Those lovely folk at BBC Radio Cambs asked me to participate in a discussion regarding honeymoons and the rise of the honeymoon gift list, as the new trend is for couples to splash out on holidays of a lifetime, despite having spent a large amount on the wedding itself. Those of you who read my blogs regularly will know that I am firmly in the ‘do what you want to do camp’ however many of the Andie Harper Mid-Morning Show listeners disagreed saying it was irresponsible.
Irresponsible is a big word I don’t like – apparently couples should be saving for house deposits instead of blow out honeymoons! But surely a couple has the right to spend what they like on their wedding and honeymoon? Many couples already have a house together when we meet them but even if they don’t, why is house ownership considered so much more important than having fabulous memories, and starting your married life together with an amazing experience? Especially when the days of owning a house to be financially comfortable are pretty much a thing of the past…
I put the question out to our Facebook audience and Hertfordshire bridal shop Brides of Berkhamsted hit the nail on the head:
Our client Nik, who married the lovely Rachael at Easthampstead Park in April, agreed:
Nik makes a really good point here that I discussed on air. Many couples don’t need the toasters and cutlery sets as they already live together, so a great gift list can be developed to help pay for the honeymoon, which Nik and Rachael did. As a guest, I would be so much happier knowing I had contributed to an amazing experience rather than just buy ‘stuff’ – but then I am the sort of person who regularly buys experiences as presents anyway.
If you are considering the honeymoon to be part of your gift list, you can either use agents such as Kuoni or Trailfinders who will sort vouchers or websites such as Buy My Honeymoon or Honeymoon Promises, where you can have a list of those upgrades, special meals, treatments or essential kit, like you would your toasters, and your guests can purchase what they want. I personally think these lists are lovely!
You can see samples of these lists here
As Nik says, saving for a house deposit is a much bigger deal. You may spend 3k on a honeymoon, yet need 13k for your house deposit, so it’s not really the same thing. Book your honeymoon of a lifetime and start your married life together with an amazing experience I say!
You can listen to me on air here
