. We can't wait to just get away from every day life and relax and enjoy being newlyweds. We'll be "giddy" as pp mentioned <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />

CCBelle

Due to finances, we postponed our "real" HM until March (woohoo - it's almost here!).  But immediately after the wedding, we took a few days as a "mini moon" and went to NYC.  I highly recommend this concept as it gives you and DH a few days alone to celebrate before heading back to your house and work and the real world.

[Deleted User]

We're getting married in May 2011 and going to Thailand in late July/ early Aug 2011.  I am teacher, we live in England, and our wedding is in Philadelphia.  I am taking a week off before the wedding, I have off the week following.  

The few days after the wedding we will spend with friends and family we don't usually see, maybe take a short break to the beach to a friend's house.  

Then a 3 ish week HM during my summer break.  

JoShan1719

We were married in August and we honeymooned in September. It didn't make it any less special. In fact it was nice because we were able to de-stress after the wedding and still have something to look forward to.