The selection in my secret foodie drawer wasn’t calling to me either, so I walked a couple of blocks to Caffe Ritazza and picked up a ginormous salad to enjoy.
Big Ol' Salad
On the side I ate a peanut butter and chocolate bite.
Lil' Bite
How good does that little dessert look? Well, it tasted about 5 times less delicious than it looked. I still ate the whole thing, but it was a bit disappointing.
At least my salad rocked! 😀
Honeymoon Update
Our honeymoon is halfway planned.
We have a destination selected and a resort booked for Sunday and Monday nights (with the potential to extend our stay).
On Sunday, Ryan and I have plans to drive south for several hours to the Florida Keys for a couple of days of exploration, relaxation and consummation. <– What? It is our honeymoon. 😉 (My mom is probably passing out right now. 😀 )
I cannot wait to tell you all about the place where we’re staying. It looks beyond amazing. It’s luxurious, private and unbelievably gorgeous. You cannot even get to the resort by car! I can’t wait! 😀
As for the second half of our honeymoon, we’re still undecided. Here are our current ideas:
- 4-day cruise
- Charleston, South Carolina (This means a lot of driving)
- Naples, Florida
- Sanibel Island, Florida
Though I am incredibly excited about our plans to visit the Keys, I am a little bummed. Ryan and I should be in St. Lucia right now. 🙁 I know that whatever we do will be absolutely amazing, but I’d be lying if I said I pictured myself spending my honeymoon in the United States.
I am trying to focus on the important things like our safety and our new marriage. We were lucky not to be in St. Lucia when the hurricane hit. We are also lucky to receive full refunds from the airline and resort where we were planning to stay. And, most importantly, we just got married and will have the best time no matter where we go.
They say home is where the heart is… Well, a honeymoon is where the newlyweds are! 😀
Newlyweds!
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Aw, have fun, whatever you decide to do 🙂
You will have an amazing time no matter what! Don’t forget: it’s not where you are but who you’re with that matters. <–Cheesy, but true!
Hum. Chocolate and peanut butter and it didn’t taste good? It’s tough to mess that one up… I would have been a little disappointed too!
Have fun on your honeymoon 🙂
That sounds amazing! What could be better than a private, relaxing vacation? I totally understand the appeal of going somewhere more . . . foreign? I didn’t think I’d be honeymooning in the U.S. either, but it’s been much simpler to orchestrate our trip to Maui than to Aruba or the Maldives! Have an AMAZING time!
The Keys sound totally awesome, and you’re so right–a honeymoon is where the newlyweds are! You are going to have an amazing time no matter where you go. Kudos to you both for seeing the bright side of the situation! I hope you have a fabulous trip! 🙂
can i just say that you have done a *wonderful* job staying positive about this whole thing? i’d be freaking out. even if you are a little bit stressed, you will figure it all out. cherish the time together! good luck with planning!! and hey, even if you don’t come to charleston, plan a visit for another time. it is beautiful here 🙂
Have a wonderful time, wherever you go! Can’t wait to read about it!
Even though it is a major bummer, good for you for keeping a positive attitude. Your new plans sound amazing too though, you’ll have a wonderful time. And yes the important thing is that you are together and any situation is only what you make of it 🙂
It will be a fabulous time! I can understand why you are a little sad, but what matters is that the two of you do something fun and exciting together!
Don’t you hate when a dessert looks amazing and just tastes meh? It’s such a downer.
My bff’s family has a condo on Sanibel Island and she just got engaged there! She loves it there!
I love the Keys! Since you are driving you HAVE to stop by at No Name Pub on Big Pine Key! They have HUGE pizzas and the place is literally COVERED in dollar bills that customers draw on and then staple them to the wall! When my husband and I went we were practically sitting on dollar bills.. and the pizza isn’t too shabby either! It was right before we got married so we designed a cute bill with our wedding date and hearts – we still have a picture of it! Here the website:
http://www.nonamepub.com
I first read that as “consumption” and couldn’t figure out why that would make your mom faint, but I get it now 🙂
Have a fabulous Honeymoon!
I’m sorry that your honeymoon didn’t work out the way that you planned. But you are right. The most important thing is that you are safe and you are married and you are happy. 🙂 I’m sure your honeymoon will be amazing! It’s all what you make of it. Just think, for your one year annivesary, you can go to St. Lucia. 🙂
consummation… bahahahahahaha! you made my afternoon start off with a laugh!
