
Why more newlyweds are honeymooning closer to home
honeymoon
after their Dec. 27 wedding in Philadelphia. But instead of jumping on a plane to the
Caribbean
or some far-flung locale, the couple, who live in North Wales, Pennsylvania, headed off to coastal Maine.
"We wanted to keep it simple and low-key and not change time zones," Repetto said. "The trip was about being with each other without spending a fortune."
Their getaway began at Cliff House Maine in Cape Neddick on the southern coast, where they celebrated New Year's Eve. Repetto, 44, a middle-school math teacher, and La Bella, 51, an owner of a sheet-metal fabrication business, then drove a rental car 45 minutes north to the Cape Arundel Inn & Resort in Kennebunkport.
"We had great seafood, cozy dinners, soaks in hot tubs and took walks along the water," Repetto said. "We came back refreshed, not exhausted, which is exactly what we wanted our honeymoon to be about."
Married couples have traditionally used their honeymoons as an opportunity to take once-in-a-lifetime trips that have long been on their wish lists or to book stays at romantic resorts in the Caribbean or farther afield. More recently, however, many newlyweds have been opting for domestic honeymoons instead.
Live Events
The shift can be attributed to several factors, including constrained budgets, limited time off, or a desire to avoid the complications of international travel. Many couples are also increasingly drawn to the idea of a more laid-back, relaxed honeymoon without the pressure of a packed itinerary.
Domestic honeymoons and weddings have had a slight but steady year-over-year increase between the first quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of this year, according to data from the
Internova Travel Group
, a travel service provider in New York that has more than $20 billion of travel sales a year overall. The data reflects sales from 20 travel agencies within Internova specializing in honeymoons and destination weddings.
When choosing where to go, couples appear to be looking beyond beaches, resorts and other domestic honeymoon mainstays like Hawaii, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Internova's data indicates that Massachusetts more than doubled its wedding and honeymoon travel sales, while Colorado, Arizona and Utah also gained momentum as romantic destinations.
New York City also had a significant rise in popularity, according to Internova, with bookings more than tripling. Other emerging city destinations for couples include Phoenix; Memphis, Tennessee; Knoxville, Tennessee; Austin, Texas; and Burbank, California.
The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, released in February, also indicated an incremental increase in domestic honeymoons. Of the nearly 17,000 U.S. couples surveyed who wed last year or planned to marry this year, 41% opted for the United States as their destination, compared with 38% of couples asked in 2023.
Florida, Hawaii and California were the most popular states for these trips, with Tennessee and Colorado not far behind.
In a recent survey of 400 engaged couples by the wedding platform Joy, nearly half said that they planned to have a domestic honeymoon. "We're finding that many couples are making the conscious choice to simplify, to savor and to stay grounded in the moment," Vishal Joshi, the chief executive, said. "The dream of faraway places meets the reality of time, budget and logistics."
Speaking to this point, Caitlin Bell-Evans, 26, a nurse, and Erica Bell-Evans, 28, a middle-school special-education teacher, who wed last April and live in Philadelphia, took a 10-day honeymoon to Palm Springs, California, last November.
They stayed at the Mediterranean-inspired Korakia Pensione during the trip and spent their days sleeping until 10 a.m., sitting by the hotel's pool and visiting local spas to use the hot springs. Come evening, they enjoyed Mexican food with tacos and tequila and treated themselves to a few nicer dinners. Caitlin Bell-Evans said that they chose Palm Springs because the city's mountain and desert landscape offered a stark contrast to the East Coast and made them feel as if "they really escaped."
"It was so much less work to stay domestic," she said. "We put so much work into planning our wedding and were tired. Plus, I didn't have a passport and didn't want another thing to add to my to-do list." She noted that they also thought domestic travel would be "cheaper" than going abroad.
"We really feel that staying in the U.S. was our way to give back to ourselves," Erica Bell-Evans added.
Some luxe domestic resorts also report a bump in honeymoon bookings. The Wauwinet, an oceanfront resort in Nantucket, Massachusetts, introduced a "happy honeymoons" package this spring in response to the rise in newlyweds at the property, according to Ashish Verma, the executive vice president of
White Elephant Resorts
, the resort's parent company.
The offer includes two nights of accommodation, daily breakfast, one lunch and one dinner. When they arrive, couples are welcomed with flowers, oysters and Champagne.
Kara Bebell and Harlan deBell are the brother-and-sister owners of the New York travel company the
Travel Siblings
, and planned Repetto's and La Bella's trip. They said that the United States had an abundance of resorts for newlyweds. "Whatever experience couples find romantic to them, from wineries and small towns to beaches and glamping in the wilderness, there is something fabulous for everyone," Bebell said.
The two suggest Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach, Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club and Faena Hotel Miami Beach, in the Miami area. "These resorts have a Caribbean feel without leaving the country, and for the West Coast, it doesn't get more romantic in Laguna Beach than checking into the Montage," deBell said.
