THE REAL DEAL

REAL LIFE BRIDES share their best honeymoon moments – well, not all of them! – and give tips on what to do and what to avoid!

Try something new
Claire Norris Dunn married in July 2004 and honeymooned in South Africa and Mozambique
"Try to go somewhere neither of you have ever been before. If you are both quite well travelled, it makes the honeymoon more special to be exploring a brand new place together for the first time. We travelled across Mozambique and South Africa, and tried to mix the more luxurious accommodation in across the trip, that way we always had something special to look forward to throughout the three weeks.”

Mellow in the Maldives
Naomi Moreno-Melgar married in March 2007, honeymooning in the Maldives
“We honeymooned in the Maldives at the Medhufushi Resort. There isn’t an awful lot to do, other than enjoy the waters, but if all you want is relaxation, amazing food and service accompanied by clear waters and perfect white sand, then it is definitely the place! I recommend pampering yourselves and opting for a romantic couple’s spa treatment. We booked a massage, which was absolutely amazing and unbelievably romantic. Another thing we opted for was a private dinner on the beach.” 

Dare to be different
Claire Bamber married in October 2007 and honeymooned in Australia and Malaysia
“From the outset our honeymoon wish list was to do things we wouldn’t normally do. We decided we wanted a mixture of relaxation and adventure so we chose to start our holiday in Malaysia to wind down after the hustle and bustle of wedding preparations! We enjoyed rose petal jacuzzi baths, leisurely breakfasts in bed and relaxing days spent in our own private cabana by the pool. We moved on to Australia to do a whistle stop tour up the east coast. This included exploring the wine regions, successfully climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, taking a private helicopter over the Barrier Reef and landing on the secluded Whitehaven Beach for a romantic Champagne picnic.”

Take Two
Hayley Edwards got married in October 2007 and chose to take a 'mini-moon' in Mexico after the wedding, before taking a three-week break to honeymoon in Australia later on
“We chose to spoil ourselves with a ‘mini-moon’ and a honeymoon! The mini-moon to Mexico was fantastic! We got a last-minute deal three days before the wedding for £700 each, flying from Glasgow and staying in the Excellence resort in Riveria Maya. It was utter bliss, as well as gorgeous food and drink! It was adults-only and I think that makes a honeymoon special as everyone is all loved up and in good spirits with no ratty kids about! The only thing I would not recommend is a trip into Cancun, it was so commercial it reminded me of Blackpool in the sun. As for our real honeymoon, we are off to Australia for three weeks of extravagance!”

A honeymoon less ordinary
Lucy Owen, married January 2007, honeymooned in Aspen, USA
“We had an amazing honeymoon because we went skiing, which we both love – and because it’s not a common honeymoon we were spoilt rotten wherever we went!”

Road trip romance
Josephine Powell tied the knot in August 2007 in Las Vegas and honeymooned across California
"Our honeymoon was a really spontaneous thing. We drove from Vegas to LA via Santa Barbara and Napa Valley, California’s wine country. We took it one day at a time and stayed in both snazzy hotels and normal motels to experience different things. I'd recommend a flexible road trip to anyone who likes a bit of freedom!”

Russian Romance
Ekaterina Zemtsova, married July 2007, honeymooned in Russia
"Our honeymoon was short and unusual... We went to a 500-year-old monastery three hours' drive from St Petersburg, which had very picturesque northern Russian scenery. They have a nice small hotel with a great restaurant there, but the twist is – we took our friends with us too!"

Out of Africa
Geraldine Bethenod-Louis got married in June 2006 and picked a honeymoon in Tanzania and Zanziba
“ I think talking to a company that specialises in boutique hotels and charming places and can advise you on where to go is definitely worth doing. They can also match your budget to the right destination. And, if your husband is organising it as a surprise, make sure you communicate! It’d be awful to find yourself trekking in Mongolia if all you ever dreamed of was a beach in The Maldives.”

Hawaiian holiday
Hannah Myatt got married in September 2006 in Hawaii, where she stayed on for a tropical honeymoon
“Hawaii is the perfect place to honeymoon. It's tranquil, relaxing and most of all picture perfect. I would definitely recommend going on a helicopter trip over the islands to see the secluded bays. The only slight downside is the length of the flight to get there, but it’s so magical it's definitely worth it.”

Asian Adventure
Claire Simon-Moneyron is getting married in May 2008 and will be setting off to Japan and Malaysia
“We’d been thinking of Thailand, but a glimpse at the weather forecast made us change our mind. We wanted something relaxing and with some good cultural and scuba diving opportunities, so we thought that a mix of two places over ten days could be a good compromise. It’s important to do something very relaxing for the first few days, in order to unwind and chill completely after the big day. Ban any plans like canoeing on the Amazon or the hustle and bustle of a big city and go for quieter things like a safari in Africa or chilled islands. In other words, anything that encourages relaxation…”

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