Lately there is a growing trend in weddings: the “mini-moon”. Do you wonder what a mini moon is? As the name suggests, a mini moon is a mini honeymoon, a short vacation that usually lasts 1-4 days, followed by a longer honeymoon at a later date, usually within 6 months. For great tips on how to plan your own mini moon, keep reading.
Why a mini moon instead of a traditional honeymoon immediately after the wedding? There may be several reasons. A big one is financial. When the bride and groom are paying for their own wedding, when they have bought everything from food and liquor to wedding jewelry gifts, funds for a trip can be very limited. Most couples believe it’s better to allocate more to the wedding itself (after all, you’ll want to treat your bridesmaids like royalty by giving them fabulous wedding jewelry gifts!), than to skimp on the main event for allocate more of your budget to a honeymoon trip. Therefore, a mini-moon! A romantic getaway to enjoy while the newlywed shines bright, followed by a dream vacation after you’ve had time to save more money for a longer honeymoon.
Another reason to have a mini moon is the weather. In any profession, there are certain times of the year when it is difficult to be away for an extended period of time. Not only that, but most brides and grooms end up missing work in the week leading up to their wedding, so vacation days can be in short supply, so a short trip is the best option. There may also be seasonal issues related to your dream honeymoon trip. Maybe you’ve planned a June wedding, but you’re dying to go to Oktoberfest for your wedding. Or maybe you and your fiancé are having a fall wedding, but love the idea of going to a tropical island in the dead of winter when you could really use a getaway. Having a short mini moon right after the wedding is a great way to have a little alone time as newlyweds before diving back into the mundane things of everyday life, but it allows you both to have the vacation you really want. at a later time.
Because mini-moons are short by their very nature, choosing a destination close by makes a lot of sense. You don’t want to waste more of your valuable time traveling than necessary. There will always be a romantic destination within easy reach of any wedding. Let’s say you’re planning an urban chic wedding in New York City. A fabulous mini moon would be spending a few days at Mohonk Mountain Resort, a relaxing Victorian retreat in the Hudson Valley just 90 miles north of the city. Take a walk through the beautiful landscaping, relax in rocking chairs on the grand hotel’s front porch, or de-stress the wedding at the spa. Another idea would be to visit a cozy bed and breakfast in your part of the country.
Festivals and events make great mini-moons, too. Maybe you’ve always wanted to go to the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island or the hot air balloon show in Albuquerque. This specific type of long weekend adventure would be perfect for a mini moon. If your time is really short, skip traveling altogether and book two nights at the most luxurious hotel in your city. Enjoy your first nights as husband and wife reveling in a glorious hotel and eating in fancy restaurants. It’s a great way to spend some quality alone time after the hustle and bustle of a wedding, and every couple deserves the star treatment when they’re newlyweds!
