The honeymoon is a time to celebrate your marriage. It is also a chance to rest and recharge after the wedding. For many couples, it is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. It is also a time to build the foundation for your new life together. It is a great opportunity to get to know your new spouse in an environment that will allow you to focus on just the two of you.
Historically, most cultures have some sort of ritual after the wedding to celebrate the joining (marriage) and to set the stage for a happy and healthy relationship. In some cultures, the honeymoon is when the couple gets to know each other, in others it is the time to become sexually intimate and still in some it is a time to withdraw from the world and adjust to being married without the pressures of everyday life. Modern Americans tend to think of the honeymoon as a vacation that is meant to be spectacular and memorable, which can lead to high expectations for the trip.
A romanticized notion of what happens on the honeymoon night is that sex is the only thing couples do during their honeymoon. However, the honeymoon is about much more than sex and it is a perfect opportunity for couples to explore their physical attraction and develop intimacy. This is a time when love hormones are at their highest and it is a time to nurture the new marriage.
In addition to exploring the physical side of your relationship, a honeymoon can be a wonderful time to try something fun or adventurous. This could include taking a scenic helicopter tour, riding a Segway around a city or hiking on a remote trail. It is also a good time to enjoy a spa treatment or go on a cruise.
While you do want to plan most of your trip together, it is always a good idea to add in some surprises. A rewarding hike, a couples massage or a romantic candlelit dinner will all help to make your partner feel special on your once-in-a-lifetime trip. If you are planning on surprising your partner, be sure to discuss it beforehand so that it doesn’t ruin the surprise or create tension.
The US Virgin Islands are a popular honeymoon destination for a reason – the beaches are gorgeous, the water is crystal blue and the dining and resorts are top-notch. While it would be easy to spend your entire honeymoon in the islands, if you want to narrow your search down, St. Thomas is known for its shopping and nightlife, St. John is a paradise for divers and snorkelers and St. Croix is the ideal place for couples who want to relax.
Honeymoons are a once-in-a-lifetime experience and are often planned for months in advance. To ensure that everything goes according to your plans, it is wise to have a discussion with your partner about what you both expect from the trip and to create a travel itinerary based on those expectations. It’s also a good idea to keep copies of all important travel documents in both digital and physical formats and consider purchasing travel insurance.