I can’t wait to see pictures, I bet itll be beautiful! <3
Keep it all in perspective, you're safe, healthy, and happy, and MARRIED! That's what matters.
I say… St. Lucia for your first anniversary 🙂
My family has had a house in naples florida since I was born. I’m from illinois so naples is my home away from home. I can 100 percent guarantee you that you will loveeeeeeeee it. If you need ANYTHING at all or have any questions please let me know. I’ve traveled a lot, and I can honestly say I’d rather be in naples then anywhere else in the world.
Email me with any questions!
Your pictures are so gorgeous!! I am sorry about your honeymoon but whatever you do you will love it! That peanut butter and chocolate bite looks so good! Go on a cruise…that is our favorite thing to do!
CRUISE!!! That way you will sort of not be in the United States…
I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time regardless and you’ll make more memories than you can imagine. I had always wanted to go some place special for my honeymoon and ended up spending a few days at Hershey, PA. We couldn’t afford a honeymoon and so my family pitched in for it. Plus, my husband was awaiting his residency and he couldn’t leave the country. However, we had an AMAZING time and think about it all the time. It wasn’t Rome, but it was perfect. I’m sure your honeymoon will be perfect also.
Your honeymoon will be amazing, no matter what!
haha consummation…LOVE IT!!! Have an amazing time!
I absoluty LOVE Sanibel. My family has vacationed their for years and I was able to take my boyfriend last year, we had an amazing time!!! There are so many fun things to do there! Our favorite spot was the Bubble Room – their desserts are amazinggg!
A 4 day cruise sounds great too though!!
the bubble room is so amazing! bubble bread!
ohhhh and the Bubble Room cake!!! Holy yum….
When you said you can’t get to your hotel by car, the first thing that came to my mind was this underwater hotel I heard about in high school. here is there link – http://www.jul.com/frontpage.html
haha while that probably isn’t where you are going, I hope you have a happy honeymoon!!!! 🙂
omg! no, that’s not it, but how cool! i’m actually really claustrophobic, so i think i’d die there!
haha too funny!
I vote for the cruise! Please don’t go to Naples… yawn! You deserve to celebrate in a better place than that!
I think any weekend filled with consummation sounds like a good weekend to me :).
I really admire your attitude regarding the Honeymoon problems. You WILL have a great time no matter what and someday you will back at all of this fondly and have a great story to tell.
All you need is love, right? (barf, sounds cheesy, but true)
sounds so cool! my grandparents live in Naples, FL and I love it there. The Ritz is right on the water and i’m sure you could get a good price on those travel websites like expedia or travelocity. Have fun!!
you have such a great, positive outlook! i don’t think i would’ve handled things as gracefully as you have. i love it 🙂 you both will have an amazing time no matter what you do or where you are!
happy honeymooning!
Your place in the Keys sounds AMAZING! If you don’t want to be in the States, try a cruise! I love Royal Caribbean…but you are SO right. Anywhere will be amazing:)
Yay! I know you and Ryan will have such a great time Julie! You really are so positive through all these tough and frustrating times! It’s definitely something I look up to. Have a blast!!
You know… Hawai’i is in the United States. 🙂
That’s where I honeymooned, on Kauai, and had a wonderful time. Really laid back and fun, plus the beaches are beautiful and th food is amazing.
But no matter what, you are married to your sweetie and no matter where you go, you’ll have a wonderful time. *hugs*
Have fun on your trip!
My husband and I spent our honeymoon at the beach, the one that is about an hour away that we go to all the time. It’s all we could afford to do!
I was really bummed and had really wanted to do something out of the ordinary and I actually ended up getting sick halfway through and we had to come home.
Then I realized we have the rest of our lives for fun vacations and life in general. 🙂
You should highly consider the cruise! I think cruises are the best. You have the best of every world. a great resort, restaurants with amazing food (and you can eat as much as you want), nightlife, privacy, and adventurous excursions when you get off the boat. Also you could still end up outside of the US because most in that area go to the Bahamas.
Cruises are the best. You are right though, no matter where you go you will have an amazing time with Ryan.
Have a safe and fun trip!
Wait a second, you two are going to go away and have SEX!!!! ahahhaha I love your posts you are too funny. Enjoy your married life! 🙂
SANIBEL ISLAND ALL THE WAY! my family vacationed there every year while i was growing up. it is absolute paradise, and is ranked as one of the best shelling beaches in the US. it is beyond beautiful, and I have nothing but the fondest of memories of that absolutely wonderful place. I will undoubtedly take my family there when I have one!
