My Oh and I can't afford a honeymoon. my in laws to be have just given us £2500 towards the wedding, which is in just 3 months. We will need to use some of it to pay for wedding stuff and not a honeymoon. Our wedding has cost £12k - i've tried to do as much as possible myself.
The in laws money was not for a honeymoon and they dont mind what we use it for. My parents are separated and can not afford to contribute - and nor would I expect it from anyone. It's very kind of my inlaws to do this for us.
It's a winter wedding and honeymoon locations are restricted as my oh wants somewhere hot. We cant go to egypt as i have severe ibs and everyone i know who has been has been ill - same with mexico. The realistic options are st lucia, antigua, cuba & cape verdi really. we can't have the honeymoon we want on the buget we now have (£2k max) so I would rather postpone it until next year when we can put the remainder of the 2.5k with our own savings and do it 'properly' then - we will also have more choice on locations.
I told my dad a while back that we cant afford a honeymoon (just in passing, not in anyway hinting for help) and i've not mentioned the in laws very recent contribution as i didnt want him feeling bad. they can afford it and he cant - simple. My dad invested in one of those holiday companies - loads of properties all over the uk and the world - all you pay for is the flight if you need one, the cost of accommodation (which is heavily discounted) and your spending money. He's been a member for years and has been to antigua, st lucia etc via them as well as places in the UK.
My dad has just called me and offered to let us choose a property in the uk or abroad from those he has access to. he has said if it's overseas that we will need to pay for flights but he will pay for the accommodation whichever we choose as a wedding present so that we can still have a honeymoon.
I'm very grateful but my oh doesnt seem to be. I think he will be disappointed if we 'only' go to the UK or if we dont go somewhere exclusive and all-inclusive abroad for our honeymoon. - These properties are self catering but are very nice. I do understand where he is coming from as i also wanted to have a very luxurious honeymoon - and that's why i am willing to wait until next year so that we can have that.
I can't offend my dad and not take him up on his offer, which I think is really nice of him and we cant afford what we really want straight away so i'm thinking maybe a balance could be struck?
I'm in a dilemma.
I'm thinking that we should take my dad up on his offer and pick somewhere for a week or 10 days (if possible) to relax and get away from it all after the wedding - we can't do 14 nights as my oh wants to be back for christmas day to see his folks (one of whom is in very poor health so it's understandable).
My intention would be for us to use the remainder of the in-laws money for a desposit on the all inclusive luxury break we really want, postponing it until next year - so we have a break after the wedding and then another one to look forward too.
I really dont want my dad to find that out though - he will be offended to think we are using his gift as a simple getaway and not as our main event. My OH doesn't seem happy to 'only' have a simple break away and not the luxurious break he was after but can't afford yet! I think he wants me to turn my dad down but i wont do that. It's very generous of him and i think my OH is being a bit of a brat.
Any advice/thoughts?
