With 164 days to go, Alex and I still haven’t decided on a honeymoon. We know that we definitely want one, but the question of where and when is something that has yet to be determined. I’m pretty overwhelmed with planning the actual wedding, so the thought of now adding a new element is pretty daunting…
So I asked five of my girlfriends, who recently tied the knot, for their advice and recommendations on all things honeymoon. I wanted to know when they left for theirs, where they went, who was more involved in the planning, what they loved the most, and advise they’d give to a bride-to-be (ahem… me).
Sit back and grab a glass of wine, because this is a long read, but so fun. OK, in no particular order, here are my five brides.
Val and Mike, July 2015
“We left two days after the wedding and went to Punta Cana. What I loved the most was having room service at any time of the day, the floating bar in the resort pool, no kids allowed (thankfully!), and it was all inclusive. Mike and I both planned, but I mostly let him take the lead. I knew where we were going. Everything was all inclusive so all we had to choose which excursions we wanted. Easy.
I would have chosen to go away for two weeks instead of one. I would also recommend leaving 3 days after to recoup and get some rest before your honeymoon, and don’t take a super early flight — you don’t want to be exhausted when you land.
My advice is trying to savor and embrace each moment with your husband, relax with your new groom, don’t drink too much because you don’t want to be hungover on any day of your honeymoon, and bring different lingerie for each night. It’s so fun to not have any other cares in the world but to enjoy being a newlywed couple!”
Val is my bestie from high school. Fond flashbacks of us in denim mini-skirts paired with Juicy velour zip-ups and Uggs, sleepovers, boy-talk, chemistry exams, JV softball, and a beat up Saab as our only mode of transportation.
Rita and Joe, December 2010
“We left the day after our wedding and went on a 7 day cruise to Mexico, Honduras, Belize, and Grand Cayman. My favorite part, other than spending time with my new husband, was relaxing after the stress of all of the wedding planning.
For the planning, I let Joe decide. He chose the cruise so that we could get a taste of a bunch of different places and possibly go back if we found a place we loved.
I would definitely recommend going right after the wedding. It’s way more exciting because you are still on that “wedding high” and feel so special and in love. Any other time is just a normal, boring vacation.
I would recommend leaving two days after the wedding instead of the day after. We had so much family in town that we barely ever get to see so it was hard to just pick up and leave while everybody was still visiting and in party mode. It was almost like a FOMO moment.
The advice I have is to enjoy every single moment of your trip because it goes by so fast and take TONS of pictures…even if you think it’s lame at the time…just snap the picture.”
Rita and I were roommates sophomore year, it was hard not to fall in love with her sarcasm, deadpan humor, and brutal honesty. We’re constantly swapping horror stories about work, WTF moments about friends and family, and life in general. She helped coach me through ordering my save-the-dates.
Chana and Paul, June 2014
“We left 6 months after our wedding, and we went to Hawaii for 9 days. I would have gone sooner and recommend going ASAP because of how stressful all the planning was. I needed a break after the wedding, I was burnt out, and needed to just get away. So, needless to say, our trip to Kuawi was amazing, but if I could redo it all, I would have gone much sooner. And possibly eloped there. Is it too late for you to elope?
My favorite part was the quietness. Kuwai is a tropical island and it’s just peaceful, amazing, and beautiful. Paul planned it, I was included a bit, but he did all the work. My advise (other than eloping) is to know where your going and have all your desired clothing at the ready: hat, sneakers, sun dresses. Packing was pretty much the extent of my involvement in the honeymoon planning.”
Chana is more like a sister to me than a cousin. I frequently turn to her when I have wedding planning related meltdowns (happens often) and after patiently listening, she asks if it’s too late to elope. My answer is always the same: Yes.
Talia and Charlie, October 2013
“We left a few days after the wedding. We wanted to save a bit of money, so we stayed local. We went to Islamorada in the Florida keys and stayed at the Cheeca Lodge right on the coast. Our room was very large and open, with an ocean view to die for, it was so unique and romantic.
I recommend you go right away. The excitement of being husband and wife is at its highest point, and you want to enjoy getting to know one another on this new level before the busyness of life takes your attention. The beauty of a honeymoon is only once in your life – so taking advantage of it as soon as possible, for as long as possible, is crucial for the beginning stages of your marriage.
I think both of you should plan it. It’s one of the first big decisions you get to make with each other. Planning it together ensures you both enjoy the activities and the location.
Begin your marriage with laughter and fun. When tough times come, which they will, you will be able to revisit your first moments as husband and wife, you’ll remember the reasons that brought you together. My advice to a new bride is to truly enjoy having fun with each other, and loose the expectations. Enjoy activities together and don’t make it so serious. Dance with each other, sleep in, cuddle, say I love you every day, and take lots of pictures!
The simple fact that you have found each other is a huge blessing, consider yourselves lucky because there are so many people who don’t get the chance to find their other half. Put the hustle and bustle of life on pause and cherish the time you are given as newlyweds!“
Talia and I were roommates freshman year, and let me tell you, we did not get off to a great start <grin>. But once we realized we had more in common than we originally thought, a wonderful friendship began. She is an incredible lady, with tons of nuggets of wisdom. She is currently a Holistic Health Coach.
Allie and Jenny, December 2015
“Our whole wedding was pretty non-traditional—we eloped in upstate NY, no guests or anything, just the two of us–then went on our honeymoon 3 months later. We took a road trip around Iceland.
The whole trip was so incredible and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The whole country is so different, one minute you could be driving through mossy lava rocks then the next thing you know you’re in an arctic tundra. We spent every day exploring.
We always wanted to go to Iceland, but since we got married in December (and only planned our “wedding” in less than a month), we couldn’t leave straight after since it would be complete darkness (arctic circle problems!) and way too snowy, so we had to wait until it was ideal weather. Waiting to go worked out, because it gave us time to plan everything perfectly–lots of logistics went into it since we road tripped around the whole country. I’m totally happy with how we did it, and as for the planning, my wife and I did it together.
The only thing I would have done differently is stayed longer! We were there for 8 days but could have definitely extended.
I would say–as I would for any big trip–make sure everything is checked a million times! We accidentally booked a hotel in a tiny little town hidden in a fjord for the night before, only to find that out when we got there—luckily they still had a room available! Also, if it’s a “once in a lifetime” trip, make a list of everything you want to see so you don’t miss out!“
Here are more of Allie’s breathtaking photos from Iceland, and I don’t know about you, but I am in love with her wife Jenny’s stylish glasses.
Allie is my oldest friend, we met when we were six, and were glued to the hip as we grew into our teenage years. I can’t picture my childhood without immediately thinking of Allie and the impossibly long list of everything we have shared, touched, laughed, and experienced together as children growing up in the 90’s.
After hearing about each of these experiences, it’s pretty clear that I need to add plan our honeymoon to the list of things I need to do. A huge thank you to all my brides: RJ, Talia, Val, Chana, and Allie (and Jenny!) — who took time out of their busy days to do these interviews, you ladies rock!
OK dear reader, I want to know, what are your thoughts on all things honeymoon?
(Top photo credit: this super talented photographer, other photos: courtesy of each bride)