Engagement-moons are a new trend that is emerging. These special getaways are similar to honeymoons, but couples instead celebrate the promise to spend the rest of their lives together.
They’re often more modest in terms of cost, travel, and time. But with the right planning, your engagement-moon can be just as unforgettable. (More on this later.) It's a perfect chance to celebrate your engagement before the stresses of planning your upcoming wedding.
Ready to start planning your engagement-moon? When you book with Celebration.com Travel you can rest assured that every single detail of your trip will be handled with care.
Engagement-what’s-that-now?
You might also ask yourself, “What is an Engagement Moon? " An engagement moon is a pre-honeymoon trip for recently engaged couples, offering a chance to celebrate engagement and enjoy time together before the wedding planning process begins.
Couples nowadays love the idea of engagement-moons for many reasons, but two stand out.
- First, it’s an exciting milestone when you’re taking time to say, “I do.” If the wedding date, for example, is a year away and the honeymoon even further there’s something to look forward to sooner.
- Second, engagement-moons act as a deep breath before the wedding planning begins. It’s no mystery that it can be a stressful time, even for more modest affairs, making sure the big day is perfect.
And on top of that, many other aspects of planning go into a wedding, including:
- Booking the venue.
- Finalizing a guest list.
- Shuffling a seating chart.
- Finding the perfect music.
- Writing vows.
The wedding planning to-do list goes on. A quick getaway can be an effective way to ease your mind, body, and soul before getting to work.
To that end, unsurprisingly, the one and only rule about an engagement-moon is no wedding planning. The aforementioned to-do list should be cast to the wayside, for the time being, allowing you and yours to focus on one another. It’s more important to reminisce about the past and look to the future. How did you first meet? What was your first date? When did you know you were in love? Where do you see yourselves in a decade? What does life look like in 30 years?
How do I plan an engagement-moon?
The key to planning—and budgeting—is keeping things simple. It’s not uncommon to feel like you can’t afford an engagement-moon with the wedding and honeymoon around the corner. But it doesn’t necessarily need to be an extravagant getaway to an exotic location. You should save those types of ideas for the honeymoon and instead consider a weekend getaway to a nearby resort or road trip to a secluded, beautiful destination in a neighboring state.
In addition to some due diligence of your own on the good ol’ information highway, talking to friends, family and even travel agents is a great way to come up with the perfect point B to your point A. The good news is many point Bs, specifically resorts and hotels, are catching up to the engagement-moon trend and offering special, short-term packages for couples that are recently engaged. Be on the lookout for these engagement-moon packages while you plan.
What To Pack For An Engagement-Moon
When packing for an engagement moon, remember to pack versatile clothing for casual and romantic outings and essentials like toiletries, your passport if traveling outside of the United States, and, you know, all of the normal stuff. Also, bring your ring insurance information and a travel jewelry case for safekeeping.
When Is The Best Time To Take An Engagement Moon?
The ideal window falls 3-6 months post-proposal and at least 6-12 months before your wedding, providing a welcome break between engagement and wedding planning.
If you're having a destination wedding, the engagement-moon is perfect for scouting your venue location, and you can even get an engagement vacation out of it. Consider seasonal factors that align with your preferred activities, and look for shoulder seasons that offer amazing weather without crowds.
Engagement-Moon Destinations: Where Should You Go?
There are plenty of engagement-moon destinations, no matter where you call home. Consider your must-haves, budget, and how much time you want to spend away while reviewing some of the engagement trip ideas below.
Wine Country
Some of the most popular engagement-moon destinations include Washington, Oregon, and California for their world-class wine countries. Itineraries are often flexible based on your budget for lodging, tours, tastings, and more.
Mountain Retreat
Fresh air, peace and quiet, unmatched scenery, and adventure. It’s no wonder many couples escape to the mountains for their engagement-moons. Just a bit of research will reveal various lodging options from world-class resorts to secluded cabins.
Countryside
Similar to a mountain retreat, the countryside offers respite from the daily grind with the perfect combination of scenery and seclusion. How much of each depends on the region and lodging you’re considering.
Local Hotels & Resorts
If you prefer sitting in the lap of luxury instead of a car or an airplane for hours, hotels and resorts in and around your hometown are ideal. Instead of travel costs, the budget can go toward room service, candlelit dinners, massages, and more. With the right amount of pampering, a staycation like this can still end up being an unforgettable pre-wedding getaway.
Across the Border
Canada and Mexico can feel like a magical getaway without draining budgets, especially for couples who live in the northern and southern regions of the U.S. Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa are worthy considerations. You can also take a look at Rosarito, San Felipe and Puerto Peñasco.
Engagement-Moon Mistakes To Avoid
When planning your engagement moon, steer clear of these common pitfalls, including:
- Falling into the social media trap
- Trying to recreate another couple's perfect engagement-moon instead of planning what's meaningful for you two
- Choosing a destination based solely on trending locations, instead of shared interests
- Neglecting to build in downtime between activities
- Forgetting your passport if traveling abroad (do not forget this)
- Overlooking travel insurance that could protect your investment in case of unexpected events
- Bringing along friends or family—big no on this one!
Your engagement moon should be a pre wedding trip to reflect your unique relationship—a chance to celebrate your commitment before the wedding planning intensifies. So be sure to plan your trip accordingly so you don’t run into these traps.
How To Make This Trip Extra Special (Without Spending Extra)
To make your engagement-moon extra special, it’s essential to consider the following ways to make the trip one to remember, including:
- Designating a "phone-free" day where you both disconnect from technology to fully connect with each other
- Exchanging handwritten love letters at a special moment during your trip
- Taking turns planning surprise activities for each other
- Creating a custom playlist that becomes the soundtrack to your engagement moon
- Enjoying a picnic with local food in a scenic location instead of an expensive restaurant
Putting extra effort into making your pre wedding vacation memorable can make it one to remember in the books! The most treasured experiences often come from thoughtful planning rather than extravagant spending, creating priceless memories that will last long after your wedding day.
Start Planning Your Engagement Getaway!
Needless to say, there are 1,000s of other destinations for engagement-moons like Hawaii, the Bahamas, and beyond. As you plan, remember to keep it simple, consider your budget and how much time you want to spend away. Most of all, make sure it offers you both the chance to celebrate the promise to spend the rest of your lives together. Fill out our interest form to learn more today!
Now, it’s time to start planning your wedding! Creating a wedding website with Celebration.com is a great place to keep everything organized and keep your guests informed.