Honeymoon planning often gets pushed to the last few weeks because the wedding itself consumes everything. Late booking means worse availability and higher prices.
When to book
- 12 months before: Decide rough destination and budget
- 8-9 months before: Book flights and main accommodation
- 4-6 months before: Book internal flights, transfers, excursions
- 2-3 months before: Check passports, sort visas, travel insurance
- 1 month before: Final packing list, currency
Honeymoon vs traditional holiday
- Pace: Slower. You will be tired after the wedding
- Romance: Resorts often have honeymoon packages — upgrades, dinner on the beach, spa
- Privacy: Adults-only resorts are popular
- Length: Typically 10-14 days
Most importantly — recovery time. The week after a wedding is exhausting. Many couples regret high-activity honeymoons and wish they had picked something more relaxing.
Budget guidance
- UK and Europe (1 week): £1,500-£4,000 for two
- Long-haul beach resort (10-14 days): £3,500-£8,000
- Luxury 5-star (Maldives, Seychelles): £6,000-£15,000+
- Multi-stop or safari: £5,000-£20,000+
Most UK couples spend £4,000-£8,000.
The honeymoon delay question
Many couples now delay the honeymoon by a week, a month, or longer. Reasons: avoid travelling exhausted, better availability and pricing, time to enjoy being newlyweds, holding off for off-peak prices.
A short “mini-moon” (2-3 days after the wedding) followed by the main honeymoon 1-3 months later works well.
Popular UK destinations
- Lake District (luxury hotels and lodges)
- Cotswolds (boutique inns)
- Scottish Highlands (castles, remote estates)
- Cornwall (clifftop hotels)
- Wales (coastal retreats)
Insurance and admin
- Travel insurance — covers honeymoon-specific issues
- Passport names — book in your maiden name if passport not yet changed
- Visa requirements — some destinations need 6 months passport validity
- Vaccinations — book 6-8 weeks before