53 PLANNING SOS Q: Where are your top honeymoon destinations. And where do you find the best deals? Your honeymoon is the perfect opportunity to indulge in the once-in-alifetime trip you’ve always dreamed of. While planning can sometimes feel overwhelming, it’s important to find the best value for money without compromising on the experience. Every couple has ideas of what makes their perfect trip, and I take great care in creating bespoke honeymoons that reflect your vision. Over the past 12 months, my clients have chosen a wide range of destinations, from a luxurious escape to the Maldives, to an adventurous month-long journey around New Zealand, and a thrilling road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway in the USA. Here are some of my most popular honeymoon destinations, along with tips on how to get the most for your money. The Maldives The Maldives remains a top honeymoon destination, and it’s easy to see why. Many resorts offer enticing early booking discounts of up to 40 percent, so booking in advance is key. For a more cost-effective option, consider resorts accessible by boat rather than seaplane. While flying by seaplane is a memorable experience, some resorts occasionally offer complimentary transfers, so be sure to check for special offers. Pacific Coast Highway, USA If you’re seeking adventure but also want to unwind on the beach, consider a road trip along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway. Fly into San Francisco, then spend seven to 10 days exploring the Golden Gate Bridge, the seals of Monterey, and the charming towns of Carmel and Santa Barbara, before finishing in LA. After the road trip, relax on one of Southern California’s beautiful beaches, or even fly down to Mexico for a week in a luxurious resort. For the best value, plan your trip during the shoulder seasons (May-June or October-November) when crowds are smaller, and prices are lower. Mauritius Mauritius is perfect for couples who want the beauty of the Indian Ocean along with plenty of activities. It offers excellent value for money and caters to all budgets. Beyond the stunning beaches, Mauritius boasts watersports, snorkelling, and cultural experiences. For the most costeffective trip, avoid the winter school holidays when prices increase. The best time to visit is between April and November, when the weather is warm and the rates are more reasonable. Planning your honeymoon should be an exciting and stress-free experience. With the support of Travel Counsellors, I can provide you with access to competitive rates and create a honeymoon that’s tailored to you. Heather Harris | Travel Counsellors www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/heather.harris Q: Celebrant and Registrar? Do they both do the same thing? Basically no, they’re quite different. Although a celebrant led ceremony may appear in many ways similar to a registry office wedding there’s some important differences in what they do. Flexibility and personalisation: Celebrants offer complete freedom over the ceremony location, content, format, and style. A celebrant led ceremony doesn’t have to be in a venue licensed for ceremony giving couples so much more choice. They can conduct ceremonies anywhere, including gardens, favourite restaurants, parks, beaches, and sports clubs, regardless of the weather conditions. Celebrants can perform your ceremony on any day of the year and any time of the day. Celebrants can include spiritual and religious references, music, and incorporate different rituals and traditions, making the ceremony highly personalised. In contrast, registrars follow a strict format, can only marry couples in licensed premises, and cannot include spiritual or religious references. Time and involvement: Celebrants spend time getting to know the couple beforehand, arrive at least an hour before the ceremony, and generally officiate only one wedding per day. They’re involved in the wedding planning stage, offering advice, support, and guidance every step of the way. Registrars, employed by local authorities, are allocated by the local council and have limited flexibility over the ceremony, and the start time of the ceremony is governed by their availability rather than your preference. Legally binding: Registrar-led ceremonies are legally binding, whereas celebrant-led ceremonies are not. Couples opting for celebrant-led weddings need to legalise their marriage at a registry office before or after the ceremony. This can be done with a basic registry office service, which is usually a short and inexpensive process, currently £56. It’s then the couple’s choice to tell their guests or not because many aspects of a typical ceremony are incorporated in a celebrant led wedding ceremony. Celebrant-led weddings are ideal for couples who want a personalised and meaningful ceremony but require the legal aspect to be handled separately. Q: If I have a religious ceremony, can I only get married in a church? No, you can have a religious ceremony with an independent celebrant wherever you like, but you would need to arrange your legal ceremony at the registry office before or after your celebrant led wedding. If you wanted to have a religious ceremony in a church, there are many deconsecrated churches that allow this with an independent celebrant. Wherever you have your religious ceremony, it’s important to choose an independent celebrant not a humanist celebrant. An independent celebrant offers non-religious, religious and interfaith ceremonies. A humanist celebrant chooses to celebrate life events in a non-religious way. A humanist wedding ceremony wouldn’t normally include any prayers, reading of passages from the bible or any religion. An independent celebrant however will completely personalise the service to the client’s wishes allowing as much or as little religious content as the couple requires. Amanda Wheal | Amanda’s Beautiful Ceremonies www.amandasceremonies.com www.threeflowersphotography.co.uk Xavier Coiffic via Unsplash
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=