After tossing the bouquet and saying the goodbyes, newlyweds excitedly face their first meaningful experience as a married couple (well, perhaps after the wedding night)... the honeymoon. And deservedly so; months of meetings and parties take both a physical and mental toll. Time away allows husband and wife to finally focus solely on each other and relive the hectic memories of a wonderful weekend.

For those who wish to only relax in the sun and detox from all the activity, please enjoy all the daiquiris and pool patios you can stand. However, if you wish to extend the fun of the wedding celebrations, with a few well-executed plans you can make the honeymoon just as noteworthy as the walk down the aisle.

Honeymoons have become as personalized as the weddings that precede them. Trips to paradise still abound, but active couples now also travel to ski lodges, African safaris, and hikes through New Zealand. No matter where you may land, make the arrival special by calling the hotel ahead to request a special message to welcome your spouse at check-in. Although many properties usually honor newlyweds in this manner, a specialized love note makes it more meaningful.

Some couples luckily enjoy all the same activities and remain perfectly happy to ski/snorkel/sightsee side by side. But the majority of us may get viciously seasick while the husband happily reels in fish after fish. For the one or two weeks of the honeymoon, consider setting aside your own preferences while you explore a hobby your betrothed adores. By surprising them with a visit to a modern museum while you only appreciate Monet's impressionism, you will honor their loves while also broadening your own horizons (for an afternoon, at least).

Active couples should remember to benefit from down time after the excursions. Either a couple's massage or an afternoon lazily eyeing the view from the hotel balcony let you have at least a few hours alone... after all, this is no normal vacation and should have the requisite romance time! Even if a rose petal bubble bath is just not your style, the massage will soothe your aching muscles after a long bicycle ride. If you feel time spent doing nothing is a waste, then enjoy the sights while planning the next day's schedule or reliving the previous day's adventures.

This may be difficult for modest types, but take advantage of any perks the resort or hotel may bestow upon newlyweds! Even if your accommodations do not offer a specific "honeymoon package," often a simple mention of your recent marriage can bring free champagne, chocolate dipped strawberries, and room upgrades your way. Consider mentioning this at the airport as well... some new couples pay for economy tickets but find themselves reveling in the leather seats of first class. The current financial crisis possibly can make these freebies harder to obtain, but it doesn't hurt to try. Even if you are denied, it's always fun to share in the happiness.

Be sure to document the honeymoon with pictures as much (almost) as the actual wedding. After the thousands of pictures endured during the wedding, you may feel as if you never want to have another picture taken of you again. But no matter how much you think you will remember the beautiful sunset on the first night of the honeymoon, it will be a treasure to share the pictures with your children one day. Just don’t subject any friends to a slide show upon your return... a few choice selections suitable for framing will suffice for sharing the trip.

Whether an action-packed journey or a decadent spa escape, honeymoons often eclipse the wedding for the favorite part of the marriage saga. No guests to mingle with, fitted bodices to squeeze into, or differing family members to appease allow the bride and groom to focus on only two things: each other, and to have fun.

-- Jennifer Mackethan