The Young Wife

When you’re newly married, everyone assumes you’re hopping on a flight the next morning with a suitcase full of swimsuits and sunscreen. But truthfully? Not every couple is ready for a full honeymoon right after the wedding, and that’s okay.

Some couples go immediately.
Some couples wait a few months.
Some couples do a little bit of both.

What matters is choosing what actually fits your life, your budget, and your sanity.

A quick peek into what we did:

Our wedding was originally planned as our engagement party, and we switched it to the wedding about a month before. So, needless to say, planning a full honeymoon wasn’t happening. Instead, we took a mini honeymoon right after the wedding: two nights at Hotel Hartness in Greenville, SC, with the sweetest dinner at Patterson’s Kitchen + Bar. It gave us that newlywed, “just married” feeling without the pressure of a big trip. Then a few months later, in December, we took our full honeymoon. We went city-hopping to Denver, Seattle, and Las Vegas, going to an NHL game in each one because we’ve made it our goal to visit all 32 arenas. It was the perfect mix of relaxing, touristy, and adventurous, and having everything decorated for Christmas made the trip feel even more special.

The case for going right after the wedding:

• You’re still in that “just married” bubble.
• Everything feels extra special and emotional.
• You get that seamless transition from wedding → honeymoon → real life.
• You don’t risk your honeymoon feeling like “just a vacation.”

But going right away also takes planning, and trying to put together a whole trip while planning a wedding can feel like a lot.

The case for waiting:

• You get more time to save.
• More time to plan and actually look forward to it.
• You’re not rushing into a big trip immediately after a big event.
• Travel can be cheaper during certain seasons.
• You can pick dates that make more sense for the places you want to go.

The main downside? If you wait too long, the honeymoon vibe can fade and it might feel like just another trip.

Which is why a “mini-moon” is honestly the best of both worlds.

A night or two away right after the wedding gives you that newlywed, just-married excitement without the pressure of a full trip. Then later, once life slows down and your bank account recovers, you get a second wave of honeymoon joy, one you actually had time to plan.

The point is:

There’s no “right” way to honeymoon.
There’s only the way that works for you two.
Go right away, take your time, or split it into two parts, just make sure you actually enjoy it instead of stressing over it.

Your marriage isn’t defined by when you take your honeymoon.
It’s defined by how you show up for each other before, during, and long after it.