Designer Wedding Ideas

In the whirlwind of planning your wedding, you may have forgotten that your honeymoon won’t magically plan itself. It’s time to think about what your idea of a perfect honeymoon is. After carefully choosing your destination, consider our honeymoon tips before taking your trip.

Budget with care.

Budgeting for your honeymoon is easier said than done, especially if you or those you know have a specific idea of what it should be like. Here’s the good news – you don’t have to stay at a five-star hotel or fly in first class to have a great honeymoon. Save that money for fun activities on your trip or the big-ticket purchases you’re bound to have to make soon after you tie the knot. Once you decide what you can realistically afford, make sure you stick to your budget.

Plan and book early.

While it may be tempting to not start planning your honeymoon until after your wedding is lock and key, you’ll save money and ensure you can stay and go where you want if you plan and book your trip early.

Skip the wedding gifts.

Instead of accepting the standard wedding gifts, consider starting a honeymoon traveling fund that your family and friends can contribute to instead of buying you things you probably don’t need. The best part? You’ll take a lot of the pressure off your guests if you avoid having a registry and let them contribute the amount of money they actually want to spend. In the process, you’ll be able to spend less on your honeymoon and you won’t end up with three sets of monogrammed towels.

Shout it from the rooftops.

Telling everyone you encounter – from the bellhop to the scuba lesson form – that you’re on your honeymoon can actually help you get free perks and deals that you wouldn’t normally get. This could be anything from free upgrades to having flowers added to your room at no charge. It doesn’t hurt to try.

Don’t forget about R&R.

While you may be tempted to chock your honeymoon full of fun activities, remember that it’s a time that you’ll both want to relax after months of stressful planning. Dedicate plenty of time to recharging and simply enjoying your significant other – after all, this is only the beginning of the many magical moments you’ll share.

Weddings can be extremely expensive when the couple-to-be opts for a huge guest list, pricey venue, and gourmet catering. However, it’s possible to have a budget-friendly wedding that is equally tasteful and memorable. Here are our tips on how to plan your wedding while keeping your wallet in mind.

Trim down your guest list.

While you surely want to show off tying the knot to your significant other to the world, remember that not everyone you know needs to be there on your special day. To keep costs down, stick to only inviting your closest family and friends. A smaller guest list means a more intimate wedding, less pressure, and reduced costs.

Go out of the box with your venue.

Instead of paying for both a ceremony and reception venue, consider having them in the same place. This way, you save traveling time and money from not having to rent and decorate two different places. You can also consider skipping a traditional venue altogether and have your wedding at your own home, your parent’s house, or an outdoor location with picturesque views. If you opt for the outdoor route, make sure you have a backup tent handy in case of bad weather.

Avoid serving expensive food and alcohol.

Hiring a caterer and having an open bar at your wedding might be considered the standard for some people, but you certainly don’t need to. You can save a lot of money by simply making the food yourself, asking a family member or friend, or a small, family-owned restaurant. This will keep costs low while ensuring that you end up with great food at your wedding. Instead of having an open bar, serve only wine and beer instead, or have only a short free cocktail hour.

Keep the flowers simple.

Your flowers won’t last long after the reception, so avoid spending a ton of money on them. You won’t lose the elegant touch that flowers are meant to add as long as you choose something simple and elegant, such as a small bouquet of roses. You can even opt for tasteful fake flowers to cut costs. Without close inspection, your guests won’t notice.