Marriage

After The Aisle: Honeymooning Through the Holidays

Image Courtesy of Jazzymae Photography

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year….as it should be! The holiday season is especially exciting for newlywed couples experiencing it together for the first time. Here are five ways to make the absolute most of the holidays this year:

Build New Traditions

The holidays offer countless opportunities to create new traditions with your spouse. Unsurprisingly, tradition-making also builds intimacy in your marriage. Traditions are huge memory-makers, and the possibilities are endless. A couple that my husband and I are friends with run a "turkey trot" 5k each Thanksgiving (I need to take notes!). In my family, we are huge film buffs, and make it a habit to see a new blockbuster on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day. The point of it all is to build family unity; there are few things more unifying than old and new traditions, so make sure to get into the tradition building spirit this year!

Enjoy the Winter Wonderland
I'm a Midwesterner, so I've seen enough snow to last a few lifetimes. I've told many that I could live the rest of my life without snow and would die happy! Despite my disdain for the snow, I can admit that its presence adds to the feel of the holiday season. It is such a beautiful thing to see the festive holiday lights against the snow. There are several ways that you and your spouse can enjoy the wintry weather. Many cities have holiday light displays; you can partake in the festivities by having a relaxing evening out with your husband. Grab some hot cocoa, and enjoy the scenery. Or, if you don't have two left feet (unlike me), then go ice skating. This is a perfect way to get out and enjoy the crisp, cool weather. The possibilities are endless.

Image Courtesy of Mecca Gamble Photography

Decorate!

It is such a warm feeling to come home to beautiful holiday decorations! And trust me, you don't have to be a Martha Stewart protégé to fancy up your place for the holidays. If you aren't the best decorator, then start small. A friend of mine likes to keep it simple, and always hangs garland and red ribbons during the holidays. The effects are outstanding. Whether you like simplicity, or prefer to go for the gusto, get into the spirit by decorating your household. And why not make it a family affair? Get your spouse involved, and children if you have them. This is a supreme way to get the holiday spirit revved into gear.

Create Keepsakes

Holidays are about creating memories. One of the best ways to do this is by creating keepsakes. Since our dating days, my husband and I have always enjoyed getting our pictures taken at strip photo booths. We have a photo strip for each year that we've been together. It's very cool to see how we, namely me (since my husband doesn't age), have changed over the years. It's quick, easy, cheap, and now we have those memories to last us for the rest of our lives. Make sure to create keepsakes this holiday season – whether it's a family photo shoot or not, create something to commemorate the holiday season.

Give Back

The holidays are a time of joy, merriment, and gratefulness. But the holidays are not a joyous time for everyone. In fact, studies have shown that many people experience a peak in feelings of depression during the holiday season. So please remember to stay empathetic toward others during the season. Give back to your community. You can donate non-perishables to a local food pantry or shelter. Or you can volunteer your time and service to local initiatives. A wise friend of mine gave me the idea to have my children, both toddlers, color handmade holiday cards for us to deliver to a local nursing home. Again, the opportunities to give back are endless. You too can make this holiday season one of giving and compassion.

 

More than anything, make this a memorable year with your spouse. I pray that you have a peaceful and enjoyable holiday season!

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Will you incorporate any of these ideas into your time together during the Holidays? We would love to hear from you, and other couples would too! Leave your thoughts, idea's or traditions in the message box below.