Jul 29, 2025

A man and a woman snorkel in clear water.

A honeymoon can be a major event in a couple’s life. It can also be a major expense. Paying for a dream trip to celebrate your wedding, though, does not have to add stress to your planning.

You may have enough savings to finance your honeymoon. If not, there are several ways to pay for honeymoon expenses. You can include it in your wedding registry, use loyalty rewards, put it on your credit cards, or turn to a lower-rate personal loan.

Planning helps ensure that your honeymoon memories last forever while the impact to your budget is only temporary. Here are some ideas for creating a honeymoon budget and ways to pay for that special time in your life.

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What does the average honeymoon cost?

In 2024 the average cost of a honeymoon was $5,300 and it lasted about seven days, according to The Knot. This is in addition to the cost of the wedding, which averaged $33,000 in 2024.

Of course, you might spend more or less money and time on your honeymoon, depending on your destination and the plans you’ve made. The Knot found that 28% of couples took between one and two weeks for their honeymoon. And in all, more than half of couples traveled outside the U.S. The top international honeymoon destinations were the Caribbean and Mexico, while Hawaii, Florida, and California topped domestic destinations.1  

How can you build a honeymoon budget?

Start your honeymoon budget as you would with any other major expense—figuring out how much you’re able to spend. You may already have a list of dream destinations in mind, and a budget can help you narrow them down. Once you know what you can afford, you can begin to compare the costs and choose the destination that makes the most sense for you and your partner.

In general, you’ll probably find that your expenses fall into four general categories: travel, accommodation, experiences, and food and drinks. It’s usually recommended to prioritize just two and figure out how to scale back the others.

If you want to build your own experience, break it down into smaller pieces. Research what each part of the trip might cost and look for creative ways to get the most out of your dollar.

Travel: Decide if you’ll fly or drive

In general, travel often accounts for about one-third of honeymooners’ overall expenses, according to The Knot. And flying to reach a destination is likely to increase your costs. The good news is that airline ticket prices have recently stabilized or even fallen slightly.2

Driving to your destination can also be pricey. Although gas prices have come down considerably since record highs in 2022, a longer road trip could still account for a sizeable chunk of your honeymoon budget.3

Alternatively, you may decide to explore more affordable honeymoon destinations closer to home or even a staycation. While perhaps not as exotic, you might find the private time together is enough to provide the shared adventure you want.

Accommodations: Choose five-star luxury or more-affordable comfort

Many hotels and resorts offer special rates and packages to attract travelers. This can be promising for couples planning their honeymoons. Although the costs for hotel rooms, like all travel costs, have risen quite a bit over the past 10 years, prices recently have remained relatively stable.4  

Be sure to plan in advance, especially for popular destinations like beaches and national parks. Accommodations could be harder to find in the summer or over the holidays.

To lower your costs, you might research alternatives to hotels. You could consider swapping homes with someone, camping, or renting an apartment. The money you save might be used for pricier excursions or entertainment at your destination.

If your wedding is planned for the height of tourist season, it might be more affordable to separate your honeymoon trip from the wedding and plan your trip during an off-peak time of year. Or if you’re flexible with your plans, consider booking closer to the time of travel. Hotel rates may drop as you get closer to departure.

Experiences: Plan formal events or quiet hours together

The cost of entertainment during your honeymoon will vary based on your destination and your preferences. For example, a beach vacation may be less expensive in terms of entertainment expenses. Destinations with extensive activity options could lead to higher costs. Factor in costs for activities like theater, sports events, unique experiences, or day trips, which can accumulate quickly.

Researching activity costs in advance and booking tickets online or through discount platforms may help you budget effectively or find savings.

Food and drink: Choose Michelin stars or in-room intimacy

Food can also be a large portion of your honeymoon budget, depending on the type of trip and where you stay.

Renting a home where you can cook for yourselves may reduce costs. If you and your new spouse enjoy cooking together, this could be a great way to connect and relax while doing something creative. But you'll have to consider whether this is something you want to be doing on your honeymoon. You might be willing to splurge on eating out. 

How can you pay for your dream honeymoon?

