I don’t know if the flood of wedding invitations I’ve received is a byproduct of the many celebrations that have had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, or if it’s some kind of rite of passage for everyone approaching their late 20s.
Be that as it may, over the past few years my calendar—and the outside of my refrigerator—has been filled with many invitations and appointments. Many of these invitations also required travel for me.
To keep expensive flights to a minimum, I used weddings as an opportunity to explore places like West Palm Beach, Cleveland, and even my own city, creating the perfect marriage between wedding and personal travel.
I remain open and flexible for spontaneous experiences.
When I was in Ohio for my cousin’s wedding, I visited the house from A Christmas Carol. Anna Staropoli
Sandusky, Ohio, doesn’t exactly scream relaxation, but for my cousin’s wedding, my boyfriend and I embarked on a road trip through the Midwest.
During the trip I discovered two things: “A Christmas Story” was filmed in Cleveland and my friend had never tried Waffle House.
Before we even got to our hotel, we planned our return trip and made sure to visit the famous filming location and famous chain restaurant on the way home. I loved that being at the wedding gave us a reason to explore the area and try new things.
Once I arrived in Sandusky, I continued that passion, visiting Lake Erie, trying Culver’s Custard, and exploring the Marblehead Lighthouse.
To manage expectations, I’ve learned to think of each honeymoon as an introduction to a place.
A few years ago, after a friend’s ceremony in West Palm Beach, I planned my first trip to Miami.
Although I enjoyed Miami, I was annoyed by everything I missed in Palm Beach. Aside from visiting the Norton Museum of Art, I saw little of West Palm.
Since then, I’ve adjusted my expectations. I don’t have the time or energy to do everything, so I think of honeymoons as city introductions rather than the ultimate road trip.
This attitude has minimized the pressure I put on my vacation and inspired me for future travel.
Even though weddings take place close to my home, I cultivate the art of the “staycation” vacation.
I’m glad I chose a hotel room when I attended a wedding at Lake Canandaigua. Anna Staropoli
Last summer, I attended a wedding at Lake Canandaigua, just an hour from my home in Rochester, New York. While I could have commuted, the venue had been on my radar since I moved upstate, so I booked a room.
This decision was worth the hotel cost; I jumped into the lake countless times, met up with college friends and drank Riesling: the reason the Finger Lakes are famous.
This wedding also sparked my interest in the other Finger Lakes and changed my perspective on my surroundings.
I try not to fill my schedule with activities after the wedding festivities.
I’m planning on attending a wedding at the Chicago Botanic Garden soon, and although I originally planned to spend an extra day in the city, I discovered that my hotel was actually an hour away from downtown.
To conserve my energy, I’ve since adjusted my trip to visit Chicago’s North Shore and the chic, much closer suburb of Lake Forest, Illinois.
Aside from these activities, however, I leave the rest of the day free. After a weekend of wedding events, I’m likely to feel exhausted and ready to recharge. Although weddings are planned down to the hour, honeymoons can balance out the hustle and bustle of a festive weekend.
