4 Pieces of Advice for Planning your Honeymoon

4 Pieces of Advice for Planning Your Honeymoon

Are you and your fiance the type of people who love spend your vacation relaxing on the beach and soaking up the sun? Or do you love exploring new locations and cultures? Regardless of your vacation style, there is a honeymoon destination just for you! There are many amazing places worth exploring here in the United States, so you don’t have to travel far to find what you’re looking for. However, honeymoons are a great opportunity to explore the wider world around us.

When To Leave

Don’t feel like you have to leave for your honeymoon trip immediately following the wedding. Many couples choose to spend the day after their wedding with their friends and family who have traveled to witness their marriage. A simple brunch at the hotel where most guests are staying or at a local restaurant is a great way to visit with wedding guests you may not have been able to spend time with at the reception. Some couples even choose to wait a couple of months before leaving on their honeymoon.

Who Does the Planning

Traditionally, the groom plans and pays for the honeymoon, which is an opportunity for the groom to surprise his new bride. However, you can also have fun planning the trip together. When you sit down to plan, be sure to have an idea of when you’d like to travel, how long you’d like to stay, and the types of things you’d like to do on your trip.

Work With a Travel Agent

If you don’t have a specific destination in mind, contacting a travel agent and sharing your wishlist is a great way to get started. Travel agents tend to have extensive knowledge and experience. They work directly with resorts and cruise companies, which usually means you will get a better deal and maybe even a few perks added in. Your travel agent will monitor your reservations as your trip approaches and alert you of any changes. This will save you time and money, and give you peace of mind as you travel because you know if something goes wrong, the answer is a quick phone call or email away.

Traveling Before Legally Changing Your Name

We know it’s a bummer, but if you and your new spouse are jet-setting on your honeymoon right after the wedding, you’re going to want to use your maiden name when making your travel reservations. It takes time to process and issue the marriage certificate, which is required for changing your name on official documents. Then, you have to wait to receive your updated identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, in your new married name. Traveling under your maiden name will cut down on the stress of receiving these documents on time.

Once you get back from your amazing trip, you can apply for a name change on your passport. You will have to mail in your old passport, but it will be returned to you along with your brand new passport with your new last name. As long as you file the name change form for your passport (called a 5504 form) within 12 months of your wedding, you won’t have to pay an additional fee to make the change.