When I set down my wedding flower snips (and planning spreadsheets) in exchange for travel planning, I didn't quite realize how much overlap there would be. As it turns out, helping families plan luxury ($100k+) weddings is very similar to helping families plan luxury travel. One of my favorite points of overlap is helping couples with planning a honeymoon - especially because I understand the stress of planning a wedding. I've worked with Seattle and Pacific Northwest families for almost 8 years now on their biggest and most memorable events. So, I have a lot to say in this podcast about honeymoon planning! I recently sat down with PNW wedding officiant Chanelle Carlin on the Now You May Kiss Podcast.
A Sneak Peek
Chanelle and I go way back from wedding days! I was delighted to collaborate with her on this ~40 minute episode that we recorded in October 2025. Even though I'm in Seattle and Chanelle is across the mountains, we have many years of combined experience as wedding professionals. In this podcast episode, we chat all about honeymoon planning, and share a few laughs, too!
When you click the link to listen, we talk all about...
- Why honeymoon planning can feel like even more stress piled on, and sometimes even harder than wedding planning (yes, really!)
- When to book your honeymoon (hint: you don't have to leave right after the wedding)
- AND my hottest take of all, which is that solo time on your honeymoon is totally normal, not weird :)
My Top 3 Honeymoon Planning Takeaways
If you're not quite ready to listen, here are my top three takeaways from this podcast episode.
#1: If you haven't already, you need to get your partner to help you with wedding planning and honeymoon planning.
There is so much stress and pressure with wedding planning, and then you're supposed to single-handedly plan a trip, too? And not just any trip - but one that has the emotional weight of being your first trip as a married couple? Girl, NO. Wedding planning is almost always lopsided, with one partner (often a woman) doing all the work. If you can't ask your partner to help out and trust them to take over, why are you marrying them? I'm so tired of seeing young women burn themselves to a crisp before the wedding, while their partner does nothing - please don't go down that path.
#2: Everyone has a different travel style, and you need to know how you and your partner align on this before you plan your honeymoon.
Some couples are both ready to white water raft, zipline, and rappel down waterfalls on their honeymoon. Others are both content to sit on a beach for a week. But where trouble brews is when one person is happy with one travel style, and the other person is happy with a totally different style. You two need to know this about yourselves before you start planning! It's totally possible to meet in the middle - either by splitting your trip into two different destinations, or having solo time on your honeymoon. And this is where my hot take comes in. Yes, you are allowed to enjoy your days separately and reconvene in the evening! There are no rules, and you're your own person. Just because you are a married couple now does not mean you have to spend 24/7 together, even on your honeymoon.
#3: Delaying your honeymoon until well after the wedding can be way more luxurious.
In the old days, people would finish up the wedding in the wee hours of the morning, and then fly out a few hours later. That sounds like a nightmare to me, personally! I've seen so many couples delay their honeymoons and really enjoy having the space to let it breathe a little. You can pick up the planning after your wedding, rather than cramming everything in an already stressful time. Plus, this might give you more ability to bank paid time off and allocate more budget for a trip you REALLY want to take, rather than what everyone else is doing. Again, there are no rules. You can go on safari or hike the Alps 6 months after your wedding! Another benefit? Nobody in your family gets to weigh in on your honeymoon plans if they're totally separate ;)
Need Help Planning a Honeymoon?
I would be delighted to help lower the stress of planning your honeymoon. (And of course - I am always happy to refer you to my favorite Seattle wedding vendors, too!). If you've never worked with a travel advisor before, your honeymoon is the perfect time to try it out. There are advantages besides getting your time back - including VIP honeymoon treatment, hotel and resort perks, upgrades, and experiences that you can't get alone. I'd love to have a no-pressure chat and see how I can help!