The Honeymoon can cement your vows and bring you closer together as a couple. A great Honeymoon sets the tone for a great marriage.
On the other hand, there are disastrous fiascos that have become the stuff of legend. The lore of Ruined Honeymoons is unfortunately large and morbidly fascinating to read, as long as it's not YOUR honeymoon we're discussing.
To make this Honeymoon close to your dream ideal may we suggest some common sense Do's and Don'ts?
1) DO Book your reservations 6 to 7 months in advance.
2) DON'T try to book without the help of a travel agent who specializes in honeymoons.
3) To each location there are many different prices and options. But, when it comes to your accommodations, splurge for the highest possible quality of suite. One of the most common laments is that "I wish we had spent more for a better room."
4) DO take a camera and take pictures whenever you can. Those informal honeymoon pictures may mean more emotionally than the finest wedding day album.
5) DON'T go to your honeymoon straight after the wedding! WAIT 2 to 3 days afterwards to sleep in, open presents, and get your packing done. Make sure you arrive for your honeymoon as well rested as possible.
6) DON'T make it a family event! Do not go with other people or family members.
7) DON'T forget to book a double or King size bed! Remember this when reserving hotels, going out of the country, and absolutely if you are going on a cruise
8) DO set a budget for your honeymoon before you leave. Agree what you will spend daily on each category--tips, entertainment, momentos, food. Agree where you will spend extra to splurge.
9) DON'T do everything together. Give each other space during the honeymoon to refresh the magic of being together. Agree ahead of time that you will do this because it is wise and respectful of human nature. This way neither bride or groom will feel "unwanted". Coming back together to share again will be all the sweeter.
10) DO plan the honeymoon together so that neither one of you must feel guilty if things don't go perfectly.
11) DO inspect travel packages. Some of them may allow you the luxurious extras while still saving you money overall. Again, you should use a Honeymoon specialist in the travel planning industry. They have too many resources and experience not to take advantage of.
12) DO be shameless about telling people you are honeymooners when you make reservations anywhere. Everybody loves honeymooners. Let them give you special treatment at restaurants, cruise lines, airlines, and hotels.
13) DO have a sense of humor. There are going to be inevitably, minor or major disappointments--a botched dinner reservation, an unexpected shower, a cloudy gray day, something lost. The intensity of your disappointment is whatever you imagine it to be in your head. "Imagine" is the key word. Look on the bright side of every disappointment and find the humor in your situation. Laugh off the little stuff and rejoice in the major stuff: the two of you are together for better or worse. Make it always for the better and you will be on the way to what's really important--a great marriage for the rest of your lives!
