Travel Tips for Honeymooners

Your honeymoon is the first vacation the two of you get to take as a married couple. Though you may have been on vacation together before, this trip is special. It’s a time to indulge yourselves and to make memories that will last a lifetime. Check out our travel tips for honeymooners so you can make the most of this special journey as newlyweds.

Tell the Hotel it’s Your Honeymoon

Before you arrive at the resort or hotel, let the staff know that you’ll be on your honeymoon. Even if you didn’t spring for a honeymoon suite or romance package, the staff may still provide a little something extra, like flowers, a free upgrade, a box of chocolate, or some complimentary champagne. Those little surprises can make the experience extra special.

Take It Slow At First

The first day or two can be slow-paced and leisurely. After all, the two of you need to recover from the months of wedding planning and from the emotions and stresses of the wedding itself. Plan to save that first day for a nice relaxing time at your hotel or resort. No need to jump right into sight-seeing!

Talk About Honeymoon Goals

Couples often have different visions of what a vacation should be like. To avoid conflict while you’re on your honeymoon, have a clear, honest discussion about honeymoon expectations before you actually go on the trip. Is one of you eager to explore the city, island, or countryside, while the other would prefer lots of time in the hotel or resort? Find a balance or compromise that makes both of you happy.

Have a Basic Plan

You want to leave some room for spontaneity, of course, but having a general plan for the honeymoon can be helpful so you don’t leave your destination disappointed. Discuss which points of interest are must-see spots for you, or which activities you absolutely want to make time for. It also helps to have a budget for your time away, so you don’t start out your marriage having money arguments about what you can and can’t afford. Remember to build in some financial padding for unexpected expenses along the way.

Limit Electronics Time

A honeymoon is all about enjoying each other. Consider an agreement between the two of you to severely limit your time on electronics, including laptops, tablets, or phones. You can set your phones in airplane mode so you can still take gorgeous honeymoon photos without being distracted by other apps and social media.

Surprise Your Lover

Remember, the honeymoon is all about romance and connection. Try to plan a little something to surprise your new husband or wife while you’re on the trip. It might be a small thoughtful gift or a big romantic dinner at a scenic location; the scope of the surprise doesn’t really matter. What matters is showing your new spouse how much you care.

For more tips about weddings and honeymoons, browse the Nanina’s in the Park blog, and remember to view our gorgeous photo galleries for inspiration as you continue to plan your wedding. If you have any wedding-related questions, our event specialists will be happy to help you.

Best Floor Plan Layouts For A Smaller Indoor Wedding

It’s time to decide how you will accommodate your guests for the reception dinner at your upcoming wedding! Since you have elected to have a smaller indoor wedding, you won’t have to worry about the weather, and you can enjoy a cozy, comfortable celebration with your guests. Here are a few ideas to help you start selecting the best floor plan layouts for your smaller indoor wedding. 

Venue Visit 

First, visit the space with your wedding coordinator or planner. You may have been to the venue before, but this time you’re looking more carefully at the available space and design of the room. If you can’t make an extra trip to the venue due to time constraints or for some other reason, your contact at the venue can provide a sample floor plan that the venue has prepared for other guests with similar weddings. 

Round Tables 

One popular layout consists of the dance floor in the center of the room, with the bride and groom’s table at the head of the room. As you face the couple’s table, the cake table is the right and the table for cards is to the left. Round tables seating six guests flank the dance floor on either side. Across the dance floor, opposite to the head table, are the tables with food and beverages. 

Parallel Plan 

Another possible layout could feature longer, rectangular tables that run parallel to the dance floor and seat larger numbers of guests, as many as eight or ten at a table. You could keep the couple’s table at the head of the room with the buffet table across from it. 

Mix-and-Match 

Some people like to intersperse circular tables with rectangular ones for more visual variety. The circular tables could seat 6-8 guests, while the rectangular ones seat ten guests. This offers you a little more flexibility as you are planning your seating chart. Think of each table as its own miniature dinner party, and place guests with others of similar ages or tastes. 

Strategic Spacing 

Want to make the reception feel even more cozy and intimate? Choose smaller round tables with just four or five guests at each. The buffet can go at the head of the room, while the head table is placed on one side. The cake table could be in a corner of the room, still in view but tucked out of the way. This way, the bride and groom have the opportunity to greet guests as they make their way across the space to cut the cake later in the evening. 

Circle Time 

If you’re having the wedding reception in a wide, open space without architectural features like a pre-defined dance floor, try placing the bride and groom’s large round table in the center. Surround it with the other tables, with the buffet to the side and the dance floor and DJ at one end of the space. 

Benefits of a Smaller Indoor Wedding Venue 

Some smaller indoor wedding venues may only be able to accommodate a couple of different types of floor plans because of limited space or certain design features within the ballroom. This can actually be a blessing in disguise since it cuts down on the number of options you have to consider. With so many decisions to make during the wedding planning phase, you’ll probably appreciate having a smaller set of options from which to choose.