Look into the Casa Y’Bel resort on Sanibel. It is bliss.
Also, near Sanibel is another island called Captiva Island, which is a great place to adventure to for a day trip if you’re staying on Sanibel. They have tons of cute shops, great beaches, it is just perfect.
hahaha consummation. lol This is why I love your blog. You will have fun no matter what! and remember there is always next year that you could go there! 🙂
Consummation!!!!! HAHA!
You’re too cute! My friend was just telling me at lunch today how she and her husband went to St. Lucia for their honeymoon (many years ago) and she said there was an awful hurricane and the whole trip sucked. She said they basically spent the week at the bar – which she said was fun in itself – but she wanted to sight see and relax on the beach. They have since made up for it with other trips together, but she said it was pretty scary to be there in such an awful storm with no safe way of leaving if need be.
🙂
Are you going to LITTLE PALM ISLAND?!?!?!!?!
maaaaybe… 😉
Since you love food so much, go on a cruise!!!! All the food you want, all the time! Plus, you will need to bring a passport, so it satisfies all of your requirements 🙂
HAHA “consummation.” Made my afternoon. I hope you have a wonderful time no matter where you go!
You’re going to have so, SO much fun in the Keys!! Especially this time of year. 😀
Out of those choices, I say do the cruise. 😀 I hope you both have SO much fun. I’m sure you will though.
And consummation…but of course there needs to be some of that. 😉
Ah, I’m planning my wedding right now, and the honeymoon is the toughest part… I’m keeping posted to hear all about yours. Well, all of it except the consummation part, LoL
have fun! and you are right- the honeymoon is all about the newlyweds… location doesn’t matter. you’re together! 🙂
My family and I go to Sanibel Island every year! It’s beautiful there, pretty beaches, delicious food, and it’s so relaxing…try checking out Captiva Island too!
Ohhh my vote is Sanibel Island for the second part of your honeymoon!!! I have been vacationing there since I was 6 months old!!! My mom actually has a condo there if you’re interested, it’s at Sanibel Siesta, really good rates, too, and right on the water!!! Beautiful beautiful… I also recommend the Sundial Resort, as well as Tween Waters and South Seas Resort over on Captiva. Sooo many good resturants on the island, too! And a great biking/running trail (miles and miles), oh, and of couse the shelling is unreal! Gosh, I could go on and on…
I’m sure whatever you all choose will be so much fun, and very relaxing! You deserve it after all of this!
I have heard nothing but amazing things about the Keys. I say go for the cruise!
The honeymoon is about the honey and you have that covered my marrying a stud 😉 Have a fab time and takes lots of pictures
It’s certainly a bummer but sounds like you have a wonderful solution! I’d say also to take a moment to be grateful that you’re not one of the locals of St. Lucia who are missing friends and family members and wouldn’t ever have the money to spend a night in a resort at a hotel in their own country…they haven’t even had safe drinking water. There’s a lot of poverty in the Caribbean that has been exacerbated by the privatization of beaches and shores where people used to be able to make a livelihood and a living fishing. Just something to keep in mind when you plan tropical vacations, especially in The Bahamas.
We live in FL too and we didn’t have time to take a big honeymoon right after we got married, so we spent a few days at this fun little place by Ft. Myers Beach called Lovers Key. SO adorable, really just relaxing, calm, with plenty of time in the sun. Plus how cool is it to say you spent (part) of your honeymoon in Lovers Key? 😉
Lovers Key Beach Club and Resort was where I believe we stayed. 🙂 It’s also really close to Ft. Myers too, so if you wanted to head down to the Ft. Myers beach strip for some more restaurant options, that’s totally an easy option!
Where you are doesn’t matter too much – you’ll prob spend a good amount of time in the room anyway. 😉
Hi Julie!
Just had a quick question: Is there a reason why you chose not to wear jewelry on your wedding day? Or maybe you did and it’s hard to tell from the pictures??
You look absolutely beautiful regardless, was just curious 😉
Good luck with the honeymoon!!!
i actually wore a pearl bracelet on my left hand. i didn’t wear earrings b/c my ears aren’t pierced and opted against a necklace b/ci loved the neckline of my dress and didn’t want to detract from it.