What's Trending: Engagement Moons

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Why wait until after the wedding to vacation with your partner? A growing number of couples are flipping the honeymoon on its head by taking an “engagement moon.”

Popularized by royal couple Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, these post-engagement trips are a great way for couples to celebrate and spend some quality time together before the craziness of wedding planning sets in.

“People’s lives today are busier than ever and with the growth of technology, it is very rare that we get to unplug and live in the moment,” explains Daulton Van Kuren, President and Principal Planner for The Refined Host in Buffalo, New York. “Planning a vacation with just the two of you, even if it is only for the weekend, can really help you to forget about everyone else and just focus on yourselves for once.”

While the world is your oyster for engagement moon locales, you should keep in mind that you still have a whole wedding to plan. So budget accordingly, advises Van Kuren, adding, “breaking the bank on your engagement moon is not a smart start to your union.”

If you’re looking to stay stateside, consider thinking beyond traditional vacation destinations like Hawaii or Florida. New Orleans, for instance, offers plenty of amazing cuisine, nightlife and culture. Or, if you’re looking for a more exotic location, Mexico or St. Lucia both offer a host of great resorts that don’t require a day-long flight.

Some vacation destinations are capitalizing on the trend by offering specific engagement moon packages. Manoir Hovey in Quebec, for example, hosted its first engagement moon weekend this July for couples to reconnect and get expert wedding planning advice. The resort’s package includes two nights’ stay, a range of meals at in-house restaurants, outdoor activities, a mixology lesson and wedding-focused workshops.

Whether you choose to drive to a nearby bed-and-breakfast for the weekend or fly to a Caribbean island, make sure it’s a place you’re both excited about so you start your life together with special memories.

For some couples, deciding on where to go may be their first test in marital cooperation. “Our advice is to choose what is important to you both and allow for compromise,” says Van Kuren. “Maybe you want a breathtaking resort with 360 degree views of the ocean, but your fiancé prefers to be surrounded by Michelin star restaurants – you can come together to choose a destination that suits both of your needs, i.e. an extraordinary landscape and delicious food.”

Most importantly, though, remember that an engagement moon is about taking time out to be together to honor such a big life milestone.

“Taking a break from your everyday hustle and bustle to celebrate a milestone in both of your lives is something you only get to do once,” says Van Kuren. “Take advantage of this time together and do something the two of you will remember forever with stories you will be able to pass down to future generations.”

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