All prices are per person, subject to change, and include airfare plus 6 nights, car or transportation, unless otherwise noted.

RT air, 6 nights, transportation, food, alcohol, watersports, all activities included.

All prices per person, subject to change

An interview with Jennifer Zeman

By JODI HELMER, reprinted from Bridal Guide 2005, March 17, 2005

Exchanging vows, dancing the night away and cutting into the wedding cake are not the only things couples look forward to when planning their weddings: strolling along white sand beaches, breathing the ocean air and sipping tropical cocktails also top the list of most anticipated wedding adventures.

“A honeymoon is a great way to start their lives together as a couple.” says Jennifer Zeman, owner of Hawaiian Weddings and Tropical Honeymoons, a travel agency specializing in destination weddings and romantic travel. “People really want to wind down and rest after the stress of planning their wedding.”

Honeymoons are as much a part of the wedding ritual as exchanging rings and Zeman estimates that 95 percent of couples depart for their honeymoons within days of tying the knot. “Very few couples wait to take their honeymoons,” she says.

Hawaii and Mexico are the top honeymoon destinations for couples living in the Pacific Northwest but Zeman has also noticed an increase in the number of couples spending their honeymoons in the Caribbean and the South Pacific. “Couples who have a good chunk of change and a decent amount of time are booking honeymoons in Tahiti, Fiji, the Cook Islands, St. Lucia and Jamaica,” she says.

The average honeymoon costs approximately $3,500, but Zeman has worked with couples with a range of budgets.

“Some couples only have $1,500 to spend, and others have more than $5,000,” she says. “It all depends on what they are looking for.

“People are not as budget-conscious as they were a few years ago,” Zeman adds. “They are coming to me and saying, ‘I want to have a good time, and I want to be pampered.’”

Couples may opt to travel to Moorea, Manzanillo or Montego Bay but they have one thing in common when it comes to planning their honeymoons: They want to go to a tropical destination.

“Couples dream about spending a week in a thatched hut that sits on stilts over the water,” Zeman says. “The honeymoon is all about going to a tropical paradise.”

And, because their honeymoon is often the first major trip – and the most special – a couple has taken, most opt to work with a travel agent.

Travel agents can not only save couples time and money but also offer valuable advice.

“It is such a big trip, and couples are looking for someone who can offer advice on the best destinations for their budgets,” Zeman says.

Zeman asks couples questions about their preferences for accommodations and activities as well as the level of service they expect from a resort.

“We go over maps and talk about the pros and cons of different destinations,” she says. “A lot of the couples that I work with have never been anywhere but the Oregon Coast, and they want someone who will work closely with them to plan their honeymoon.”

Zeman acknowledges that couples could plan their honeymoons online but notes that a travel agent specializing in honeymoon travel can offer much more insight than a web site.

“ In many cases, I have been to the destination I am recommending,” she says. “I can go over the options for restaurants, activities and tours and make suggestions.”

Travel agents also offer face-to-face contact which can be invaluable during the planning process: Zeman can help couples book a honeymoon package, upgrade to a different room category or even change destinations completely. “If a couple has questions or needs help, I'm here; you can't get that online,” she says. “I want to make sure that honeymooners have the time of their lives. Often it's not about price; it comes down to service.”

Zeman recommends planning the honeymoon at least four to six months in advance.

“Couples who want to book a honeymoon at a five-star resort in a popular destination for July may find that flights and accommodations are already sold out,” she warns.

Zeman offers two pieces of advice to couples planning their weddings: Plan to take a honeymoon, and have a fantastic trip.

“Couples should plan to take a honeymoon very shortly after they get married: if they put it off, the next thing they know they have kids and a mortgage and it is impossible to go away,” she says. “A honeymoon is a once-in-a-lifetime trip.”

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“ We really like Kauai! I told my husband when we were at the Marriott that we were enjoying the benefits of having a travel agent vs. just booking on the internet. You got us in a great property for a reasonable price–knew just what we wanted. When we take our next trip I'll know who to call for bookings. Thanks for everything.”
–Mr. & Mrs. GM