Plan for a Romantic and Meaningful Wedding Night

Engaged couples spend lots of time planning for the big day, but not everybody plans well for the big wedding night. This time alone together after the festivities can be incredibly meaningful and romantic.

1. Take Your Time
Many people think a wedding night means jumping into bed right away. But it's worth it to take a few minutes to talk about the magic of your day, the parts you loved the most, and how you feel about each other. Since the wedding goes by so quickly, it's worth it to take a few moments to remember.

2. Enjoy Each Other
Speaking of jumping into bed, you might be worried about sex. If you're a virgin, you're probably full of questions and apprehensions. If you're not a virgin, you might be feeling pressure to have extra special wedding night sex. Regardless of how much experience you have, you need to take the pressure off! Instead, focus on enjoying each other. If you end up consummating the marriage on your wedding night, great! If not, there's a lifetime ahead of you. For more tips on enjoying sex on your wedding night, check out Wedding Night Sex Tips and Wedding Night Sex Tips for Virgins

While the traditional vows endure, the ways to celebrate a marriage have changed right along with the travel industry. Today's honeymooner may be looking for value, adventure, or variety and searching for a getaway that's as exotic as a stay in a private European castle or nearby as a local bed-and-breakfast inn.

One constant is that couples are willing to spend money on a honeymoon - an average of $1,402 per couple compared to $421 spent annually on regular trips according to the Travel Industry Association of America. Young couples, age 18 to 24 years, spend the most on honeymoons, averaging $1,873. And as many as one-third of all honeymooners spend over $2,500 for that once-in-a-lifetime trip. Multiplied by the 2.4 million newlywed couples the U.S. Census records annually, and you have a major force in the tourism industry.

The trend toward honeymoons follows the rising emphasis on traditional weddings. And while the move is back toward the traditional wedding and honeymoon associated with earlier generations, today's newlyweds are a far cry from the travelers of earlier days. "They're looking more for luxurious and romantic places, like the little out-of-the-way small hotels and inns and private castles," points out Sylvie del Giudice, spokeswoman for Les Romantiques Hotels. "They're ready for a different experience. It's the experience of a lifetime. They are choosing to go further away on their honeymoon to a different environment and that includes everything: a different language, culture, and food."