There can be few concepts with more traditions attached to them than that of marriage, and particularly the wedding day (or week) itself. Yes, you are doing this because you want to spend the rest of your life together, but there will be countless people who are not immediately concerned with the foreseeable future and far more interested in issues such as: hen and stag nights, the reception, the throwing of the bouquet, and the honeymoon. The first and the last of these are referred to with much lascivious raising of the eyebrows, as is the third for some. But the honeymoon is out on its own as a tradition.
The idea of a honeymoon is that the couple at the moment of marriage should be so deeply and totally in love that they are each the only person the other one wants to spend time with. To do this, they go on holiday (alone, together) and enjoy each other’s company for a spell. In times gone by, the idea would be that in nine months the union would be blessed with child – but these days with planned parenthood, people are deciding to put parenthood on the long finger.
The honeymoon still has a very strong resonance for many people, and any expensive hotel will have a “Honeymoon Suite”, which will be tricked out with everything you could possibly want. They usually cost an absolute fortune, and you can probably get the necessary bits and bobs yourself for a lower price. But really, all that matters on a honeymoon is that you are alone together.
