Mini-Moon versus Honeymoon
Over the last couple of years, we have been seeing an influx of couples postponing those bucket-list honeymoon trips due to many reasons such as:
Capacity: With planning a wedding, couples may feel overwhelmed with planning two big events at once.
Financial: Having the financial burden of two high expenses may cause couples to postpone their honeymoon to save or use a honeyfund to pay for the trip.
Work: With planning a wedding, you are already taking time off work, so some couples wait until the following year due to PTO limitations.
Seasonality: There might be a destination top of mind but it might not be the best season to visit.
A mini-moon provides a solution for couples looking to delay their honeymoon but still wanting to decompress after their wedding for a couple of days. These trips are usually shorter, closer to home and lower in budget.
Examples can be something like:
A staycation in Chicago at a nice hotel
Driving to a nice resort in the Midwest like Grand Geneva or Kohler
A glamping facility nearby such as The Fields in Michigan
Domestic destinations that offer direct flights like Savannah, Charleston, or Santa Monica
All-inclusive resorts in Mexico or in the Dominican Republic.
While there are benefits to taking a mini-moon followed by a honeymoon, there are also some drawbacks:
The trip is shorter, so it might not allow you to fully decompress.
Depending on how far you delay your honeymoon, you may miss out on honeymoon deals. These are very common on African safaris and Caribbean resorts. These often provide preferred rates if you travel within a year of your wedding and verify your marriage date with a copy of your marriage license.
Lastly, life takes over, and you never end up taking that bucket-list honeymoon.
Where does a travel advisor come in?
A travel advisor can support in both planning your mini-moon and honeymoon.
When it comes to a mini-moon they can assist with finding recommended destinations that are a short trip from home and recommending the right hotels for your desired outcome of the trip while helping you gain access to preferred rates that can include things such as free breakfast, hotel credit, and other VIP perks.
For more complex trips, a travel advisor can do all the hard work while you continue with wedding planning (or just life!) to make sure everything you need is taken care of for your trip such as hotel bookings, transfers, tours, and anything else logistical.
About the Author
Owned by Jess and based in the Chicago area, Travel Geek Jess is a boutique travel advisory specializing in honeymoons, wedding room blocks, and custom trips for couples. Jess partners with top hotels around the world to secure exclusive perks, upgrades, and seamless experiences, going beyond just booking to handle every detail. Whether you’re planning your mini-moon, honeymoon or coordinating travel for your wedding, Travel Geek Jess makes the process effortless and unforgettable!