Why We Chose a Homeymoon Instead of a Honeymoon

How putting our marriage first became the best investment we could make.

When you get married, everyone asks the same question:

"So... where are you going for your honeymoon?"

Like many couples, we planned and paid for the majority of our wedding ourselves. We were incredibly fortunate to have the love and support of my husband’s family along the way, including their generous gift of preparing the food for our reception. Beyond that support, we were also navigating the financial responsibility of building a life together.

There was no honeymoon fund waiting for us. No extra savings set aside for a post-wedding getaway. Just two people committed to each other, working toward our future, and making thoughtful financial decisions along the way.

Once our wedding was over, life continued...

• Bills

• Housing Cost

• Responsibilities

• The rising cost of living

• Unexpected expenses

  
  

Our honeymoon kept getting pushed further down the priority list. One year turned into two, and eventually, it started to feel like something that simply wasn’t going to happen..

Then we asked ourselves a different question:

What if the purpose of a honeymoon isn't about where you go—but about intentionally celebrating your marriage?

That question changed everything.

Instead of waiting for the "perfect" vacation someday, we created something that fit our life today.

We created our own Homeymoon!

What Is a Homeymoon?

A Homeymoon is exactly what it sounds like.

Instead of spending thousands of dollars traveling somewhere else, you intentionally transform your own city—and even your own home—into a week dedicated entirely to your marriage.

• No work

• No distractions

• No endless to-do lists

Just quality time together!

Because at the end of the day, that's what a honeymoon is really about.

Why It Was the Right Decision for Us

As an event planner, I'm always encouraging couples to create celebrations that reflect their priorities—not someone else's expectations.

Ironically, my husband and I realized we needed to take our own advice.

Instead of spending our limited budget on airfare and hotel rooms, we invested in what mattered most:

Experiences together.

Since we live in Savannah, Georgia—one of the country's most beautiful tourist destinations—we realized we already had everything we needed.

• Historic squares

• Amazing restaurants

• Beautiful beaches

• Local attractions

• Coffee shops

• Parks

• Sunsets

  
  

People travel across the country to vacation here.

We already live here!

The Benefits We Didn't Expect

We stretched our budget further.

Without paying for flights, hotels, rental cars, parking, baggage fees, or resort costs, we were able to enjoy seven full days together instead of a quick weekend getaway.

The money we would have spent just getting to a destination was redirected into memorable experiences.

• More date nights

• More trying new restaurants

• More adventurous activities

• More quality time - JUST US!

We didn't have to leave our dog behind.

If you’re a pet owner, you know — leaving your dog behind for a week isn’t always easy, and it isn’t always inexpensive.

Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on boarding, we were able to include our beagle, Juno, in many of our adventures and enjoy this special time together as a family.

Juno experiences separation anxiety, and after a difficult boarding experience when we traveled from Chicago to Savannah for our wedding, we knew we needed a different option for him moving forward.

Our “homeymoon” allowed us to celebrate this new chapter of our lives without having to choose between creating memories and making sure Juno felt safe and comfortable.

He wasn’t just waiting for us at home — he was part of the experience!

Our favorite memories with Juno included:

• Morning walks

• Beach trips

• Downtown strolls

  
  

He got to be part of our celebration too — and that made our homeymoon even more meaningful.

We made the most of the home we already pay for.

One of our favorite jokes during planning was:

"We're already paying for this place—we might as well enjoy it."

Instead of rushing through another normal work week at home to make it a destination honeymoon, we intentionally turned our house into a retreat - LITERALLY!

• Amazon was our best friend when purchasing honeymoon decor!

• Phones stayed on Do Not Disturb

• We slowed down

• Cooked together

• We cuddled - A LOT!

• Watched 90's movies

• We laughed - A LOT!

• Hosted a Sip & Paint date night

• Had long conversations

• Created memories in the home we're building together

  
  

No hotel check-in. No check-out.

There was no packing and unpacking every few days.

• No worrying about check in & checkout times

• No rushing to catch a flight

• No airport delays

• No lost luggage.

• No forgotten chargers

• No Incidental charges

• No navigating unfamiliar places

• No travel stress

• No trying to squeeze relaxation into a packed itinerary

• No coming home exhausted from a vacation.

Everything we needed was already here!

• We had our own space

• Our own kitchen - a huge cost saver compared to eating out for every single meal

• Our own routines

• Our own little piece of comfort, and that leads me to the next benefit...

Guaranteed peace and comfort.

There's something incredibly relaxing about sleeping in your own bed after a full day of adventure. To be transparent, I experience really bad anxiety around unfamiliar noises and sleeping in new environments, so having the comfort of our own home made a meaningful difference in our experience.

We didn’t have to worry about:

• Unfamiliar hotel noises

• Thin walls or unexpected disturbances

• Wondering if we would get a good night’s sleep before the next day’s plans

Instead, we were able to truly rest, recharge, and enjoy every moment.

Comfort became part of the experience — and that made our homeymoon feel even more special.

We already knew the best spots.

Living here gave us an huge advantage.

• We knew the hidden coffee shops

• Our favorite restaurants

• The stellar rooftop bars

• The scenic walking routes

• The beaches locals love

  
  

We weren’t just visiting a destination — we were enjoying our own city from a fresh perspective, like locals creating a vacation experience right at home.

I Planned Our Homeymoon the Same Way I Plan Events

As an event planner, creating experiences with intention is something that comes naturally to me — so I brought that same mindset into our homeymoon.

I created and designed an itinerary for the entire week, filled with moments that allowed us to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy this new chapter together.

Every day included intentional time together:

• Beach days

• Coffee dates

• Trying new restaurants

• Mini adventures

• Movie nights

• Couples Massages

• Walking downtown

• Even scheduled time to simply do nothing together

Because sometimes the best memories happen when nothing is planned at all!

The itinerary gave us something to look forward to while removing the question, "What do you want to do today?"

Instead, we could simply enjoy being together.

A Reminder for Every Couple

Social media often tells us that love has to be expensive.

That celebrations have to be extravagant.

That honeymoons have to involve passports and ocean views.

But marriage isn't built on plane tickets.

It's built on intentional moments.

Sometimes putting your marriage first doesn't mean spending more.

It means being creative with what you already have, no matter what season you may be in.

The Biggest Lesson We Learned

Our homeymoon wasn’t something we settled for. It became a meaningful celebration of our marriage in a way that felt right for us!

It reminded us that celebrating your marriage doesn’t have to wait until everything is perfectly aligned financially.

You don’t have to postpone joy because life is busy.

You don’t have to measure your love by the destination.

You don’t have to travel far to create unforgettable memories together.

Sometimes, the most meaningful celebrations happen right where you are — with the person you love and the moments you intentionally create.

And honestly?

After waiting two years, that week together was exactly what we needed. It gave us the chance to slow down, reconnect, and finally celebrate our marriage in a way that felt authentic to us.

A Planner's Perspective

One of the reasons I created my À La Carte Event Planning experience is because I believe every celebration should reflect your life — not someone else’s expectations.

Whether you’re planning an elopement, courthouse wedding, backyard celebration, anniversary, or even a Homeymoon, the most meaningful events aren’t defined by how much you spend, but by how intentionally you celebrate.

If there’s one thing our Homeymoon taught us, it’s this:

Love doesn’t need a passport to create unforgettable memories. Sometimes all it needs is a little planning, creativity, and the choice to prioritize what matters most.

That same philosophy is at the heart of every event I help create. Your celebration should reflect your story, your priorities, and your vision — not a specific budget or traditional formula. The most meaningful memories come from the thought, intention, and love behind every detail.

XOXO... Tiff