involved, there is also the matter of inoculations to be considered.


The honeymoon


The term ‘honeymoon’ can be traced to many origins, and it would seem nearly every culture has a time that parallels our meaning of the word.


In this country it can be traced back to the mid-16th century when it referred specifically to the month or ‘honey-month’ following a wedding, traditionally the first time a bride and groom were able to spend time alone together.


These days however, it refers merely to the holiday taken immediately following the wedding, and indeed may be of any length from a weekend upwards.


There is little etiquette governing the honeymoon although some traditions have been adopted in various parts of the country.


Generally the groom arranges it and foots the bill.


The bride and groom should be the first to leave the reception, unless a specific guest has a very pressing reason for leaving first which the bridal party will be aware of from the outset.


Both bride and groom usually buy specific ‘going away’ outfits for the journey, and it is usual for both to


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change out of their wedding clothes before setting off.


Throwing the bride’s bouquet into the crowd of guests is sporadically adhered to these days and certainly never done if the bouquet, composed of silk blooms, has been designed to be kept by the bride as a personal souvenir.


The habit is a remnant of the days when the bride stood at the top of a flight of stairs and kicked the right shoe of the pair she was married in, into the crowd below. The left shoe was carefully put away with the rest of her wedding regalia.


Secrecy regarding the destination of the


honeymoon has become an essential element in its organisation, as has using a hired car complete with chauffeur for travelling on the first leg of the journey.


Even quite sober and sensible people now seem to resort to doing awful things with lipstick, glue, shaving cream, balloons (!) and old tin cans, if they are aware the car being used belongs to the happy couple.


Keeping the destination secret from the bride to make it a pleasant surprise however is a two-edged sword. She will naturally wish to have the right clothes packed, and if some exotic destination is


The Wedding - autumn 2012


Whatever the destination chosen, it should be memorable. Far-flung reaches of the globe are becoming more and more popular, but if such a destination involves a flight of 20 hours or more, it is sensible, not to say thoughtful of the groom, to book into an airport hotel for the first night.


Weddings are very stressful and exhausting occasions for even the fittest.Add a long and equally stressful flight on top, and the happy couple might well spend the first three days of their holiday, dead to the world, sleeping off the strain.


Choosing the destination and the length of the honeymoon depends on each individual couple.


Some people like a long, relaxed month on a sun-washed tropical beach which can be had at a bargain price at certain times of the year.


Others prefer to go for the sheer luxury of a long weekend at some impossibly expensive hotel where their every wish is provided almost before it is expressed.


There are other possibilities however. Couples have gone camping, hiking, mountain climbing, cycling, pony-trekking, pot-holing, or just touring around in their own car. It doesn’t really matter what they do as long as they both enjoy the experience.


The first stop on the search for inspiration for the honeymoon should be the local travel agent. There can be found brochures on every type of holiday break imaginable, plus some one


probably never thought of. And the same goes for destinations.


It is unwise to leave the arranging of the honeymoon till the last minute however because like any other type of holiday, the best options always get booked up fastest.


The best time to book is as soon as the day has been set and the ceremony booked. This also gives time to arrange passport changes for the bride, and organise visas and inoculations should they be necessary.


It’s also less likely mischievous friends will have found out the destination - a worthwhile consideration indeed as any married couple will testify, who has had their honeymoon cancelled or the double room changed to a single - by some ‘well meaning friends’ just for fun!


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