Honeymoon golf. Is it allowed?

“Can I hit the links during my honeymoon?” This is probably one of the most common questions we get asked by grooms – and I really can’t blame them for asking. Most couples travel to warm, waterfront locations for their honeymoon – locations with plenty of golf courses nearby. For golfers, it’s only natural to want to get out and test your skill against the local challenges. However, suggesting a golf outing to your new wife can be tricky.

Here are a few things to think about before you book that tee time:

Marriage is, after all, about compromise

We recently polled ten of our Twitter and Facebook friends on the topic and the vote went 9-1 in favor of the groom being allowed to play as long as there was another daytime activity that the bride would want to do solo. We couldn’t agree more with this stance. Making compromises is a huge part of any healthy marriage.

Is she a golfer?

If the answer to this question is yes, you’re in the clear. Try setting up a tee time for the both of you. Most courses will have clubs that can be rented for a small fee. The only negative side to this is that you’re probably going to have to let her win… ahh who am I kidding, she’d probably beat you anyway!

Be smart

If you do happen to find yourself on the golf course, use your brain. While getting to play is a nice addition to the honeymoon, you must remember that it is your honeymoon. Only play nine holes,  don’t get drunk and be home when you say you will be. This is just good ‘ol fashion common sense, guys.

———-

So what do you think? Should the groom be able to play golf on his honeymoon? Yes? No? Only if the bride is a golfer as well? Let us know in the comments section below.

Planning a wedding isn’t easy. This doesn’t bode well for a lot of grooms who would rather be kicking back and watching college football than researching and planning a wedding. One of the largest time consumers on the groom’s side of wedding planning is the honeymoon. From finding a location to budgeting to planning activities, it can become quite tedious. That’s why we’ve prepared a list of five “no-brainers” – some basic thoughts to keep in mind while planning a honeymoon that can decrease stress… and increase your extra time to spend chillaxing in your man-cave.

Check out the rest of the post  over at OneWed.

A bed & breakfast is an ideal destination for your mini-moon

By Guest Blogger OneWed.com

With the time and money that go in to planning a wedding, it’s no wonder that many couples don’t feel like they can afford to take a honeymoon right away. Unfortunately, most couples that put off their big trip find that “real life” has a way of interfering in their plans for a delayed honeymoon. One day you’re swearing that you’ll go to Acapulco next year, the next think you know, you’re one of those cute old couples in the local paper whose children and grandchildren surprised them with the honeymoon they never had!

If you can’t afford a dream honeymoon right away, consider spending two or three days right after the wedding recuperating.  You could go to a bed and breakfast at a nearby town, go camping, or even just go to a hotel in your own city. The point is to not try and rush directly from the wedding aisle to the workplace cubicle. Don’t forget to turn off your cell phones and keep your whereabouts secret. All your FB friends and Twitter followers can last a few days without you!

By Guest Blogger Gary McSwain of SouthCarolinaMemories.com

South Carolina has some of the most beautiful beaches and saying your vows with the feel of the ocean breeze and the sound of breaking waves can make memories to last a lifetime. Since an outdoor wedding has many considerations, we have compiled a list of tips from brides who have said “I Do” along the coast of South Carolina.

South Carolina Beach Wedding Locations

Location – Popular Hilton Head Island beach wedding locations are Sea Pines, Shipyard Plantation, Palmetto Dunes and Daufuskie Island. Popular Charleston beach wedding locations are Edisto Beach, Kiawah Island, Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms. Popular Myrtle Beach beach wedding locations are Pawleys Island, Garden City, Surfside Beach and North Myrtle Beach. All of these locations have areas that would make for a lovely ceremony. Many local facilities specialize in beach weddings and have the expertise to handle every consideration to make your ceremony go as you have always dreamed of including tide charts, required permits, decorating and music restrictions.

Weather – There is an element of risk with an outdoor wedding and many brides have said the best way to take the fear out of what the weather may do is to have a backup plan. This will put you, your wedding party and your guests at ease, so communicate it with your invitations and let them know that you have an alternative in case of inclement weather.

