Mini Moon and Family Moon

Mini Moon

You’ve planned your wedding and everything is perfect.  You found the perfect dress, the perfect caterer, the perfect venue, the perfect date, and of course the PERFECT groom!  But now you have discovered that all that perfection came at a cost.  Either you have used all your vacation time taking care of the details, or your savings account is a tad bit smaller than you were hoping for the honeymoon.  What do you do now?

Happy Couple!

 

I have the perfect solution.  A Mini Moon!

Generally, a Mini Moon is taken when time (or money) is short.  It is generally taken with the understanding that sometime within the first year of marriage, a longer, more expensive Honey Moon will be taken.

The best Mini Moon will vary with each couple, but here are a few suggestions.  Where did you have your first date?  Where was the question popped?  As a couple, do you have a favorite place to vacation?  Some place that has a lot of meaning to one or both? 

Since time is short (usually just a weekend) travel distance can be a major part of the decision.  Short drive of not more than 4 hours, or a short air trip of not more than 4 hours. 

Are you starting to get some ideas?

Think of a location that will fall into that distance category that has a nice hotel with a spa.  Think a romantic couples spa. 

Do you both love to golf?  Are you active outdoorsy?  What type of things do you enjoy doing as a couple?   

If you have your heart set on a tropical destination, have you considered a short weekend cruise?  This idea could be especially good if the ship travels to an island you are planning on visiting in your larger, longer trip later on…sort of a tease or preview.

Grand Turk as seen from a Cruise Ship

Romantic sunrise

 

If what you really want is a ski trip, but you are having the typical June wedding, and your budget does not include going to a different hemisphere to enjoy the ski weather, how about an off season trip to the ski lodge?  All those ski trails make great hiking trails. 

Did he propose in a garden?  What city close by has a great Botanical Garden?  Combine a luxury hotel with Couples Massage with a trip to the Botanical Gardens, with a promise that the best is yet to come.

By now, I hope you see that the Mini Moon can be just as perfect as the longer, more expensive honey moon you were seeing in your head.  Now is the time to contact your local Travel Professional for some additional ideas.

Family Moon

Ah yes, the Blended family.  It is not uncommon with today’s second marriages for there to be children from previous marriages on one or both sides of the couple.  A Family Moon gives the blended family time to bond.  It sets the pace for future family travels.  For this trip, it is important to plan alone time for the couple as well as things to keep the kids occupied; while not forgetting the family time. 

What comes to mind first for a lot of people would be theme park visits.  Tons of family time, the kids love it, and if you plan it right there will be some couple time as well. 

Welcome!

But if you are thinking a more relaxing time, then how about a cruise?  Many cruise lines are family friendly, having kids clubs that most kids have to be pried away from.  There is enough activity onboard the ships to keep any active person busy and enough places to sit and enjoy for tons of relaxation.  Let’s not forget the shore trips…full of family time as you explore the various ports of call.

Lots to do onboard a cruise ship!

 

If the children are younger, one option (regardless of the trip you choose) would be to have a grandparent travel with you.  This will ensure the kids are taken care of.  In fact a growing trend is for a true FAMILY Moon.  Where both sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins all travel together to start the new Family unit.

Other candidates could be an All Inclusive resort in a tropical locale, or maybe a great ski vacation.  Some place that already has a great meaning to the couple, or someplace they want to start making new family memories. 

Stock photo from Sandals/Beaches

Stock photo from Sandals/Beaches

Stock photo from Sandals/Beaches

 

Sounds interesting?  Contact your Travel Professional to get some specific ideas and recommendations.

 

What is a honeymoon?



Wikipedia

“In Western Culture, the custom of a newlywed couple going on a holiday together originated in early 19^th century Great Britain.  Upper Class couples would take a ‘bridal tour’; sometimes accompanied by friends and family; to visit relatives who had not been able to attend the wedding.  The practice soon spread to the European Continent and was known as voyage à la façon anglaise (English style voyage) in France in the early 1820’s”

The most popular destinations during this time were the French Riviera and Italy, particularly the seaside resorts and romantic cities like Rome, Verona and Venice.

 

From The Knot comes some unexpected Honey moon trends for today.

