Wilton's Own Honeymoon Planning Website

Honeymoons.com is an international honeymoon planning website that offers advice on everything from what to eat, where to stay and what to do on your first vacation as Mister and Misses- and it's based right here in Wilton.

Tom Curtin, the site's director of growth and marketing, hopes that the site "can give users what they want and need." Up-to-date honeymoon information and advice is offered on the site in price ranges from budget to pure luxury.

"We want to be the number one authority on weddings and the go-to site for all things wedding-related," he said.

And Curtin certainly knows what he's talking about. He has spent 30 years in the advertising and marketing segment of the honeymoon business at magazines such as Modern Bride and Bridal Guide. He is a wealth of knowledge and works all kinds of marriage and wedding factoids into a conversation about the site.

For example, did you know that the average age for marriage in 1974 was a 21-year-old bride and a 22-year old-groom? Today, that average bride will be 28 and her partner will be 30. Curtin also noted that the tradition of the bride's father footing the bill for a wedding reception has passed. Today 50% of couples pay for their own ceremonies and receptions.

The users of the site are engaged couples from around the world, almost three-quarters from the U.S. and the bulk of the rest from Canada, India and the UK.

"Couples are looking for where to go and what to do. If they click on a destination like Florida or Ireland, they'll see ideas on places to stay, romantic restaurants and things to see on their trip," said Curtin.

For the moment, the site is merely a haven of advice and information - it doesn't sell anything and makes its money from advertising revenue. Curtin hopes that, in the future, the site will be able to actually book trips for couples. Curtin is also proud that the site doesn't pay to be included in any web searches - all their traffic is organic. With a name like honeymoons.com, they'll likely be the first place you go when searching on that subject.

Curtin plans to add a blog, streaming video, chat, radio, television and podcasts to the site to create a multimedia honeymoon planning experience.

Not only does the site advise on honeymoons but also on other big trends in the wedding industry - destination weddings and a newer phenomenon that may be a by-product of the recession, the mini-moon. This is a shorter trip that couples take closer to home. Visitors to the site can also visit the honeymoon registry to donate cash gifts to an engaged couple's honeymoon account.
 
Despite a difficult economy, couples continue to fall in love, marry and honeymoon. He mentioned that honeymoon spending nationally tops $20 billion dollars per year.