What Is a Honeymoon? Your Complete Guide

Whether you're sharing pasta during a candlelit dinner with the sun sinking behind you or exploring the cobblestone streets of an ancient city hand-in-hand, honeymoons are an intimate and significant part of the wedding celebration. But what is a honeymoon anyway? It's more than just a postwedding vacation—it's one of the first times you'll make memories together as a married couple. Most newlyweds (69%) take a honeymoon after their wedding, according to The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study. And 60% of couples said they wanted to honeymoon so they could create memories and connect on a deeper level. Below, we lay out everything you need to know before you start planning one.

In this article:

• What Is a Honeymoon?
• Why Is It Called a Honeymoon?
• When Is a Honeymoon?
• What Do Couples Do on a Honeymoon?
• What Are the Types of Honeymoons?

What Is a Honeymoon?

You might think you're familiar with the concept of a honeymoon, but let's break it down anyway. The traditional honeymoon definition is a vacation newlyweds take after they get married. Think of it as a final commemoration of the nuptials. It's a chance for the couple to celebrate their marriage and enjoy their next chapter together in privacy while unwinding from wedding stress. As Annie Jones, owner and luxury travel advisor at Telos Travel, tells her clients, "It's your first adventure as a married couple, making memories to start your shared story as you enjoy the post-'I do' bliss. It's a new phase of life that starts out in a spectacular setting."

Why Is It Called a Honeymoon?

So why is a honeymoon called a honeymoon? If you think about it, it sounds like a random pairing of two different words. And it kind of is! But the word "honeymoon" has meaning behind it. It traces back to the Old English "hony moone," says Duncan Greenfield-Turk, founder of Global Travel Moments. "Honey symbolizes sweetness, and moon references the fleeting time of bliss following a wedding," he explains. "While the language is old, the sentiment is timeless, and this is a short, sacred window of peace and connection before real life sets in."

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When Is a Honeymoon?

Historically, the honeymoon has always taken place directly following the wedding. But both Greenfield-Turk and Jones see more clients taking them at a later date. Only 14% of couples said they were taking their honeymoon immediately after the reception in The Knot 2024 Honeymoon Study, compared to 42% who said that in 2022. While 27% waited just one to two days before leaving, 17% waited three to seven days and another 17% waited at least a month.

"Depending on the kind of trip the couple wants to take, many couples are now opting to wait a few months or weeks to honeymoon, waiting for their trip to fit the perfect season, budget or destination they desire," Jones says. "There are a lot of factors that come into play when making that decision, including how much time off of work you have and the type of honeymoon you want to take."

She adds that it's really all about personal preference and what works well for you as a couple. "There are no hard, fast rules, and many companies will still give you honeymoon perks during your trip so long as you're still within a year of getting married."

What Do Couples Do on a Honeymoon?

Picked your honeymoon locale, but wondering about some things to do on your honeymoon? Couples typically do whatever their hearts desire, whether that's relaxing, indulging or adventuring—or even all three. It comes down to your interests as a couple, Jones says. "While many people opt for the more traditional 'fly and flop' vacation, lounging on the beach sipping cocktails or spending their days in overwater bungalows, there is nothing that says you can't spend your time exploring ancient cities, ziplining through the jungle, eating your way through the markets of Europe or safariing your way across Africa," she adds. "It's all about choosing the trip where you'll make lasting memories, basking in the joy and love of a new marriage."

It's all about doing activities that bring you closer together, Greenfield-Turk adds, whether it's a spa day or hiking. This year, he's seeing clients look for more classical romantic escapes such as The Maldives, Bora Bora, or Santorini, as well as more adventurous options like an African safari or expedition cruise. That tracks with findings from The Knot 2024 Honeymoon Study—48% of couples said they were planning a beach honeymoon, followed by city and sightseeing (31%) and adventure (30%).

There are so many different honeymoon destinations worth exploring that "there's no one-size-fits-all anymore," Greenfield-Turk says. If you feel overwhelmed with choices, you can always use a honeymoon planner you found on The Knot Vendor Marketplace to help create an itinerary.

Some of the popular honeymoon itineraries Greenfield-Turk creates for couples include relaxing and reconnecting with sun-drenched beaches and infinity pools; cultural journeys from art to architecture for couples who love to learn together; wellness focused with yoga and digital detoxes; and multi-stop or slow travel, where couples spend two to three weeks in an area to balance discovery and downtime.

What Are the Types of Honeymoons?

Once upon a time, honeymoons were typically a short trip taken immediately after the wedding. They've since evolved to week- or weeks-long vacations taken when it best suits the couple. But there are a few other honeymoon varieties in between. Which type of honeymoon speaks to you?

Traditional Honeymoon

A traditional honeymoon will see you jet-setting right after your wedding for a fun week of bliss and bonding time with your spouse. Whether you want to bask on the sandy beaches of Bora Bora or ski the Swiss Alps, the vacation will close out your nuptial celebrations in a timely manner.

Mini-Moon

A mini-moon is a long weekend type of trip taken directly after the wedding for "some well-deserved rest after the wedding high," usually followed by a longer honeymoon later on, Jones explains. Greenfield-Turk says that many of the couples he works with take a mini-moon and plan their main honeymoon a few months or a year later, "when they've had a moment to breathe, and most importantly, their dream destination is in season or more affordable."

Mini-moons have become more popular over the past several years—24% of couples planned to take one in 2024, per The Knot 2024 Honeymoon Study, compared to 12% in 2022. But if you do take one, you don't have to follow it up with a longer honeymoon; they're ideal when you have limited time or budget. It really all comes down to what you prefer as a couple.

Latermoon

The latermoon is typically what follows a mini-moon, although you don't have to have the latter if you're doing the former. Latermoons give you more planning time and are perfect if you can take more time off for a longer trip, separate from the wedding.

In need of some latermoon ideas that call for more than a week's worth of exploration? "If safari is on your bucket list, spend some time savoring the winelands of South Africa, explore the abundant nature during your safari drives, and then hop over to the Seychelles or Zanzibar for some beach lounging," Jones suggests. "Or if you enjoy the cozy vibes of a cabin in the snow, honeymoon in Finland where you can marvel at the Northern Lights from the comfort of a glass igloo, take sleigh rides and enjoy a nice warm fire after snow-shoeing."

Earlymoon

Can't hold off until after the wedding? Then an earlymoon might be for you. It's a short vacation for engaged couples, taken a few weeks or a few months before the wedding itself. It's meant to serve as a break from wedding planning, and is best done when you've checked off the most urgent tasks on your wedding to-do list: booking your venue, locking in vendors, and securing your vision and budget.

All-Inclusive Honeymoon

An all-inclusive honeymoon is perfect for the couple who wants to make honeymoon planning as easy as possible. When staying at an all-inclusive resort, everything is at your fingertips. There's no need to find restaurants, local activities like kayaking or spa treatments. It's all outside your hotel door, and a concierge will book it all for you.

Familymoon

Whether it's your second (or third) marriage, or you and your spouse had a baby before you tied the knot, there's no reason why you can't bring your family along. After all, you're not just starting a new chapter with just the two of you, but with the whole family. Take a little inspiration from these familymoon destinations.

Staycation

A staycation is a fun getaway in your local area, like booking a weekend at a hotel in your city or taking a quick trip to a nearby town. It's a way to treat yourselves and unwind without going too far from home. We love it as an immediate postwedding option if you're planning to do a latermoon down the road.