1-Farm Honeymoons- For those wanting the whole Farm–to-Table experience combined with Volunteerism.  Many resorts offer the ‘helping hand vibe’ in exotic locales.  One of them being in St Kitts, West Indies

2- Romantic Road Trip Honeymoon - For those wanting luxurious accommodations with adventurous activities.  Like surfing along California’s Big Sur on a California Coastline trip, or combining a trip to Las Vegas (glitz and glamour) with a trip to Utah’s Zion and Monument Valley (natural wonders)

3-Seriously Adventurous Honeymoons - Surfing monstrous waves, Rock climbing, or Camping in a Rainforest.  Some examples would be the Galapagos Islands or maybe cattle driving in Montana.

4-Foodie Honeymoon – For those wanting seriously memorable culinary experiences.  For example at cooking schools in Paris or Italy; or maybe a tour of Mexico with the great chefs.

5-YOLO Honeymoons- These are for those who want longer, more exotic destinations.  Usually seen in places like Thailand, Maldives, Bora Bora or Bali.

6-Volunteer Honeymoons – This takes the past trend of Green Trips to a new level by adding volunteering.  This is most popular in developing countries like Haiti.

7-River Cruising Honeymoons- These smaller more intimate cruising, used to attract the more mature travelers.  With many luxury River Cruise Lines going to more exotic destinations, like China and Budapest, along with African Rivers, this has become more attractive to honeymooners, wanting to see the exotic locations as well as more privacy with the smaller ships.

8- Eco Tourism Honeymoons – Leaving minimal impact on their surroundings by using things like solar power.  A favorite location for this type of travel is Kingfisher Bay in Queensland, Australia.

9- Two Honeymoons – Taking a shorter Minimoon right after the wedding followed a few months later by a more elaborate get away.  Some of these Minimoons may be a short drive or flight away.  They can be an adventurous type trip with White Water rafting, or a few nights in a local hotel that has an amazing spa.

 Which brings us to our next subject...the Minimoon. 

 

 

Honeymoons

Where do you start?


First, let's discuss what a honeymoon is.  There are many different 'types' of honeymoons. 

Mini Moon - short, maybe a long weekend, after couple gets married in place of a full honeymoon.

Baby Moon - a last vacation taken by expectant parents before a bay is born.  The period before the baby is born, like a honeymoon because after the baby is born, the parent won't be able to do the same things because of responsibilities.

Honeymoon - a traditional holiday taken by newlyweds to celebrate their marriage. Today they are often celebrated in exotic or romantic destinations.

Destination Weddings - A wedding held in an exciting or unusual place where all the people who travel to the wedding can also have a vacation.  It usually involves traveling at least 100 miles from where the bride currently lives.

Friendly Moon - Similar to a Mini Moon, except the couple travels with friends.  Usually done along with a Destination Wedding.

Family Moon -  Where the bride and groom bring along children from a previous marriages.  To help cement the new family bonds.

Anniversary Moon - This is where the couple get to relive the celebration year after year, or on special years.  Sometimes they go back to the same place that their Destination Wedding or Honeymoon was held, other times they go someplace completely different, but with special meaning to the couple.

And these are just a few of the ones we have heard lately.  A quick search on the internet will show dozens more.  But they all have one thing in common.  They are various ways the couple can celebrate their marriage, but NONE of them mention price or destination!

All of the above items can be done on almost about any budget and in almost any destination.

In future posts we will go into a bit more detail about some of these choices.

Announcing....

Destination Wedding, Honeymoon, and Romance Travel Specialist

 

 

 

That is a mouthful!  But I finished the training and passed the exam last week and now have the official designation as awarded by the Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists Association (DWHSA).

 

I'm looking forward to bringing my wonderful customer service to a new segment of the travel  industry.  It is really an exciting time in the Destination Wedding and Honeymoon travel segment.    With more couples planning a Destination Wedding there is a distinct need for someone with knowledge to help with the planning.  I am really looking forward to becoming the 'go to' source for this type of help.

 

But don't worry, I'm not giving up the Family Travel business.  I am just expanding my expertise.  Be sure to follow me on Facebook at my new Facebook page devoted to Romance travel.

Jeanne