Chicago would be a great idea! It's a big city, but not so big you couldn't cover most of it in a week. There are tons of great restaurants, bars, museums, parks & shopping. Plus there's a beautiful park on Lake Michigan.

The hotels are also much more reasonable than either NY or Vegas. (try the Swissotel on Wacker - great location and very nice)

As for the weather...I live across Lake Michigan and we still go sailing the first part of October - it's not usually all that cold. Maybe 50-60s during the day, and 40-50s at night?

Sorry to add to the decision process. I just got married 2 years and know there is a LOT else to do! Enjoy the process and congratulations!

Heidi

ethel, Key West isn't really a beach town. There are no natural beaches and a couple of small man made ones. The appeal of Key West to many is the town of Key West. Very charming and a great foodie town.

I'm not sure if jet-lag is a factor, but I just got married a few weeks ago and we were absolute zombies the week after. We're note going on our honeymoon until May, but maybe going to NY will make it more pleasant. More relaxing because you don't have that long flight.

Just my 2 cents :)

I got married two years ago, and I had the opposite experience of bokchoy.
We were so so glad to be getting away after our wedding - and energized. We had an outdoor wedding - and therefore had to plan every little bitty detail from the tent to the dishes to the music to the plantings around the house. It was crazy.

The day after the wedding we were tired. But we flew out the following afternoon and spent 10 days in Italy. We didn’t feel exhausted - some relaxing was in order after so much planning - but we spent hours walking through rome and capri. It was great.

I guess it all depends on what you like or what kind of person you are. If you like relaxing vacations or jam-packed "sight-seeing" or whatever.

If you don't want beaches, and San Fran isn't doing it for you, (although I personally think it's a great city if you haven't been) what about Charleston ,SC - history, great dining, music....of course, not the 'night life' of Vegas, shows, etc - but might be more mellow and restful after your wedding planning b/c it is a small city to navigate.

However it seems like you love Vegas and if you haven't done Hoover Dam, etc that you mention, this might be the time for you to explore those things and go somewhere that is easy for you to plan.

If you want city/nightlife/sights how about considering Montreal? Quebec? Toronto?

Thanks everyone for your help.

Escargot--I have put Charleston on the list. It had been brought up before because we spent a couple of hours there and truly loved it. I think it would be a perfect place for a honeymoon....As for Montreal, we live a little less than 2 hrs from there so we can do that anytime. Not far from the other canadian cities either.

We certainly have our work cut out for us NOW!