The Mini-Moon Trend

There is a growing wedding trend lately: the “mini-moon”. Are you wondering what a mini-moon is? As the name suggests, a mini-moon is a mini honeymoon, a short vacation usually lasting 1 – 4 days, which is followed by a longer honeymoon at a later date, usually within 6 months. For some great suggestions on planning a mini-moon of your own, read on.

Why a mini-moon instead of a traditional honeymoon immediately following the wedding? There can be several reasons. A big one is financial. When the bride and groom are paying for their own wedding, by the time they have purchased everything from the food and liquor to the wedding jewelry gifts, funds for a trip may be very limited. Most couples believe that it is better to allocate more to the wedding itself (you want to treat your bridesmaids like royalty by giving them fabulous wedding jewelry gifts, after all!), than to skimp on the main event to put more of their budget towards a honeymoon trip. Therefore, a mini-moon! A romantic getaway to enjoy while the newlywed glow is at its fullest, followed by a dream vacation after they have had time to save up more money for a longer honeymoon.

Another reason for having a mini-moon is timing. In any profession, there are certain times of the year when it is difficult to get away for any length of time. Not only that, but most brides and grooms end up missing work during the week leading up to their wedding, so vacation days may be in short supply, making a brief trip the best option. There can also be seasonal issues surrounding your dream honeymoon trip. Perhaps you have planned a June wedding, but are dying to go to Oktoberfest for your wedding. Or maybe you and your fiance 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 right back into mundane everyday stuff, yet allows you to have the vacation you really want at a later time.

Because mini-moons are short by their very nature, choosing a nearby destination makes a lot of sense. You don’t want to waste any more of your precious time on travel than necessary. There will always be a romantic destination within driving distance of any wedding. Let’s say that you are planning a chic urban wedding in New York City. A terrific mini-moon would be a few days spent at the Mohonk Mountain Resort, a relaxing Victorian retreat in the Hudson Valley only 90 miles north of the city. Take a walk in the gorgeous scenery, relax in the rocking chairs on the front porch of the grand hotel, or melt away the wedding stress in the spa. Another idea would be to visit a cozy bed and breakfast in your part of the country.

Festivals and events also make terrific mini-moons. Maybe you have always wanted to go to the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island or the hot air balloon show in Alburquerque. This type of targeted long weekend adventure would be perfect for a mini-moon. If your time is really short, skip travel altogether, and book two nights in the most luxurious hotel in your town. Enjoy your first few nights as husband and wife reveling in a glorious hotel and eating at fancy restaurants. It is a great way to spend some quality alone time together after the hustle and bustle of a wedding, and every couple deserves the star treatment when they are newlyweds!