WeddingAces is thrilled to announce a new Ace has joined our team – Brandon Warner of Traveler’s Joy. Traveler’s Joy is an online honeymoon registry, and Brandon will be blogging about honeymoon destinations and tips. We wanted you to learn a little more about Brandon, so we asked him to share a bit more about himself.
Q: What is the name of your business?
Traveler’s Joy.
Q: How many years have you been involved in the wedding industry?
Since 2004.
Q: Why did you decide to go into the wedding industry?
The founders of Traveler’s Joy were frustrated with the limited wedding registry choices for their friends and family. We had a lot of friends that wanted to go on an unbelievable honeymoon but already had most of the household items they needed. After we shared our idea of a honeymoon registry with engaged friends, they said ‘Build it!’. So we did. Eight years later, we’re now helping tens of thousands of engaged couples have the honeymoon of their dreams!
Q: What is Traveler’s Joy? Can you explain in a few sentences?
Traveler’s Joy is an online honeymoon registry. Couples set up an account and Traveler’s Joy provides them with a registry page to share honeymoon travel plans with wedding guests. Friends and family visit the couple’s page and use their credit card to give a gift toward part or all of their trip. The couple collects their gifts at anytime and they are off on the the honeymoon of their dreams!
Q: What are some tips you can give brides planning their honeymoons?
– Agree on your honeymoon budget.
– List ideas for possible destinations; gather brochures; consult a travel agent; and search guidebooks, magazines and the Internet. When you decide on a location, purchase a guidebook to study your destination in detail
– If you have an evening reception, plan your departing flight for mid-morning or early afternoon the next day to allow yourself ample time to rest. Better yet, give yourself a full day between your wedding and honeymoon departure to say thank you and goodbye to your friends and family that attended.
– Keep your honeymoon under wraps, at first. Some companies will try to charge you more, reasoning that you’ll want to splurge on this special getaway. Once your reservations are finalized, share the reason for your trip. You might receive complimentary champagne on the plane or an upgrade at your hotel.
– Keep a journal together so you’ll remember all of the activities, romance, and funny moments during your trip.
– Relax and enjoy this once in a lifetime vacation!
Q: What is one of your favorite trends in weddings or honeymoons right now?
We are seeing a honeymoon trend whereby couples are taking longer than typical honeymoons and splitting up their time between expensive accommodation providers and less expensive (e.g., hostels) or even camping. We’ve never seen this before but we think it is awesome!
Q: Where are some of your favorite honeymoon spots?
My wife and I love water so any place with water nearby, we are set. Nosara, Costa Rica is a fabulous spot. Off the beaten path of typical Costa Rica, Nosara is a a small town where you can hang out with the locals, stay at a fabulous hotel, learn to surf, and enjoy some fabulous food.
Other favorites include Lamu Island off of Kenya, the west coast of Puerto Rico, and of course Hawaii.
Q: How do you spend your time outside of work?
I love spending time outdoors so when I find the time, you’ll typically find me gardening, canoeing, running, or surfing. I am also a mentor at a local business accelerator that brings in 3-6 start-up companies each year. Finally, my wife and I have a 2-year-old and are expecting a baby next month so between work and family, I consider my self lucky if I can participate in a few of those activities each month.
Q: What is the one thing you can’t wait to share with the readers of WeddingAces?
In addition to some of the popular honeymoon spots, I am really excited to share off the beaten path honeymoon destinations.
