Wedding custom used to say that the bride’s family paid for most of the wedding, but the groom took care of the honeymoon. These days, it’s much more common for bride and groom to collaborate on planning their post-wedding vacation. However, there is something to be said for the boyfriend who swept her girlfriend away with a wonderful vacation that he planned especially for her. Here are tips for planning a honeymoon surprise that neither of you will ever forget.
Tip number one is to think about your fiancée and what she enjoys. Perhaps her idea of a romantic honeymoon is to rent a remote cabin in the woods where the two of them can be completely alone. If his bride-to-be loves the fast-paced excitement of a big city, she probably won’t be too excited to hang out in the woods for a week, even with you. Since it’s a surprise for her, try to think of what she would like more.
Planning a trip can be a big job, especially one as important as your honeymoon. If you’ve never done it before, consider working with a travel agent. This can be especially useful if you are traveling to another country. It will be very helpful to have a professional who can advise you on local customs, give you tips on where to go and what to see, and answer all your questions. If you’re planning an international honeymoon, be sure to find out what kind of documentation you’ll need. For example, if your fiancée will need to obtain a passport, be sure to let her know many months in advance.
The trip itself will no doubt be exciting, but you may also want to make some advance reservations for things to do on your honeymoon. For example, if you’re headed to Hawaii, sign up for a snorkeling expedition, deep-sea fishing excursion, or helicopter tour of the islands. If your surprise honeymoon plans take you to Italy, book tickets to top museums and get tickets to the opera or other cultural event. And definitely make sure you find out where the most romantic restaurant in town is, wherever you go. Have her bring a special dress and her pearl bridal jewelry for a special honeymoon dinner.
While being whisked away on a surprise dream vacation is fun, getting there and not having the right things isn’t. Without revealing too much, it’s important to guide your fiancée on what to pack for the trip. Are you planning a trip to the beach? Tell her you’re staying at a hotel with a pool so she knows to pack her swimsuit; she will be prepared, not knowing exactly where you are going. For a trip to a city, she’ll want to pack fancier clothes and her favorite pearl bridal jewelry. If she is going to explore the Mayan ruins or the cathedrals of France, she will need good walking shoes. If her vacation requires specialized equipment that would be an absolute gift (like skis for a trip to Aspen), secretly ship it ahead of time or arrange to rent what she needs when she arrives at her destination.
A secret honeymoon is an incredibly romantic idea. Any bride will feel extra special knowing how much care her fiancé put into planning a trip she would love. Be sure to cherish every special moment of her honeymoon surprise!
