Want to Volunteer on Your Honeymoon?

Doing something nice for others sounds like a pretty great way to start your life together. That might be why some newlyweds are opting to spend their honeymoon volunteering to help others. More than 60 percent of travel companies surveyed by Lasso Communications for the State of the Volunteer Travel Industry said they expected to send more volunteers abroad in 2009 than in 2008 as reported in the article "Honeyteering" by Aimee Heckel for the dailycamera. Still, less than 10 percent of these people travel with their partner, according to another study, Volunteer Travel Insights 2009 by GeckoGo, also reported by Heckel.

The dailycamera article, however, also includes stories of couples who celebrated their wedding or their anniversary by helping to build Habitat for Humanity homes and another set of newlyweds who helped collect sea turtle eggs on their honeymoon. Some people might opt for the volunteer honeymoon as a way to make up for indulging in a lavish wedding. Regardless of why you opt for a volunteer honeymoon, you are starting your life together in a way that is meaningful. It says to the world that you realize the world does not revolve around the two of you. That is a gracious and dignified way to mark your union.

On the other hand, I spent my honeymoon relaxing on the beach of Mexico's Riviera Maya, so I can't blame you if cocktails and long naps in the sand are more your thing. Every couple is different, and you have to choose the honeymoon that is right for the two of you.