Shopping for a wedding dress is normally the first thing that pops into one’s mind immediately upon becoming engaged.  However, that’s not the only dress you should be shopping for.  You need to also keep a lookout for a ‘drop-dead gorgeous’ going away outfit.  This is the dress that you can either leave the reception in or, if you prefer, change into before taking off on your honeymoon. 

Unlike your wedding dress, this dress is one that you’ll use over and over, so spending a little extra money on this special outfit is a lot more justifiable.  You want it to be one of those figure-flattering dresses that makes you look like you just dropped 10 pounds.  You may need to try on dozens of dresses before finding just the right one. 

Typical rules of thumb you may want to follow are:
*  Keep the hem of the dress around knee length.  This elongates the leg and gives a very sexy, sleek look.
*  V-necks are the most flattering neckline on most women, drawing attention to the face.
*  The a-line skirt shape is normally the best shape for most women’s body types. 
*  Correctly fitted undergarments are essential to look your best in any outfit.  Panty and bra lines can ruin even the sexiest dress.
*  Make sure the dress is fitted and accentuates the thinnest part of your body - your waistline.  This gives you the hourglass shape we all want. 
*  Don’t buy an over-sized or baggy dress and this actually makes you look heavier and shorter.
*  Choose a color or colors that bring out the natural glow in your skin and eyes.
*  A new pair of comfortable high-heels are a must for this new outfit.  The color of the shoes do not need to match, but they should coordinate well with the dress.
*  Accessorize with a clutch or handbag and some jewelry. 
*  Remember that tailoring can be a great solution to those little problem areas that need a little something.

Your going away or ‘running away’ dress is just as important as the wedding dress.  In fact, even after 33 years of marriage, my husband can still describe the dress I wore when we left for our honeymoon. 

Wedding themes are a wonderful way to express yourself on your special day, but don’t just stop with the wedding.  Theme honeymoons can be great too.  Not to mention a lot of fun!

One of the more popular themes for honeymoons is the fairy tale theme.  Check with travel agents or do a search online for hotels that have fairy tale theme rooms.  Since these rooms were developed with honeymoons in mind, many hotels offer packages that can range from moderate to high in price, depending on what’s included.  If the hotel you find is fairly close by, ask if they offer tours of their fantasy suites. 

Theme rooms typically have unique shaped beds, as well one-of-a-kind shaped jacuzzis.  My husband and I once toured a fantasy suite hotel and we were amazed at what was available.  We were especially impressed with the enchanted carriage bed and the glass slipper shaped whirlpool tub for two!  These rooms can book up fairly quickly during the typical wedding months, so be sure to make your reservations well in advance. 

By definition, a honeymoon is the:  ‘vacation spent together by a newly married couple’.  This definition never specifies that the couple needs to travel to an exotic country or even leave town, but today’s newlyweds tend to think on a grand scale when planning their honeymoons.  However, in today’s economy and with today’s health concerns, it may not be possible or even preferable for you to travel on a honeymoon right away.  If you’re feeling a little hesitant about traveling, but don’t want to give up your honeymoon, all it takes is a little imagination.

One way to save some money is to check out nearby hotels that may offer ‘fantasy suites’ or bridal suite packages. Many times, meals, roses, bathrobes, champagne and chocolates may be included for a reasonable cost.

 If money is really tight, put off the whole travel idea for a few months or years, and spend some relaxing time in your new home.  Talk to your attendants before the wedding and set up a time for them to decorate your new home or apartment in the theme of your favorite honeymoon destination.  Collect travel posters, music, and decorative items such as candles that give the feel of that place.  Stock the refrigerator with foods from that country to complete the mood.  Just taking time off of work in order to devote some one-on-one quality time to each other is really what makes the honeymoon special. 

Ever wonder why the cars carrying the newlyweds and the bridal party honk their horns as they leave the church on their way to the reception?  This noisy tradition dates back to the Middle Ages when it was believed that by making a loud ruckus, it would ward off evil spirits. 

This is also the reason that the tradition of tying cans to the bumper of the ‘getaway car’ came into being.  As lucky as the bride was considered to be, she was also thought to be highly susceptible to the pranks of evil spirits. 

Add an interesting personal touch to your reception by creating portrait collages of both the bride and groom and displaying them at your reception.  Everyone loves seeing pictures of people they know and love when they were younger.  Include pictures from infancy through the present day.  You may even want to consider creating a third collage that displays special moments that began once the bride and groom started dating.

You can use regular mounting board, which comes in all sizes and colors, and attach your favorite photos with ‘tacky putty’.  This is a substance that teachers use to put up posters in the classroom.  It holds everything in place, but can easily be removed without ruining the photos.  You can find it in the school supply section of any department store.

Photo collages are not only fun to make, but become a real conversation piece at your reception.  With the photos already organized, they become easy to place in photo albums after the reception.

Bring up the topic of the Smokies to a group of people and chances are you’ll get vacation stories about Dolly-Wood, souvenir shops, scores of restaurants and an overall tourist-type atmosphere.  But there is so much more to the Smoky Mountains. 

My husband and I started an annual tradition many years ago of renting a cabin in the Smoky Mountains and doing all of the touristy things.  It was fun, but it tended to ‘get old’ after a while.  Then, several years ago, we discovered the joy of hiking.  Ever since then we spend most of our week in the mountains exploring new trails and seeing what these beautiful mountains have to offer.  The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is filled with history and beauty that would take a lifetime to appreciate.  The Park holds over 1,000 miles of hiking trails and we plan to hike every one of them.