Wine lovers might consider Napa, Sonoma and
Healdsburg
, which are among the wine regions in California. For couples seeking upscale camping with activities like fly fishing and hiking, Bebell and deBell recommend resorts in Montana, including Paws Up, a ranch resort in Greenough, or the Ranch at Rock Creek, in Philipsburg. They also recently planned a weeklong honeymoon to the all-inclusive luxury resort Twin Farms, in Barnard, Vermont, which offers activities such as archery, ax throwing, cycling, hiking, canoeing and pickleball.
Caitlin Fogle, a travel adviser with Protravel in Miami, suggests couples plan their trips six to nine months in advance, if possible. "You'll get better rates and hotel availability, especially on premium rooms," she said. But she added that a memorable, last-minute domestic honeymoon was "definitely doable."
Fogle also advises couples to splurge on one or a few extravagant activities. This might include a private cruise with a sunset dinner, a hot-air balloon ride or a lavish private picnic in the middle of a hike. "These extras go a long way in elevating your trip," she said.
Andrew Gehrt, 36, the owner of a tree removal company, and Brittany Quay, 30, the director of a child development center, who live in Spartanburg, South Carolina, took her advice during their late-May honeymoon to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
At Fogle's recommendation, they splurged on privately guided tours of Yellowstone and
Grand Teton National Parks
. They also golfed, explored downtown Jackson and soaked in a hot tub while drinking Champagne.
"Most of our friends go to beach resorts in the Caribbean for their honeymoons," Gehrt said. "Ours was different. It was unique and definitely perfect."
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Economic Times WhatsApp channel
)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Diane Francis: Trump sets his sights on the banking industry
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to prevent banks from discriminating against customers because of their politics, religion or 'lawful business activities,' such as owning crypto assets. He told CNBC that in years past, JPMorgan Chase and other banks have 'discriminated against me very badly, and I was very good to the banks.' Apparently, such complaints are not uncommon. 'Conservatives have said that regulators appointed by President Joe Biden spent past years conscripting banks to target Trump's political opponents. Tech investor and Trump adviser Marc Andreessen had said about 30 founders of tech start-ups were 'de-banked.' He called the project 'Operation Chokepoint 2.0.,' ' read a recent report in the Washington Post. In an attempt to prevent increased scrutiny from the federal government, many banks have increased their lobbying and updated their policies to make it clear that they don't discriminate on the basis of politics or religion. But financial institutions will face future scrutiny. While this is an American initiative, it will affect Canadian banks because of their extensive operations south of the border. Canada's five biggest companies are all banks based in Toronto. Many of them own branches and extensive in assets south of the border. It's hard to believe that there would be a concerted top-down initiative to de-bank customers purely based on politics, but in America's deeply polarized society with its localized banks, this would not be surprising. Moreover, their restrictions on financial and tech startups is understandable and began because two banks specializing in crypto — Silvergate and Signature — went bust in 2023, according to the Washington Post. They failed because they didn't appropriately manage the risks, said Steven Kelly, former associate director of research at the Yale Program on Financial Stability. But Trump's fight with banks that allegedly discriminate against the cryptocurrency industry is also political, as he intends to make America the world's crypto capital. Trump's crypto business has boomed and is worth billions. Currently, Canadian banks are gun-shy about crypto, but they may now be forced to start dealing with crypto startups, at least in the U.S. However, Canada's foreign ownership restrictions may prove to be an a bigger challenge, for both Ottawa and the Big Five banks. Trump has publicly, and incorrectly, claimed that Canadian restrictions mean that American banks are forbidden from operating in Canada. 'Canada doesn't allow American Banks to do business in Canada, but their banks flood the American Market. Oh, that seems fair to me, doesn't it?' Trump wrote on social media in March. That's untrue. There are 16 U.S.-based bank subsidiaries operating in Canada with billions in assets, according to the Canadian Bankers Association. But American banks operating in Canada are heavily regulated and somewhat restricted when it comes to providing retail banking services to consumers. It seems clear that Trump wants to eliminate all barriers to entry so that American banks can directly compete in Canada against local banks and offer the same services that Canadian banks provide. So stay tuned. Trump has never let the facts get in the way of a policy. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Perseids meteor shower 2025 will peak Tuesday night: When and where to watch the year's brightest shower