To pay for your dream honeymoon without financial strain, you might consider any number of options. Choosing the right one for you can depend on your current financial situation, how much you’ve planned, and your budget now and in the future. Here are some top possibilities you might want to consider.

Check if your savings will cover the cost

Whether you already have a savings fund or create one specifically for your wedding and honeymoon, tapping into your savings might be the simplest way to pay. You could save by setting aside any tax refunds or employment bonuses you receive. Or you might divert part of your salary into a high-yield savings account.

If you’re considering using your savings, there are a couple of things you might want to think about.

Pros

  • The money is immediately available for you to use
  • There are no loan applications to complete
  • There is no credit review or approval needed

Cons

  • It may deplete your emergency fund, which experts suggest should equal three to six months of your living expenses
  • It might not be enough to cover all the costs or unexpected expenses that suddenly arise

Use wedding gift money for a honeymoon

Some couples add gift money to their wedding registry or create a honeymoon registry as an option for family and friends. This may be an effective method for building your funds for your honeymoon. Because honeymoon trips can be expensive, though, this might not be sufficient to cover all the costs.

Pros

  • A honeymoon fund option on your registry may be a good way to effectively crowdsource your honeymoon fund
  • Your wedding guests may love supporting the first experiences you’ll share as a married couple 

Cons

  • The amount you receive might not be enough to cover the full cost of your honeymoon
  • Because wedding gifts can arrive at the last minute, you may not be able to plan ahead and budget for your expenses

Look into using travel rewards programs for the honeymoon

If one of you is a member of a hotel, airline, or credit card rewards or cash back program, you might be able to save up enough from those to help defray some of your honeymoon costs. You should examine the specific terms of the programs if you’re thinking of paying for a honeymoon with credit card rewards.

Pros

  • The value of your rewards or cash back is immediately available to help offset your expenses
  • You might be offered special deals or discounts as a member of a loyalty program

Cons

  • You may not have enough points or rewards to cover the entire cost of the honeymoon
  • There may be restrictions on how and when you can use your rewards or the destinations available under the terms of the program

Rely on your credit cards to borrow the money

You and your partner may already have credit cards. If so, you know the convenience they can provide for making purchases of almost any kind. Responsible use of credit cards, though, is important to your financial future.

Pros

  • You can pay immediately with a credit card
  • Credit cards are commonly accepted as a payment option at airlines, car rental agencies, and most locations

Cons

  • You might not have sufficient credit available to pay for all your expenses
  • Borrowing from credit cards adds to your revolving debt, which can continue to grow with new purchases, especially if you don’t pay in full every month
  • Credit cards may have high and variable interest rates, which can add to your overall borrowing costs
  • Credit cards may have foreign transaction fees

Research whether a personal loan could be your best option

As you examine your choices, you might find that a little extra money  may  help ensure that you have the honeymoon you and your partner have always imagined. Adding to your financial cushion might be easier than you think. A personal loan could be the right solution after you review your overall budget.

Pros

  • As a form of closed-end credit, personal loans have a fixed repayment term, so you know when the loan will be fully paid off
  • Personal loans may have a fixed interest rate, so you’ll know the precise cost of the loan
  • Personal loans allow you to choose a repayment term that fits your budget with one set regular monthly payment
  • Personal loans may have lower interest rates than some credit cards

Cons

  • A personal loan, like any loan, will add to your overall debt, which is important to calculate
  • Depending on your credit score, you might not be offered a rate lower than your existing credit, or the loan amount might not be enough to cover your costs

If a personal loan sounds like a good option, a fixed-rate Discover® personal loan could get you the money you need, up to $40,000. You can choose from multiple repayment options to fit your budget—36, 48, 60, 72, or 84 months. Plus, you’ll pay $0 origination fees, $0 closing fees…no fees of any kind.

And because a personal loan for wedding expenses is a flexible tool, you could  use it for any number of wedding-related costs, in addition to your honeymoon. 

Interested in exploring how a personal loan could help you realize the adventure of a lifetime?

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1 https://www.theknot.com/content/average-cost-of-honeymoon
2 https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf
3 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65324
4 https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/travel-price-tracker

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