The Average Cost of a Honeymoon and How Couples Pay For It

The party doesn't have to stop once your wedding is over. Plenty of couples head to a honeymoon to celebrate their marriage—and though it can be a splurge (hello, airfare and all-inclusive resorts), it's certainly well deserved after planning a wedding. If you're curious to know what the average honeymoon cost was in 2023, according to The Knot Real Weddings Study, we have the answer. Read on to see how much a honeymoon costs, the typical budget breakdown, how couples pay for it (hello travel points and honeymoon fund), as well as the most popular destinations to kick off married life.

In this article:

• Average Honeymoon Cost
• Honeymoon Budget Breakdown and Spreadsheet
• What Influences the Honeymoon Cost
• How Couples Pay For Their Honeymoons
• The Most Popular Honeymoon Destinations Right Now

Average Honeymoon Cost

Based on an internal study of nearly 10,000 couples who got married in 2023, the average honeymoon cost is $5,700. This is in addition to the average cost of a wedding, which is $35,000. Honeymoons remain one of the most popular wedding-related events, with 72% of couples planning one in 2023. Sixty percent left for their trip within two days of the reception, and on average, couples spend 8 days on their honeymoon—27% of all honeymoons lasted more than a week.* However, minimoons continue to be a popular vacation alternative. Last year, 27% of couples planned a shortened trip either in lieu of (13%) or prior to a traditional honeymoon (14%). As you'd expect, the average cost of the mini-moon is less at $2,800.*

Honeymoon Budget Breakdown and Spreadsheet

If you're planning a honeymoon budget, you're probably wondering how much to spend on the various components of your trip. We crunched the numbers based on our 2022 Honeymoon Study* to come up with an estimated honeymoon cost breakdown. Use this as a starting point to build your budget and customize it for your priorities with our honeymoon budget spreadsheet.

• Travel - 23%
• Accommodations - 27%
• Activities/Experiences - 26%
• Food/Drink - 24%
  

Bonus: Check out The Knot's free honeymoon budget planner and checklists spreadsheet to easily plan, print and share your budget. Copy the Google Sheets or download in Excel format by clicking the buttons below.

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Tip: After you click "make a copy", it may take a few seconds to copy the file to your drive depending on the speed of your internet connection.

What Influences the Honeymoon Cost

The average price of a honeymoon has been steadily increasing in the past several years. This increase in cost reflects couples' desires to go on an experiential trip. Now more than ever, newlyweds look to plan honeymoons in unique locations that offer unconventional activities. In 2023 we saw an increase in couples traveling outside the United States for their honeymoon—62% versus 53% in 2022 and 41% in 2021, returning to pre-Covid levels of 60% in 2019. Inflation and increased airfares due to higher fuel costs have also impacted the cost of travel.

It's important to keep in mind that these numbers are a reflection of the national average. The cost of a honeymoon will fluctuate based on where you go, the time of year you travel, duration and any upgrades you make for your trip. Couples can spend significantly less by taking a romantic getaway within their state or a staycation in their hometown.

How Couples Pay For Their Honeymoons

Now that you know the national average cost, you're probably wondering how much you should spend on your honeymoon (and how you're going to pay for it). Honeymoon registry funds continue to rise in popularity, especially for couples who prefer experiences over things. Setting up a cash fund registry is a great way to make sure you actually enjoy the gifts your loved ones purchase. In 2022, 84% of couples set up at least one wedding registry—of those, 23% made a honeymoon fund to help support their trip.* However, the majority of couples (61%, to be exact) pulled from their own savings to pay for it.*

Since a honeymoon is an additional cost to your wedding, it's important to set a honeymoon budget that's realistic with what you can spend after planning your nuptials. You may want to consider working with a honeymoon travel specialist to help you plan a memorable trip. After all, it's not about taking a fancy vacation for great pictures to post on Instagram—what matters most is spending quality time with your S.O. to ring in married life together.

The Most Popular Honeymoon Destinations Right Now

According to our study, 38% of couples opted to stay in the US for their trip in 2023, with Hawaii, Florida and California being the most popular states for honeymoons. For couples who traveled abroad, Mexico and the Caribbean were the most popular regions, with Europe coming in third. Beach honeymoons still remain the most popular option, though, with 46% of couples planning a tropical getaway.*

*Based on The Knot 2022 Honeymoon Study
Quantitative survey with n=727 Gen Pop respondents who are recently married or engaged and took / planning to take a honeymoon or mini-moon in 2022 or 2023. Fielded in November 2022.

Diane Hall contributed to the reporting of this article.