Dream destinations.

One of the best parts of planning a wedding is deciding on where to go for the honeymoon. There are so many gorgeous destinations to visit and if you are lucky enough to get an extra few weeks off work then going further afield is even more enjoyable. It's hard to justify a long flight if you only have a week to take but with two or even three weeks away you have destinations all over the world to choose from. And interestingly enough, according to Emirates, honeymoon bookings from Ireland are up and newlyweds are spending more than ever before. The top destinations for Irish newlyweds have been revealed and it's places like Mauritius and Bali that are the most popular. Rounding off the top four destinations are Thailand and the Seychelles. Emirates has reported a significant increase in honeymoon bookings in Ireland, with the airline’s honeymoon business up approximately 34% for the first seven months of 2016, compared to the same period last year. Commenting on the increase in bookings, Enda Corneille, country manager for Emirates in Ireland has said:

“According to the Central Statistics Office, the number of couples getting married in Ireland has stayed static at around 22,0002, so the increase in bookings is unlikely to be related to a rise in couples tying the knot. "Our sense is that consumer confidence is returning to the Irish market and it’s easier now than ever before to get to amazing honeymoon destinations such as Dubai, Mauritius and the Seychelles. Emirates flies twice daily from Dublin to Dubai and from there, honeymooners can connect directly to idyllic locations across Asia, India, Australasia or Africa."

Speaking about the type of holidays being taken he added:

"The honeymoon is seen as the perfect opportunity to take that holiday of a lifetime and couples want to make the most of their time away as well as their budget. "The current trend for newly weds flying with Emirates from Ireland is to take in two holiday destinations, usually involving a stop over in Dubai on the return journey, where the lure of year-round sunshine has huge appeal.”

Furthermore, 10% of Emirates’ honeymoon customers from Ireland opt to travel in Business Class. With this extra upgrade the newlyweds can enjoy gourmet cuisine, complimentary champagne and a selection of fine wines, lie-flat seats, an airport chauffeur collection service and a greater baggage allowance.