7 Secrets To A Sizzlin Honeymoon

1. Do Not leave the very next day after your wedding.

This is for those of you that are planning a honeymoon.  Most couples are so excited to go they want to leave the very next day on the first flight out.  This is usually a 6 am flight.  This means you have to be at the airport for 4 am.  This means waking up around 3 am.  You get the picture. You have a late night and then a very very early morning. I know how excited couples are to go as soon as possible but traveling can be exhausting.  You do not want to arrive at your paradise completely drained.  If there are unexpected delays the day gets even longer and you get even more tired and cranky.   So relax.  Spend the first night at a hotel in a nearby city.  Sleep in, order room service and leave the following day.  You’ll be rested and in a much better mood to travel.  You’ll arrive at your destination refreshed and ready for any and all honeymoon festivities.
 
      2. Stay focused on the marriage and not the wedding.
This make the honeymoon even better than you can imagine, because this is when you START the marriage.  The moment the ring is on the finger the real planning starts.  The bride puts in endless hours of shopping, attending bridal shows, planning, discussing, researching, interviewing , cake sampling, phone calls, pintresting (is that a word?), Facebooking (another new word for urban dictionary).  Some young ladies even start a dieting and working out just so everything will be just perfect for the wedding and the reception after.  So hours upon hours, day after day, month after month the time is filled with the planning of the wedding.  The day arrives, anticipation has built up, energy is building to that moment.  The moment when she walks down the aisle and he sees her.  They say “I do”.   They kiss.  The celebration starts with family and friends for a couple of hours after.  Then the wedding is over.
According to Bride magazine most engagements and the planning of the wedding last for 18 months.  That is a considerable amount of time spent in planning a wedding.  Remember this is also a time to focus on each other and the upcoming marriage, not the upcoming wedding.  The wedding is one day.  The marriage is forever, right?
Enjoy the engagement.  By doing this this keeps things light and not all business for the wedding.  Then when it is time for the honeymoon you know you can really play laugh and have fun and not wonder what to talk about since the wedding planning is all over.  One tip I give to engaged couples is at least 1 night a week there should be no talk of the wedding.  Only speak to each other about the future together.  Share your hopes, dreams and visions that you have as a couple.
 
       3. Have an open mind
This is a new experience for both of you as husband and wife.  Maybe you have traveled together as a couple, however this is the first time traveling together as a married couple.  This trip may also be your first time together in a new country.  You want your honeymoon to memorable in a good way.  Keeping an open mind about things that may happen unexpectedly will keep things humorous and avoid unhappy feelings and memories.  For example you may be expecting nice long walks on a beautiful sandy beach.  Laying out on the beach and soaking up the sun.  You arrive and see the beach is filled with seaweed!  Ahhh… you can’t walk on the beach, the smell is yucky.  So what do you do?  Pout?  Get mad?  Blame the resort?  The best thing to do is to keep an open mind.  Play at the pool, walk in the gardens, have a “do it yourself couples” seaweed wrap – haha! Make the most of the situations and you will have more “fun” on your honeymoon and more memories to cherish.
 
        4. Unplug – for real!
No cell phones, no laptops, no tablets.  Change your profile picture to DO NOT DISTURB!  Couples are allowing themselves to be in the present moment with each other while spending time on their honeymoon.  Enjoying each other’s company as well as be completely aware of their surroundings brings relationships to another level.  By having real conversations with each other, meeting new people, reading real books while relaxing at the beach or by the pool the reality of the real world seems to fade away.  You become more relaxed, you feel a freedom that you may have not felt in a long time as an individual and as a person.  This freedom allows you to grow as a person and a couple by being able to allow thoughts and feelings to surfaces with that little ding constantly going off with some sort of notification to distract you.
 
 
        5. Plan a special honeymoon or a vacation gift for each other
The gifts can be simple or extravagant.  The point of the gift is to put thoughtfulness into the gift for each other.  You can forgo the wedding gift and wait until the honeymoon.  I had one bride do a photo shoot of herself in all of her lingerie that she received at her lingerie shower.  She made a little album for her husband and gave it to him on their honeymoon.  He loved it!!!  I’ve had grooms plan surprise candlelight dinners and the butler or server bring a covered dish and when the lid was lifted a beautiful bracelet was on the plate.  There are lots of fun easy things you can do and have set up before you leave for your honeymoon or romantic trip for each other.
 
           6.  The new tradition-the honeymoon letter
You know the old tradition of saving the top tier of your cake and freezing it for your 1 year anniversary.  I suggest that couples add to this tradition.  I suggest couples actually take a little time to themselves on the honeymoon write a letter to each other.  Make fun, make it serious , just make it genuine, make it about your real and authentic feelings.  Seal them up in an envelope and stick it in the freezer with the cake when you get home.  1 year later as you are toasting and enjoying the cake read the letters.   This can be a very special moment and continue to bring you closer.  You can also do this if this is your babymoon… read the letters when baby turns 1 (in between the diaper changing) and if this is an anniversary vacation (aka honeyversary)  then read them on the next anniversary maybe at your next  stop in paradise!
 
        7. Hire a travel professional
Talk with a Travel Professional.  While you have done your research online remember the internet is for looking the travel agent is for booking.  Travel professionals have knowledge and expert advice on destinations and resorts.  Even though you may find something that “looks great online” a travel professional will give you an unbiased opinion on the resorts and destinations.  They are working for you and want to insure that you get the best value and experience.   Travel professionals will make the planning process so much easier for you and will offer you peace of mind while traveling.

I hope you enjoy these 7 tips and that your honeymoon will sizzle!

Shannon Cunningham
​LeBlanc

The Chief Romance Officer at Paradise Vacation Escapes.  Shannon designs unique honeymoons and destination weddings for couples.  Shannon is also the author of the book "Say Yes To The Honeymoon, The Expert's Guide To Planning The Perfect Honeymoon.