Traditionally the bride and groom set out for their honeymoon the moment they leave the wedding reception. Perhaps they stay in a hotel at the airport on the way to their destination, but that is all part of the big holiday. In recent years, however, it has been more common for couples to delay their honeymoon by a couple of days, or even several months. Here are some pros and cons to help you decide when to go on a honeymoon.
Why leave on honeymoon straight away?
In the movies, the happy couple always seems to head straight from the reception to the airport, and this is generally considered the most exciting and romantic honeymoon option. You woke up in the morning as a single gal and by the end of the day you’re married and jetting off on honeymoon. Leaving right away means that you can prolong the excitement and exhilaration of the wedding, and you get to avoid all those tedious post-wedding tasks such as returning tuxedos, and arguing with the venue over minor damages.
There are some downsides to leaving for your honeymoon immediately. Firstly you will probably have to make your exit just as the party is heating up, and you might miss dancing to the band that you spent so long choosing or eating the scrumptious evening food you’ve been drooling over. You may also be totally exhausted after months of wedding planning and a day of festivities, and starting a long journey might seem like the last thing you want to do.
Why wait for a couple of days?
The majority of couples are now waiting until at least the day after the wedding to leave on honeymoon, and many are giving themselves a couple of days before they start their holiday. This means they can stay at the reception right until the end, and they can even sleep at the same hotel as their guests so they can say goodbye over a relaxed brunch in the morning.
If you have a lot of out of town guests visiting for your wedding, it seems a shame to waste the opportunity of seeing them by dashing off straight after the wedding, You can spend a couple of days catching up with them and showing them the local area.
There are various practical reasons for waiting until a couple of days after the wedding to go on honeymoon. You can unwrap your wedding gifts and get the thank you letters in the post, make sure your suppliers are all paid in full, have your dress dry cleaned and stored away, and arrange any last minute honeymoon packing.
The possible downside of waiting a few days to go on honeymoon is that you may have time to crash back down to earth after the wedding, and for a few days you might experience a feeling of anticlimax or being in limbo. You will also have so many things to arrange you won’t actually have much time to spend with your new husband. Leaving the day after your wedding will still give you the chance to see guests again the next morning, but will ensure you start the trip when you’re still on your ‘bridal high’.
Why postpone your trip for several months?
There are many practical reasons to postpone your honeymoon for several months. Perhaps the weather at your chosen destination is at its best six months after the wedding. Maybe you’ve taken so much time off work for wedding planning you can’t take any more until next year, or your job is seasonal so you can’t really take two weeks right after your wedding.
Some couple’s feel that they have enough to organise with the wedding, and they want to postpone the stress of arranging a honeymoon until after the wedding is over. Others decide they have spent so much on the wedding they need time for their finances to recover.
The danger with delaying your honeymoon by such a long time is that it may feel like just a regular holiday. Make sure you put a lot of effort into planning your honeymoon to make it extra special, and if you are delaying your main trip for a long period try to get away for a night or two straight after the wedding to have some time together as newlyweds.
