A minimoon is a short trip, usually two to five nights, close to home and soon after the wedding. A honeymoon is the longer trip, often a week or more and often abroad. You do not have to pick one: many couples take a minimoon straight after the wedding and a bigger honeymoon later.
Side by side
| Minimoon | Honeymoon | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Usually 2 to 5 nights | Usually a week or more |
| When | Straight after the wedding, or within a few weeks | Straight after, or months later |
| Travel | A drive or short trip | Often a flight, sometimes long-haul |
| Time off work | A few days | One to three weeks |
| Where the money goes | A better room for fewer nights | Flights, transfers and more nights |
A minimoon makes sense if
- you cannot take more time off straight after the wedding
- your dream honeymoon is better in another season, such as safari or the Maldives at their best
- the wedding budget has run long and you would rather not add flights
- you are tired and want rest, not an itinerary
A honeymoon straight away makes sense if
- you have the leave and the budget now
- you are worried that a trip pushed back will never happen
- the wedding is abroad and the honeymoon spot is close to it
Doing both
A common pattern couples describe on wedding forums is a minimoon of two or three nights the day after the wedding, then a longer honeymoon later in the year or on the first anniversary. If you do both, spend the minimoon budget on the room, since you will be in it a lot. Our list of UK rooms with a private hot tub is a good place to start.