This is one time that it’s usually not hard to get the groom interested in the planning process. Most couples say planning their Honeymoon is one of the more enjoyable parts of their wedding planning and reminds them about Romance — something that is amazingly easy to forget when you are trying to figure out how you are going to handle the “Step-Mother from Hell” and the three Vegans attending your prime rib reception.
I am clearly not a travel expert but I do have a few thoughts about Honeymoons and honeymoon planning.
1) Do take one. For the rest of your life people will ask you where you went for your Honeymoon. It’s nice to have a great answer for this question. Now if the budget or time constraints don’t allow for a 6 week European Tour, spend one night at the most decadent hotel in your city, or ask a close friend with a nice home to “switch” with you for the weekend.
When Cindi and Bill got married, money was very VERY tight. So Cindi’s best friend, Nancy, gave them her beautiful home for their Honeymoon Weekend. Nancy filled her house with candles and a rose petal path leading to a sunken tub (that overlooked the Pacific Ocean) with a picnic basket filled with “romance food” and a fabulous bottle of Champagne. Nancy then spent the weekend at Cindi and Bill’s apartment and took care of their cat while Cindi and Bill had a relaxing and stress-free Honeymoon that eleven years later –still makes them smile.
2) Do your Homework. This could likely be the most expensive and memorable vacation you’ll ever take, so use all the resources that are available to you to plan this wonderful holiday. Search the internet, talk to many travel agents who specialize in the area that you are interested in, and ask your friends, relatives and business associates for their travel experiences. Don’t EVER EVER EVER rely on one resource, you’ll miss grand opportunities of information that way. And do learn “the rules” of traveling at your chosen destination. Do you need a passport?, a marriage certificate to verify your new name?, vaccinations?, do you know enough language to say “help!” in the country you will be honeymooning in? Do you know the currency exchange?, etc., etc. Please, oh please, do your homework!
3) Don’t travel far on the same day as your wedding. Way too many brides and grooms think it’s romantic being on an airplane on their wedding night. Believe me when I say, it’s not! A nice comfortable bed after one of the most intense days of your life will win over that “Mile High” fantasy EVERY TIME!!! My husband told me that my head didn’t hit my pillow before I started snoring on our wedding night. So let your fantasies stay in your dreams and get a good night sleep. There’s always the next morning to make dreams come true.
You may want to stay in town for the first few days of wedded bliss. Often you have out of town guests that have traveled thousands of miles to celebrate your marriage. If you whisk away to Jamaica on your wedding night, you lose the opportunity to visit with these treasured friends. My very favorite part of my son’s wedding celebration was the day after when Russell and Alix and all their close friends and relatives had brunch together. Most of us only got to have a few minutes with the newly married couple on their wedding day. The brunch gave Russell and Alix time with those that made the biggest effort to share in their celebration. We also got to “re-hash” every last detail of the wedding, which was for me almost as fun as the wedding itself! Actually, we all had so much fun at the day-after events, that it lasted for two more days. How often do you get everyone you love together in one place? Take advantage of this and soak in all this love and support. Honeymoons are just as much fun 2 days or 2 weeks after your wedding day.
4) Give your mate Honeymoon surprises. Present your new mate with: love notes packed in their suitcase or left on their pillow along with a rose or a chocolate kiss; Honeymoon “Coupons” offering breakfast in bed, a massage, or other creative “services” that only you know how much they’ll love; and a letter that tells them in your own words what your marriage hopes and dreams are.
Continue with #4 throughout your marriage and your Honeymoon just may last a lifetime.
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EBs: Now it’s your turn to share your Heavenly Honeymoon Memories or your Honeymoon Horror Stories. Your experience and advice could be very valuable to future newlyweds!
