Transportation and travel

Paradise is always where love dwells.
- Jean Paul F. Richter

Honeymoon: just the mention of the word conjures up images of champagne breakfasts for two, lazy afternoons in the sun, romantic candlelight dinners, and passionate nights. Making arrangements for this intimate escape will be one of the most enjoyable aspects of planning your wedding. As soon as you’ve set the date for the wedding, start discussing honeymoon plans. This will allow you time to explore the many options, afford you the best availability and value, plus provide the enjoyment of planning to relax(!) following your wedding celebration.

fly me to the moon

When researching destinations, you may feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of possibilities. Travel guides, whether hard copy books or online sites, may help you narrow down the myriad of choices to at least a top five! Flight, accommodation and rental car information can also be found on several discount websites, but make sure you choose carefully and read the fine print; most budget deals come with limitations, charter flights may have additional surcharges and fees, and the accommodations that look terrific on a website may not be what they seem.

Though many people today book their travel and holiday online and on their own, for this, one of the most important holidays you’ll ever take, seriously consider using a travel agent. He/she can help you with any and all of the details of planning your trip, such as determining prices and availability, booking flights, accommodations, and rentals, and finding package options you like. Should your flights be delayed or interrupted while you’re on your honeymoon, it’s your travel agent who will sort things out for you -- so take their phone number with you on your trip, just in case. If you’re traveling abroad, make sure you’re up to date on any necessary inoculations -- ask your travel agent for a list.

If you’re leaving the country, make certain you have a current passport; they do expire, and it can take several months for renewal. Brides may want to consider putting their maiden name on the plane tickets; those who change their name may need to supplement their identification with a marriage certificate if their other forms of I.D. don’t reflect the change.

fly me to my wedding!

Destination weddings are hugely popular. Look for a travel agent who is a true specialist in destination weddings and make sure that you conduct an in-depth interview with a prospective agent before making any decisions. After all, this is the most important day of your life and you want everything to be perfect for yourself as well as for the bridal party and family who are joining you. Tropical destinations are the top choices with Vancouver Island brides, with Mexico number one. The ease of flying out of Victoria non-stop to a Mexican destination, plus the value Mexico offers in quality accommodations when compared to other tropical destinations, are two of the key reasons. And if you’re not the best at budgeting, choose an all-inclusive.

Having your wedding and honeymoon at the same destination means you won’t have to leave right after your wedding. You can stay and enjoy the holiday with your party. For this type of wedding, you might consider providing custom luggage tags for each guest as both a keepsake and a handy means for identifying their luggage at the baggage claims area in airports.

While deciding on your plans, think about activities or special nights you may want to include. Though some may be part of an all-inclusive, if they’re not, your specialist can take care of booking these for you, from boat trips to parasailing and more. For all of your major reservations—air, hotel, and rentals—make sure they’re set to go at least six months in advance, since the most popular wedding and honeymoon destinations often fill up.

Above all, remember that this is not only the grand finale of the wedding, it’s also your first vacation as a newly married couple. Whether it’s an action-packed skiing adventure, or a week of soaking up the sun at the beach, choose the type of trip that will give you plenty of time to take a breath after the long, exhilarating, fulfilling process of getting married. A true destination wedding specialist can make sure that all of the arrangements and details will suit your needs exactly.

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