Guest Blogger :: The honeymoon gift list – a wedding registry with a difference

This weeks Guest Blogger is Andrew from Buy Our Honeymoon. Andrew has kindly written a post about the honeymoon gift list.

***

Traditionally, wedding gifts were to made help newlyweds establish their first home together, but of course many couples now live together before they get married. If you’ve already stocked your kitchen, or you’re combining two households, a traditional department store wedding registry might make you feel that you’re simply replacing or duplicating things you already have. For some couples, a High Street wedding list might seem forced, or wasteful of their guests’ generosity and kindness.

But although you wouldn’t want any of your guests to feel obliged to get you a gift, most of them will want to. Your guests will be eager to contribute to your future happiness as a couple, to participate in the celebration of your wedding, and many will want to give you a present as a token of their love. So what do you do if you don’t need a new blender or set of towels, but the thought of simply asking for cold hard cash fills you with dread? Is there another option?

Well, we’re all become used to worldwide travel and amazing holiday experiences. Wouldn’t it be great to really push the boat out for your honeymoon, to have the holiday of a lifetime?

A honeymoon gift list works in a very similar way to a traditional department store gift registry, but instead of kitchen implements or fresh towels, you put together a list of experiences and activities for your honeymoon. Imagine champagne chilling in your upgraded hotel suite, a gourmet meal in the flickering candle light as the ocean laps nearby. The honeymoon of your dreams!

Some honeymoon wedding list services operate as extensions of travel agencies, allowing guests to contribute financially towards the overall cost of a couple’s honeymoon. This keeps the process simple, but guests can sometimes feel that their gifts aren’t very personal, and are measured only in terms of the amount they’ve spent.

Other services, such as buy-our-honeymoon.com, cater to the independent traveller, so you can make your travel and accommodation arrangements in whatever way suits you best, taking advantage of the best deals available on the internet.

On your wedding list, you then itemise different aspects of your honeymoon — from activities, meals and shows, to contributions towards your first night’s accommodation, or a taxi ride from the airport. You can add anything you like, including a mixture of honeymoon upgrades and traditional household items for guests that remain more comfortable with concrete goods instead of experiences.

It’s all so much more appealing than an assortment of spoons — and so much more appealing for your guests, too, who’ll feel that they’ve given you a really special treat instead of merely contributing to an anonymous pot of cash. Your wedding list can become as much an expression of your personalities as your wedding itself.

For more information on how to make the most of your honeymoon gift list, visit Buy Our Honeymoon at http://www.buy-our-honeymoon.com/ or call 0845 224 0189.

***

Thank you very much to Andrew from Buy Our Honeymoon for proving this insightful post on honeymoon gift lists.

Louise ♥

Bow Occasions is looking for guest bloggers. If you are interested in guest blogging for the Bow Occasions Blog, please contact me or visit the submissions page for more information.

Guest Post :: Five Fantastic Honeymoon Destinations

Thank you so much to Emma from The Honeymoon Project for this weeks guest post.

Choosing a honeymoon can feel at times like a bit of a minefield – you want it to be special, and so you want to go somewhere that feels special, yet there’s a mind-boggling array of destinations that would fit the bill. I’ll let you into a bit of a secret: wherever you end up going will be special, because nothing can beat that “we’ve just got married” feeling. But if you’re looking for a bit of inspiration, here’s my top five honeymoon destinations.

The Greek islands
Close enough to home that you won’t have to worry about jet-lag, yet far enough away that you’ll step off that plane feeling like you’re miles and miles from normal life, the Greek islands make a fabulous honeymoon choice. Santorini has a reputation for being one of the most romantic of the islands – and with the beautiful views from cliff-side Oia, it’s hardly surprising – but with each island offering its own attractions, you’ll find yourself spoilt for chocie. Think hot, lazy days on the beach, leisurely strolls through the villages, and long dinners of freshly caught fish, overlooking the sea.

Credit: Henrik Berger Jørgensen

South Africa
The great thing about South Africa is that it’s one of the most accessible African countries, and is easy to tackle either as part of a pre-arranged package or independently. A typical honeymoon itinerary here usually includes a stay in Kruger National Park to check out the “Big Five” but there’s a huge number of other game reserves to choose from if you want to visit other parts of the country. In addition, expect amazing food and wine, beautiful coastline, friendly people and mind-blowing scenery. South Africa also works really well teamed with a stay on one of the Indian Ocean islands.

Credit: Arno Meintjes

Mauritius
If a beach honeymoon is what you’re after then you’re really spoilt for choice with the islands of the Indian Ocean. My personal favourite is Mauritius – it’s got the picture-postcard beaches, gorgeous luxury hotels and good diving and snorkelling, but there’s also an excellent, eclectic cuisine that reflects its diverse population, a lush interior worth exploring, and interesting small towns. You’ll also find a decent range of cheaper hotels and resorts, so it’s doesn’t necessarily have to be out of the question if you’re on a smaller budget.

Credit: One & Only Saint Geran

Malaysia
From tranquil islands with idyllic beaches and secluded beach huts to vibrant, multi-cultural cities and verdant rainforest teeming with wildlife, Malaysia has enough variety to suit any kind of honeymoon. The profusion of cheap flights makes it particularly easy to get around; one minute you could be sampling the hawker stalls at a night market in Kuala Lumpur, the next be face to face with orang-utans in Sabah or diving off beautiful Tioman Island.

Credit: Jess Cheng

The Pacific Coast Highway: San Francisco to Los Angeles
One of America’s most iconic drives. Kick off in laid-back San Francisco before heading down the coast towards Los Angeles – though maybe swinging up too Sonoma or Napa first for a spot of wine-tasting. Although it is possible to drive the route in a day, plan to take at least a few days to make the most of it, stopping to explore quaint seaside towns and to soak up the many gorgeous vistas, before arriving in the idiosyncratic City of Angels.

Credit: Stewart Butterfield

If you have a honeymoon related question, you can contact Emma via one of the means below.

CONTACT:
Website: thehoneymoonproject.com
Email: questions@thehoneymoonproject.com