Here’s some expert advice for changing (or canceling) your honeymoon travel plans, no matter the destination

Your honeymoon is no ordinary vacation; it’s the respite from the stress of wedding planning and a chance to celebrate the beginning of your married life. So, it’s extra disappointing when you have to postpone, or worse, cancel it.

Luckily, you can take steps to mitigate the losses, both financial and emotional, of changing your honeymoon plans. Here are a few tips to help ensure your honeymoon is still sweet – whenever you’re able to take it!

1. Assess your reason for canceling.

First things first: Determine exactly why you need to rethink your honeymoon plans. Is it because of a family emergency or illness? Or is it because of a “force majeure,” like a hurricane or snowstorm? This distinction is important because it will determine what’s covered by cancelation policies or your travel insurance.

It is also worth noting that some incidents, like the COVID-19 pandemic, don’t fall under the traditional model of what’s considered refundable by most airlines or other travel providers.

However, “most travel companies and providers worth their salt will work closely with clients to try and make something work for future dates to postpone or refund,” explains Brendan Drewniany, director of public relations and communications for Black Tomato, a luxury travel company.

2. Read the terms and conditions.

Next, you’ll want to take the time to carefully review all of your agreements with airlines, hotels, guides and other vendors to understand their cancelation policies. Be sure to take extra note of any fees or deadlines.

“It is a lot of legwork and one of the reasons working with a company like Black Tomato helps massively mitigate risk and headache – but start with each leg of the journey, look at the fine print, then see what is possible,” advises Drewniany.

3. Don’t wait to call directly.

While no one likes to call a helpline and wait to speak to a representative, this is one chore you shouldn’t procrastinate on. The sooner you pick up the phone, the more options you’ll have when it comes to refunds or rebooking.

“As there are so many moving parts, especially with a honeymoon that can be extremely complex, confirm with a human being over the phone before solidifying things and each component of the trip,” says Drewniany.

4. Stay organized.

Since honeymoons are usually rather involved, it’s important to be methodical. As you reach out to your travel vendors, be sure to keep a checklist handy so no reservations fall through the cracks, resulting in unnecessary expenses.

It’s also recommended that you keep a log of the calls you’ve made, including the names of representatives, and always ask for a cancellation number or confirmation email. That way, you have solid documentation in case there’s a future issue.

5. Take a mini-moon.

Of course, it’s still disheartening to cancel your honeymoon, no matter how much you’re able to reschedule or get refunded. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still celebrate together with a mini-vacation closer to home.

“Even if simply a long weekend somewhere this summer that you get to by car, the U.S. is full of extraordinary places. What of New England? Or magical Amangiri’s Camp Sarika in Utah – a lunar landscape more reticent of Iceland than the U.S.! There are also a host of countries that will host travelers within a few hours plane ride,” says Drewniany.