For many of us, having a wedding is one of the most important milestones in our lives. It is, after all, a kind of final stepping stone towards emotional maturity, one born from our willingness to commit to our relationship fully. As such, most couples spare no expenses making sure such an important event is perfect in every aspect. But, how to afford your dream honeymoon after an expensive wedding?
Unfortunately, modern weddings often result in a wedding that’s equally as unforgettable as it is costly. The original budget for the rite itself is usually quickly surpassed, forcing the pair to use funds reserved for other activities. The end result is that many newlyweds can no longer afford the honeymoon of their dreams and have to settle on less ideal options.
But, this doesn’t have to be the case. The honeymoon is what sets the stage for the rest of your marriage, and because of that, you should be given a chance to experience it in full.
You’d be pleased to know there are, in fact, several ways in which you can make the post-wedding trip of your dreams happen no matter how much you’ve spent on your marriage ceremony! Here are some of the best ways of how to afford your dream honeymoon.
Consider Getting a Loan
Your honeymoon is a unique experience. As such, it might be a good idea to secure the funds necessary for it. After all, the memories made on such a trip will stay with you forever.
If you’re unable to secure the funds necessary on your own, getting a personal loan might be a valid option. Such loans are usually small in size, so most providers should have no issue lending you the money, even if you have no previous history with them. Moreover, unlike payday loans, many borrowings (e.g. low rate personal loans with SocietyOne) tend to offer very comfortable repayment instalments options — ones most borrowers can afford without much hassle.
It is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but if your ideal honeymoon is something you shouldn’t have to compromise on, and yet if the necessary funds are not there, while having a bad credit history, getting a reasonably designed loan or a bad credit loan might be what you need.
Ask Your Parents for Help
If getting an official loan from a bank is too risky or impractical for you, consider trying out a more impromptu method of getting your honeymoon money — asking your parents to contribute. Chances are, they might understand the importance of starting off your new marriage with a proper trip and will lend you, or outright give you, enough funds to cover the entire endeavour.
Bear in mind, however, that if the money is merely lent, you should treat it as no less binding than an agreement with a bank. After all, these are usually your closest family members, and to betray their trust by never returning the sum would be horrible. Of course, most parents won’t even entertain the thought of suing their own children, but such a situation will bother them nonetheless.
Moreover, when asking your parents for help, consider if they’re even able to do so. Many mums and dads love their children so unconditionally that they’ll help no matter what their own circumstances are. It can result in situations where they have serious financial problems because of your requests.
Sell Some of Your Unnecessary Valuables
Many people often forget that, over the course of our lives, we tend to accumulate numerous things of value we simply have no use for. Some of them might have been impulse purchases you now regret; others are old equipment doing nothing but collecting the dust in the basement. If you have these, consider selling them. Even something as simple as an old wristwatch can fetch a hefty sum if made of premium materials like gold or if designed by a luxury brand.
As our needs change based on the circumstances we’re in, so do the things necessary to lead a comfortable lifestyle. To illustrate the point, if you live in the heart of the city and have access to reliable mass transit options, selling your car to fund your honeymoon becomes a viable option. Sort out your priorities and decide what items you can get rid of and which are too valuable to give up.
Prioritize Special Deals Over Regular Offers
Given your situation, it might be wise to focus on destinations and services that are heavily discounted. Such offers appear all the time due to the ever-changing market situation, and what used to be prohibitively expensive even a few years ago could be now well within the scope of your reduced budget.
For starters, you can try to prioritize some more obscure travel destinations. Due to the low demand for such places, the initial prices tend to be less inflated, and any further special deals offer an even better bargain.
Despite not being overly popular, many such sites are more than capable of providing you with unforgettable experiences that will make you smile with glee for years to come.
Give Less-traditional Honeymoon Ideas a Try
Most of the expenses associated with going on a honeymoon stem from the traditional approach to such a trip. Plane tickets, hotel rooms, or even restaurant bills can often cost a small fortune, so ask yourself if that’s what you really need. Quite often, these elements aren’t even necessary to have a memorable and exciting time.
The form your post-wedding journey can take is only limited by your imagination. Suppose you have an adventurous spirit. In that case, replacing your travel tickets with budget hotels and low key meals such as a hearty stew eaten on top of the mountain can drastically reduce your expenses while still providing you with a unique time!
The Bottom Line
As you can see, when it comes to honeymoons, the old adage “where there’s a will, there’s a way” certainly holds true. No matter how much you spend on your opulent wedding, if you’re driven enough, you can figure out how to afford your dream honeymoon.
To make it even better, the methods listed above are simply a drop in the ocean of available solutions. So, if none of these appeal to you, don’t give up and search further. After giving it some thought, you should come up with the perfect solution in your circumstances. At the end of the day, the memories you and your loved one are going to make are more than worth it!