This incredible place makes it the perfect honeymoon spot.  Hike during the day, go out for a romantic dinner and still have plenty of time to relax with a bottle of champagne in your two-person jacuzzi tub in the evening.  Rent a cabin with an outdoor hot tub and the view is breath-taking at night, especially if you happen to be enjoying a lovely snowfall at the same time. 

No matter what season you choose for your wedding and honeymoon, the Smoky Mountains are absolutely beautiful and you will soon find yourself captivated by your surroundings.

Here’s a list of common sense things to do in order to enjoy a worry-free honeymoon.  Some of these tips may even help you to save a little money in the process.

1.)  When it comes to renting cars, instead of going ‘first class’, try reserve a compact car instead.  Many car rental companies keep a larger inventory of large or luxury-sized cars on hand, so if they’re out of compact cars, they will often times upgrade you for free.

2.)  This goes without saying, but anytime you can book reservations in advance, do it.  Check the Internet for special deals, packages, or discounted fares.  When booking your reservations, ask if they honor a lower price if you happen to find one before your trip.

3.)  Be sure to check with the airlinesregarding luggage requirements and restrictions.  These rules can change frequently and you don’t want to find yourself having to pay large fees for too many bags or over-sized luggage.  Mark your luggage with brightly colored luggage tags so they’re easy to spot at the baggage claim.

4.)  Make out an up-to-date list with all of your credit card account numbers and give a copy to someone you trust.  It’s also a good idea to keep a copy in a file at home or a safety deposit box.  Be sure to write all of the 800 numbers for the credit card companies on the list as well.  If your purse or wallet gets lost or stolen, you’ll find this list a real life saver.

If you were unable to invite everyone to your wedding that you know or had wanted to due to travel difficulties or your budget, you can still make them feel a part of the celebration with a wedding announcement.  The purpose of these cards are pretty self explanatory ~ they simple announce that you’ve been married.  These announcements should not be sent to anyone who is receiving an invitation.

The wedding announcements should be made out well before the wedding day so they are ready to mail immediately afterwards.  If you’re leaving right away on your honeymoon, ask your best man or maid of honor to mail them for you. 

You may also include ‘at-home’ cards along with any invitation or announcement, which provide your new address information along with your new married name.  This is especially helpful if you opt for keeping your maiden name or taking a hyphenated last name after the wedding.

It’s also good to remember that those you send a wedding announcement to are under to obligation to give you a wedding gift.

The sooner you start planning your honeymoon destination, they better.  The most popular honeymoon locations tend to fill up rather quickly.  When choosing a place to go you’ll want to consider what the area has to offer as far as activities, weather, scenery, etc.  But you’ll also want to consider the cost.  Vacation spots are typically more expensive, and if you’re heading out of the country, you’ll want to take the currency rate exchange into consideration.

Here is a list of favorite honeymoon locations.  Choose several ideas and then discuss them with your local travel agent.

If you’re staying in the United States, you may want to consider:
Alaska
Hawaii
Grand Canyon
Niagara Falls, New York
Hilton Head, South Carolina
Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania
Disneyland, California
 , Florida
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
U.S. Virgin Islands

Europeandestinations can include:
Austria
England
France
Germany (great castles)
Greece
Italy (incredible food)
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland (Zermatt is home to the Matterhorn)

Locations in Mexico:
Baja California area
Cancun, Qunitana Roo
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Isla de Cozumal, Quintana Roo
Puerta Vallarta, Jalisco

Caribbean destinations:
Aruba
Cayman Islands
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Nassau, Bahamas
Negril, Jamaica
Paradise Island, Bahamas
St. Croix

You may also want to consider some more unusual destinations, such as:
Africa
Australia
Central America
China
Japan
India
the Netherlands
South America

The wedding is over and now comes the honeymoon.  Reservations have been made, tickets have been purchased and you have plenty of ‘mad money’ to make this the best time ever.  If you’re a detail-oriented person, no doubt you’ve also included extra cash for the tips you will handing out.  Tipping can be confusing, but there are some ’standards’ in the tipping world that can make it a little easier.

For hotel stays, the chambermaid normally receives $1 per day of cleaning service with a minimum of $5 per couple per week.  Since several chambermaids may clean your room during your stay, it’s best to tip daily.

Bellboys normally receive $1 per bag if they carry them up to your room, plus $1 per extra service they provide.

Doormen receive $1 per bag and $1 for each additional service, such as hailing taxis, etc.

Room service sometimes adds a gratuity automatically to your bill, but you may also add something for exceptional service.  If they don’t automatically add their tip, 15-20% of the bill is typical.

Restaurant waiting staff receives 15-20% of the total bill.

At airports, the porter receives $1 per bag.

The price of most cruises normally include the cost of all food, however, they do not include the gratuity.  In this situation, it is best to tip all at once at the end of the cruise.  Cruise ship gratuities are as follows:
Room stewards receive $3.50 per day.
Dining room waiters also receive $3.50 per day.
Busboys ~ $1.75 per day
Bartenders normally add their gratuity to your check; if not 15-20% is normal.
Anyone who handles a special request of yours should be tipped ~ 15% is adequate.

There are cruises that advertise a ‘no tipping’ policy, however, if you’ve received exceptional service, feel free to show your appreciation monetarily.  Otherwise, no tipping is necessary.

Although these prices are standard, the ultimate tip amount you give should reflect the type of service you receive.  It is my firm belief that a tip is earned, not given.