Working With Hotels and Travel Agents

Among the many companies that make money from weddings, hotels and travel agencies are not at the top of the list. Yet they are some of the most consistent and long lived of the wedding professionals that you will encounter. If you have not finalized your wedding or honeymoon plans yet, add them to the list of things that you should check out.

The main business of hotels is rooms. They make money from providing people with the perfect room for your needs. They can serve as your dressing room as you and your entourage get all dolled up before walking down the aisle. They are meant to be comfortable so you need not worry about sweating and melting while getting dressed. Power outages will mean nothing since these establishments are normally equipped with generators.

In fact, if you chose a luxury hotel they usually have wonderful bathrooms. You may want to arrive early so that you’ll have time to take a full bath and luxuriate in the bubbles before it’s time to primp.

Most hotels have more than one function room. You can usually choose the room whose size and appearance matches your dream wedding. The hotel’s management team will normally work with you to create your wedding look though you may still want to bring in some help to decorate if you want to make it really elaborate. The function room will probably cost you a minimal amount, if not be given to you for free, as long as you choose the hotel’s kitchen staff to provide you with your wedding meal.

The hotel is also bound to give you a discount if you book many rooms. It makes sense to have all your guests from out of town stay where the party will be. This will be more convenient for them as well.

Most hotels also have a honeymoon suite that is excellent for your first night. They might even throw in a bottle of champagne on ice and some chocolates or strawberries and cream.

If you choose a hotel that is part of a chain they might even give you discounts for choosing to stay in another branch of their hotel. Usually, these hotels have the same standards no matter which branch you stay in. This means you’ll have all the comforts of home in a brand new location which can be quite comforting when you’re in a totally unfamiliar place.

You can make all your honeymoon arrangements yourself or you can work with a travel agent. Airlines, Cruise Lines and hotels often give travel agencies discounts to book clients for them. This can translate into a lot of savings for you. They can also help you find interesting places to visit while you’re on your honeymoon if you don’t just want to hibernate together. You can have some interesting adventures, exploring a new city while savoring each other’s company.

Your travel agent can make it very easy for you to temporarily reside in an unfamiliar place. They’ll arrange for transportation and lodging for you. They can even provide you with guides, books and maps to point you to the best places to eat and have fun.

Pack Your Bags - You’re Going On Honeymoon!

After every wedding comes the honeymoon. Where will you be going? Is your groom keeping it a surprise?

Now the groom does normally take care of all arrangements for this part of the celebration. Due to them wanting to give you a happy surprise they may want to keep your destination a secret but he does normally leave you a clue or two. Has he said something like, don’t forget your skis?

You will need to pack your bags in preparation for your honeymoon before the wedding. 2 days to a week before should give you enough time. You’ll need to prepare an overnight bag for your wedding night too - the one with the special lingerie.

Try to get your fiance to give you some idea of what to pack. You don’t need to know the location of your vacation. You just need to ask him something like, “Should I pack for somewhere hot or somewhere cold?” If he answers we’re going somewhere romantic, ask him another question (though that question can actually be a clue if you know what he finds romantic).

If you really can’t guess, pack a little bit of everything. Have a few dresses for dressy affairs, and some comfy clothes for sight seeing (just in case). Make sure that everything can mix and match so that you can have endless variety without having to carry a gigantic bag.

Don’t forget your swimsuit, toiletries, sunblock and a pair of shades. You’ll never go wrong bringing a jacket in case the nights get cool. Of course no honeymoon is complete without lovely lingerie for the bride.

Most importantly, pack your camera! You’re taking a once in a lifetime trip. Get your memories in print. It’s a wonderful way to make sure the memories don’t fade.

Destination: Honeymoon!

Everything about marriage requires planning and forethought if the bride and groom really want a stress free, well organized start to their lives together. Of course, the planning itself can be very tiring, unless you have the help of a great wedding planner, so it’s wonderful to have a get away plan - the honeymoon!

The honeymoon is the time for newlyweds to be alone together and just be together. It’s time to have fun, relax and enjoy each others company. Of course you may have different ideas of what’s a vacation so here are some suggestions.

A favorite honeymoon destination is the beach. Not just any ordinary beach will do! For honeymoons, the Fiji islands are a favorite. It has over 300 islands, all beautiful and natural. The beaches are clean white sand. Why not visit the famous Blue Lagoon?

Rest is easy to find here as the sound of the waves can lull you to sleep. For those who don’t want to just rest in their resorts, why not go scuba diving, snorkeling or hiking in an untouched tropical rainforest. Dance in the moonlight and play in the sun and sand.

If you want privacy as you start your new life, why not go to Bali, Indonesia and rent a private villa. It may cost you less than a hotel which will give you more cash to enjoy with. If you want to have a change of view, why not take the helicopter ride to see the sights such as Lake Batur and its active volcano from the air. It’s an experience you won’t forget.

If you choose to go to a warm country, don’t forget the sun block! You want to have a great vacation, not be toasted and crisp.

Your Honeymoon Itinerary

Though planning a wedding will already keep your hands full, don’t forget to discuss your honeymoon itinerary as well. Six months to twelve months before. Start talking about honeymoon destinations. You can go on the Internet to look at your options, and call a travel agent to find out how it will generally cost. If you are planning to go somewhere that is very time-sensitive (such as the Carnival in Brazil) you should book immediately.

Five months before. Are you going abroad? Fix your passport and visa, and start updating your immunizations. The honeymoon may seem a long way off but you’ll be too busy in the months ahead to take care of it, so might as well get it out of the way.

Four months before. Finalize your budget and set aside the money so you don’t inadvertently spend it on the wedding (it’s been known to happen).

Three months before. Book everything: hotel, plane tickets, rental car. You may also be asked to pay deposits, so make a note of this in your budget.

Two months before. If you are going somewhere with special weather conditions, begin shopping for your wardrobe.

One month before. If you have pets or plants, find someone to take care of them while you re away.

Two weeks before. Get your travelers checks. Get a special notebook and take note of all the details of your trip: airline, hotel and rental car information, travelers checks numbers, and your itinerary.

One week before. Pack your bags, confirm all your travel arrangements. Check your bank for credit card balances.