Bro, we have talked a lot about weddings on this blog. We've covered everything from selecting your invitations to deciding who cleans up after the reception, and everything in between. Planning your nuptials is hard work, and just as we need a break from talking about it all, you and your new spouse will need a break after the last (or next to last) bottle of champagne is cracked.
And that is why Thor invented the Honeymoon: that much-needed vacation for the newlyweds, away from the day-to-day stress that married life will bring. A chance to recover from the wedding and celebrate your love for one another...
And yet one more chance to lose your mind planning too much, or too little...
Dang it.
Alright, bro. Don't fret. We here at Manly Bands will put off our vacation to help you navigate yours. We're good like that. So let's cover some important Do's and Don'ts when planning your honeymoon.
A Road Too Far: Where To Go On A Honeymoon
It's easy to get overwhelmed when planning your honeymoon, and that feeling can start right when you and your spouse-to-be work together to select your destination. While budget concerns push you both toward something cheap and easy, your hearts scream for a month-long cruise to every island in the Caribbean. With the plethora of options before you, it's not hard to get confused or even wind up with your very first argument. So...
DON'T: The first step is to rule out everything on the more extravagant side of the spectrum. Sure, it sounds lovely to take time to go celebrate with your new mate as far away from home as you can get while still residing on Earth. But, unless you two have an endless supply of time and money at your disposal, trying to plan something too extreme won't work. You'll either wind up putting yourselves in some deep debt (which is never a good place to begin your life together), or you'll wind up short-changing your actual wedding, thereby keeping your "Best Day Ever" from living up to its potential.
On top of that, if you go all out on your very first vacation as a married couple, nothing you do in the future will ever live up to the legacy. The best example of this would be that romantic cruise we mentioned earlier: If you go for the two-week mega cruise, next year's four-day cruise through Hawaii might not be as fulfilling. So...
DO: Just because you're trying to keep it reasonable doesn't mean you have to keep it dirt cheap. A great place to start is something the two of you already love doing, or at least, love the thought of doing. Are the two of you into a nice log cabin retreat? Find the best one you haven't been to yet. Feel like doing some sightseeing somewhere new? Plan a decent trip to New York or Miami. Are you "beach bums?" Head off to your favorite beach, but stay in an extra nice resort. Aim for something middle-ground, and polish some of the details. Keeping it special will make the memories that much better. Plus, you'll be too busy spending time together for all the luxuries of a high-end trip to matter.
Speaking of Details: How Do I Plan A Honeymoon
You have a lot of details to worry about for the wedding itself. The last thing you want is to spend weeks writing up a detailed itinerary for your honeymoon. Then again, the other last thing you want is to do nothing but lie around a hotel room all trip long (except for those moments where you DO want to be locked in the room together... But we'll get to that later.) So...
DON'T: You never want to over-plan your trip. You don't need to have events and shows planned for every single second of each day you are there. You don't need dinner plans for every night, or brunch plans every morning. Aside from running your budget into the ground by paying for dozens of meals and activities, you'll tire yourselves out way too quickly and find yourselves more stressed than when you arrived. Not to mention, over-planning can lead to some poor choices (unless you are an experienced adrenaline junkie, zip-lining AND bungee-jumping in the same day is going to hurt, possibly in a serious manner. So...
DO: Try to pick a couple of activities, and a meal or two, and book them when you decide where you're headed. Take in a show. (Read: one show. On one night.) Try one exciting thing you've both always wanted to try. Make one or two dinner reservations for the whole week. Having a planned event or two will keep you motivated, but it won't wear you out. You two will need some private time, some rest time and some freedom to just wander. That idea works best when framed with just a little structure and a couple of things to look forward to. It's all about balance, bro... And not just balancing a beer on your chest while lying in bed.
Yeah... This one is going to be a series... I can already feel it. There are a lot of fine lines to walk when planning a great honeymoon, and we aren't anywhere close to finished. I'mma go put on a pot of coffee; you go check out our amazing Wood Wedding Bands. (And remember, if you're doing the beach trip thing, keep that band dry!) See you next time, with more Honeymoon Do's and Don'ts!
