To think a mini moon at Xmas is depressing?

[Angel0u]

Posting for traffic. DP and my income is looking uncertain until the new year when he starts a new job. We are getting married at Xmas and our although we'd love to go off on honeymoon straight away we can't afford it, so we are planning to go in the Spring when things are more secure.
Any ideas for a mini moons / alternative that won't feel like a let down over Christmas week? It's our 1st Christmas celebrating as a couple without families - we had already booked time off work ready to go away, and our DC will be at MIL for a week! We'd like to go somewhere but within a budget, and as it's Christmas where we spend the actual day is a consideration.

@Thatstheendofmytether definitely. We should mini moon together.

York and Edinburgh are just fabulous in the winter and the Christmas markets are lovely.

What the betting DC is actually the OP's step daughter?

I know you said the UK, BUT......we are seriously considering a week in Northern Cyprus (much cheaper than the Greek part), it looks lovely.

We did 5 days in Disneyland Paris. Stayed in the Disney hotel. Slept went to the park. Slept some more. Went swimming. Went to the park. Was fun and was the week before Christmas so all the parade was Christmassy and all the park was decorated

Mr and mrs smith website for good deals.

I personally love the seaside in the winter. Watergate Bay, Porth, st ives.

I don't understand the whole "mini moon" thing either. I mean come on. You are having a honeymoon in the spring to look forward to. If you are skint then wait until spring and spend half of the "mini moon" budget on the actual.honeymoon and half on the wedding or living expenses or a trip for the 3 of you. I have never understood mini moons. It sounds like an indulgent term for an extra holiday. There is nothing wrong with an extra holiday but call a spade a spade.

Id go to disneyland for xmas time its magical

15 or not I find it odd that the OP should want to spend christmas away from her daughter.

These teenage years are so fleeting, just a couple more of childhood left.

Your title is confusing too

You planned a teen free Xmas break but now you are depressed because...because....you only have £1500 to spend? Because it's Christmas? I presume you knew when your wedding was.

Very confusing. Also, mini moon sounds like one bare bum cheek.

Our honeymoon was 3 nights in Jersey, which cost about £400 all in - it was lovely. Flight time of 45 minutes, lots of nice places to eat out and a tiny bit warmer than the Midlands. We didn't hire a car and had fun exploring on foot and bus.

Your depressed about going on 2 holidays and only having 1500 to spend on a holiday at Christmas time with out your DD...?
Do you know what depression is?

Look at Celtic Castles. I went with my family and best friends for my big birthday last year to Dalhousie Castle for a night it was fabulous. Christmas time would be amazing. The rooms are all themed I stayed in the Robert the Bruce room with an amazing four poster bed. My best friends had had an awful year and have always been there for me so I treated them to a suite with an amazing double bath and a well in the room. It was gorgeous and they had a little sitting room too it would be amazing for a few days. We ate in the dungeon restaurant and the food was delicious. There is also a spa and you can book a massage too. My sister booked one for me. There is also a falconary in the grounds. The whole stay was fantastic I couldn’t fault it I just wished we could have stayed for the whole weekend. One of my sons treated me to a night in the Balmoral in Edinburgh so went by train to it and then he arranged for a car to pick me up. We were given a tour of Edinburgh with a commentary and the driven to the castle. It was a very special weekend and my first party since I was seven!
I hope whatever you chose that you have a wonderful time. My other suggestion would be to go to the Lakes and snuggle up in front of a fire in a cosy cottage.

We got married a few days after Christmas and went to Prague for new year, it was lovely! All the lights and markets were still on.

However, I can't get over the fact you are leaving your only child at on Christmas day! Yes I'm sure she'll say "oh it's fine" but in reality I bet she'll feel so hurt! Is she your soon to be husbands daughter? If not then this will not help with the feeling of rejection.

When I was a young teen my mum remarried and had another child, my stepfather lost his job and could only get one in his home city. I moaned that i couldn't leave my friends and school and my auntie said I could live with her. My mum accepted this and effectively started a new life with her new family. She thinks I was happy but i was willing her to force me to go with them, it felt like she didnt want to fight for me. I know now that she did what she thought was best but i still think about that time and how hurt I felt.

Just checked and Dalhousie isn’t with them now. There are lovely castles though but do look at the Dalhousie website. The staff were fantastic.

Yeah, I agree, could not imagine spending christmas away from my DD so yes I would agree that’s depressing. I also couldn’t imagine spending 1500 on a holiday without her if money is a bit tight. I would rather spend it on something we can enjoy together.

If you are going away for a week at Christmas without DC and have £1500 to spend, then surely that’s your honeymoon and it would seem strange to do it again in the Spring?

Yep, money being tight in that context would mean maybe having £500 tops for a long weekend somewhere...

AIBU to think a minimoon at Xmas is depressing?
Don't have one if you think it's going to depress you. Ridiculous.

You're going away over Christmas and leaving your kids with MIL but it's not actually your honeymoon, you're having that in the spring, it's just a 1.5k throwaway holiday for two because you're so broke?

YANBU that whole scenario is depressing.

We got married at Christmas and went to Edinburgh for a short break afterwards. We booked some amazing restaurants and was lovely walking the Christmas markets etc. And then new year was an amazing party.

Saying that a cabin in the middle of no where sounds equally great!

OP will you also be leaving your DD at home whilst you go on your second honeymoon in Spring? Is she getting a holiday this year?

If you know that you can't afford it, don't do it! Christmas is peak prices - if I had the GP's looking after my DC for a week, I would take the opportunity to go off-peak. So save your money and go in the spring, not in school holidays. If your 15 yr old is in GCSE year, she should probably be revising anyway. What do you mean - both your incomes are looking uncertain - are you both currently employed?

If both DH & I were facing job insecurity, I wouldn't be planning any holidays tbh and would be shoring up our savings (just in case, the proverbial hits the fan!)

£1500 on a mini moon?? Put it towards your actual honeymoon!

Not that it’s anyone’s business but I know mumsnet loves to be judgy. (!) I didn’t explain full context because that wasn’t what I was asking about. DC (as I said, is 15) is with her DF’s family this year- including her DF, but staying at MIL’s place - MIL is hosting- along with rest of extended family and cousins etc. This would always have happened as we alternate each year.
So DP and I would be on our own in any case as we don’t have much other family.
So we are looking forward to a few days doing something romantic after our wedding. And no, DC will not require therapy as a result.
Sorry if our top budget of about 1500 offends people. We are very lucky indeed.
“Depressing” was just the headline, tongue in cheek really. Again no offence intended. Am mainly trying to work out if Christmas just the two of us and not in our home would feel a bit weird or not. But it sounds like it could be lovely.
Great ideas about Scotland, log fires etc, am liking the sound of it. Thanks for all the suggestions!