Time of Day – It is a good idea to consider a morning or late afternoon ceremony when the heat is not as intense, or to plan the wedding for a cooler spring or fall month. Since beaches are open to the public, these times usually have fewer people around which can reduce the level of distraction for the ceremony. And make sure you rehearse the positioning of the wedding party relative to the sun so that no one has the glare in their eyes.

Attire – Dresses that flow beautifully indoors can be ruined in a beach wedding because of contact with the ground so keep that in mind when selecting your dress. Shoes can work if they are low or no heel, especially if carpet is placed on the sand for the wedding party to stand on. If the ceremony is actually on the sand, consider wearing flip flops or sandals, but be careful of going barefoot so bugs don’t distract you. Wind is also a factor to consider with deciding to have a veil since a breezy day could break your concentration if you have to hold down the veil when the wind blows.

Expense – Beach weddings can offer a lower cost approach if you let the ambiance and views provide your natural decorations. You can have the ceremony and reception at the same place which saves expense and travel time which can be a great convenience for out of town guests who may not be familiar with the area.

Food – Special consideration has to be paid to the reception food to make sure that bugs do not interfere and that the wedding cake does not melt, so selecting a caterer that has beach wedding experience is almost a necessity. Some of your guests can pitch in to assist in keeping birds away.

South Carolina Beach Wedding Companies

With careful planning your South Carolina beach wedding can be a beautiful and enjoyable experience for you, your wedding party and your guests to remember for a lifetime!

By Guest Blogger Steve Cooper

Have you ever taken a “marriage vacation?” Which is to say, a vacation with just you and your spouse—no kids—where the purpose is to reconnect, rejuvenate and enjoy each other’s company. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had never heard of it.

You might be thinking, “Aren’t all vacations a dose of good medicine for your marriage?” The short answer is, maybe. The problem with your typical vacation, often, is that you’re likely distracted by making sure the kids behave, you’re focused on a group itinerary, and so on. Moreover, the intentions behind the escape are often to get away from work and the daily grind, not to find that spark in your marriage.

A few weeks back, Dr. Michelle Gannon, a psychologist specializing in relationships and women’s issues, brought this idea to my attention. She told me a story about how her husband wanted to take her away many years ago without their young children on a marriage vacation. At first she was adamantly opposed to the idea and even consulted her friends who also rejected the idea. She soon changed her mind, though, and has made it an annual tradition every year since.

The impetus behind the marriage vacation came from Gannon’s husband, also a psychologist, who felt the attention of the couple had been focused lopsidedly on their young children. It’s understandable that good parents would want to put great emphasis on their kids, however it’s too often that children begin to suck up all the attention and couples begin to drift apart.

“We have to take care of ourselves and take care of our relationships and that is also being a good parent,” said Gannon. “It really is a good thing for your children too, to see that Mom and Dad have a marriage that’s worthy of spending a vacation together.”

Even after Gannon described to me their marriage vacation, I was still uncertain about its difference from a second honeymoon. I asked Gannon this, who now incorporates the teachings of marriage vacations in her Marriage Prep 101 workshops where she makes a strong distinction between the two.

“When I think of my honeymoon, it was really exotic; and if I think about a second honeymoon that feels like a lot of effort to make that happen,” said Gannon. A marriage vacation, conversely, doesn’t need the tropical thrills and leis. Gannon said a marriage vacation to her is more of a necessity, a tool to sharpen your marital health. She now includes them to her schedule like date nights.

Gannon said the idea is to take a break from reality. Gannon and her husband have done everything from zip lining to attending the theater; while some of the couples Gannon works with have done things like wine tasting and bike rides.

To really reconnect and benefit, Gannon recommends a marriage vacation last at minimum two days to serve its purpose. If money is an issue, Gannon knows couples who have rented a hotel room in their same town or turned their home into a vacation spot when the kids are away for the weekend.

It’s encouraging that many are already taking marriage vacations, but just aren’t calling them by that name. The next step is to make them a part of everyone’s schedule for marital health, as Gannon recommends. For couples whom still aren’t convinced or worry their children might not understand, Gannon shared the following story.

A few years after she and her husband had been taking their marriage vacations, they asked their children if they knew why Mommy and Daddy took their regular Fall trips without them. Their youngest son replied, “Because it is good for your marriage.”