Take the Trip. Take the Time. Take a Breath.
As I’ve mentioned before, Rachel and I have terrible timing. Whenever we plan something, life seems to step in and say, “Not so fast.” Tragedies, financial curveballs, work conflicts, a full-blown pandemic—you name it. Even as I write this, I’m watching my two sons wrestle on the trampoline, half-expecting one of them to break an arm and derail our next big move: Rachel and I’s first real trip together in six years.
When we first started dating—right before the world shut down—we had big plans to travel and experience life together. To be fair, we’ve still found ways to do that. We took a masked-up trip to the Finger Lakes and Cooperstown, traveled to Mexico just before Kaven made his entrance into the world, and have had our fair share of family vacations and destination weddings. We’ve been fortunate to make memories in a lot of places.
But here’s the truth—most of those trips weren’t really breaks.
When you’re parenting, you’re still parenting… just somewhere else. When you’re working, you’re still working… just with a nicer view. Even the best family vacations can feel like a shift in location more than a true reset.
That said, we’ve learned how to take what we can get. Porch nights after the kids go to bed. A quiet drive through the fall foliage in Vermont. Horseback riding in Tennessee squeezed between a rehearsal and a wedding. Small moments that give you just enough space to breathe.
But now, it’s our turn.
We’re taking six days away—no kids, no obligations, no real agenda. Just a cruise, hopefully some warm weather, a couple of drinks, and a good book or two. A true reset.
And that’s why I’m sharing this with you.
After your wedding day, you need that same kind of time. Whether it’s a full honeymoon somewhere far away, a long weekend getaway, or even just a few intentional days at home, it matters more than most people realize. You’ve just spent months—maybe years—planning one of the biggest days of your life. You’ve managed logistics, vendors, family expectations, and a thousand moving parts. And then, just like that, it’s over.
Life doesn’t slow down after your wedding. If anything, it picks right back up. Work, routines, responsibilities—it all comes rushing back in.
So take the trip. Take the time. Take a breath. Give yourselves the space to actually feel married. To sit in it, enjoy it, and experience that shift together before life settles back into its normal rhythm.
And don’t let that be a one-time thing.
Make it a point to take time for each other regularly—real, intentional time. Date nights, even if it’s just once or twice a month (yes, I’m looking at you, future and current parents). Go to a baseball game, hit your favorite lunch spot, grab tickets to a concert, or just get out and do the things you used to do when everything felt a little simpler. Those moments matter more than you think, and they’re a big part of what keeps everything else strong.
And when it comes to everything else, don’t worry—I’ve got it covered. I’ll take care of the legal side of things and make sure everything is properly handled and filed, so you can focus on what actually matters: starting your marriage the right way.