The Perseids is considered the best, most visible meteor shower of the year, according to NASA. The Perseids meteor shower will peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with up to 100 streaks visible every hour. The Perseids shower, which has been active since July 17, is 'considered the best meteor shower of the year,' according to NASA. Experts note that the moon may impact some visibility, but viewers will still be able to watch the shower if they're in a dark area away from city lights and their phones. Here's what to know to prepare for the year's biggest meteor shower. What is a meteor shower? Meteoroids are falling pieces of debris from comets and asteroids that, as they enter the Earth's atmosphere, turn into meteors, according to NASA. As meteors vaporize, their trails are visible from Earth, which is what we call 'shooting stars' or 'falling stars.' A meteor shower is what happens when there's a higher-than-usual number of meteors falling across the sky in a short period of time. Meteor showers happen at certain times throughout the year because comets also orbit the sun, so when a comet and the Earth cross paths, the Earth encounters a lot of the comet's debris, or meteoroids. What to know about the Perseids meteor shower The Perseids meteors leave particularly long, bright trails as they fall through Earth's atmosphere, with about 50 to 100 streaks expected to be visible every hour at its peak. The Perseids shower comes from comet 109/Swift-Tuttle, a comet that takes 133 years to orbit the sun and crosses the Earth's orbit once a year. The shower's name comes from the constellation Perseus, NASA explains, which is the point in the sky from which the Perseids meteors are visibly falling. Fireballs are also anticipated to appear throughout Tuesday night into Wednesday. 'Fireballs' is an astronomical term used by NASA to describe meteoroids that burst into bright colors while in the Earth's atmosphere, becoming more visible than average meteors. How to watch the Perseids meteor shower Northern Hemisphere residents will have the best Perseids views, NASA reports. But this year's shower does coincide with the rise of a waning gibbous moon, the phase between a full moon and a half moon, which could impact visibility, warned. To find the best time to see the Perseids shower where you are, check the Global Meteor Network's meteor-tracking meter. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Packers Training Camp Practice News and Notes, 8/11: RBs return from injury
We got some good news on the injury front on Monday. According to Weston Hodkiewicz, the Green Bay Packers got running back Emanuel Wilson (knee), running back MarShawn Lloyd (groin), left tackle Rasheed Walker (groin) and cornerback Kamal Hadden (hip) back in their practice that was closed to all but the media today. Nine other players remain out of action, but at least four are trending in the right direction. The players still injured are running back Jalen White (unknown), receiver Christian Watson (knee), receiver Jayden Reed (foot), receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf), offensive lineman John Williams (back), defensive end Collin Oliver (hamstring), cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee), safety Xavier McKinney (calf) and safety Zayne Anderson (knee). Watson, Williams and Oliver are still on the Packers' injury lists, as they have yet to participate in a practice since the start of training camp. Cornerback Isaiah Dunn (knee) has also been added to the group of injured players. Another bright spot, though? Cornerback Corey Ballentine, who dropped out in the Packers' first preseason game against the New York Jets, was at practice today, so it appears the team dodged that bullet. Now, let's get into the action on the field on Monday. Offense With Rasheed Walker still dinged up, Jordan Morgan got looks at left tackle in team drills today. Morgan took a big step in the right direction over the last week. He looked shaky on Family Night, but performed well against the Jets. His pass protection drew attention today, so hopefully this improvement continues. Another young tackle, Anthony Belton, got some first-team reps at right tackle on Monday. No one is expecting Belton to displace the recently-extended Zach Tom anytime soon, but Belton's mostly seen action with the second-team unit as a right tackle. The offensive staff has stated several times this offseason that their plan for the second-round rookie is to focus him on the tackle position this year. He might be next season's starting right guard, but we probably aren't getting a look at him there in 2025. Practice today didn't end on the usual competitive two-minute drill. Instead, it was a two-point showdown between the offense and defense. Per Mike Spofford, the first-team offense only converted one of three attempts, a completion to receiver Savion Williams. Tight end Tucker Kraft fell on one of the attempts, and the final play of practice was a Jordan Love interception that fell into the hands of cornerback Keisean Nixon. The second-team offense went two of two, though, with an Amar Johnson run and Malik Heath catch. Defense Per Packer Report's Andy Herman, defensive end Lukas Van Ness recorded at least four sacks today in team periods. For the most part, it sounds like the defensive line continues to look good in the pass-rushing department. Other individuals who received praise from the press on hand include Rashan Gary, Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks. Linebacker Quay Walker also participated as the starting middle linebacker in team drills today. Walker was held out against the Jets, so Edgerrin Cooper and Isaiah McDuffie received first-team reps in two-linebackers sets with the team on Saturday night, with Isaiah Simmons playing the third linebacker spot. In his press conference on Sunday, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley stressed that Walker needed to get more live-action reps with the squad. The Packers will have joint practices the next two weeks against the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks. According to head coach Matt LaFleur, the plan is for the starters to get most of their work in this week in those joint practices, play backups against the Colts in the actual preseason game and then have the starters go against the Seahawks. Special Teams Irish kicker Mark McNamee got his first practice action on Monday after handling kickoff duties against the Jets. He was two of three on both of his series of kicks, a total of four of six for the day. McNamee isn't a threat to take Brandon McManus' job this year, but the staff has said that they're going to see whether McNamee can displace Australian kicker Alex Hale, who was let go with an injury designation earlier in camp. Apparently, Hale was injured outside of the facility. Last year, he was the Packers' designated international player, which means he didn't count against the team's 90-man offseason roster or the squad's 16-man practice squad. Green Bay has left the door open for Hale's return, depending on how McNamee performs.