As we're nearing the big day, stress levels are understandably climbing. This is why Mike and I have taken the opportunity to celebrate our engagement before we take the next big step in our relationship. By taking a pre-honeymoon we gave ourselves the best “remember when we were engaged?” stories to share years into our happy marriage.
What is a pre-honeymoon, you ask?
A pre-honeymoon is a honeymoon before the wedding not intended to replace the traditional honeymoon after the wedding. (We completely intend to take a grand adventure somewhere to celebrate a successful wedding as well.)
How do you plan a pre-honeymoon?
Depending on the nature of the trip, it's usually best to start early. We decided from the get-go that just because we're getting married this year, we wouldn't sacrifice our active lifestyles for the sake of an over the top wedding.
So when a chance to take a Caribbean cruise to Turks & Caicos entertained by the likes of 311 (our favorite band) came to our collective attention we weren't about to miss it! Not being a very cheap date, we both got part-time jobs in order to save for our pre-honeymoon, a traditional honeymoon, and the wedding!
Our parents were right, determination and hard-work really do pay off! We spent 4 nights aboard the Carnival Destiny Ship, with it's ten decks of cozy cabins, casinos, shops, and our very own waterslide. Our pre-honeymoon was just what the doctor ordered as we gain speed towards the wedding.
We were able to bond in paradise sharing one exciting experience after another. We celebrated a message of love and unity with almost 3,000 partying shipmates and got to know people from all over the globe with a shared love for 311. At the first performance, on the top open deck in the sun and surf as we left Miami, one dreamy-eyed fan asked another for 
her hand in marriage amidst thousands of friends he'd yet to meet. They were standing right behind us and just witnessing the tender moment as our favorite band played mere yards away, brought everything into perspective for a moment.
Almost two years ago, that was us, and we had no idea what lay ahead of us as far as a wedding was concerned. What a great way to start the trip!
Reality Check
After nearly a week spent in Miami and cruisin' around the Caribbean with Mike, we're closer than ever. We've found a renewed energy regarding the wedding and came back ready for the home stretch.
Getting back from our vacation, however, proved more challenging than one could imagine. Within a week of our return, the earthquake, tsunami, and now near nuclear meltdown in Japan occurred.
Prior to our trip, my brother Dominic received the good news that he'd be stationed in Okinawa, Japan to continue his training in the Marines. I was so excited for him as I knew how badly he wanted to see the world and this was a great start for him. But once tragedy struck Japan, we all felt a little differently.
He was still sent to Okinawa, which I understand wasn't horribly effected by the disaster. One more thing to consider unfortunately, is the possibility of my brother being unable to return for our wedding. I'm torn between being so proud of him for lending a hand when it is genuinely needed and being selfishly upset that he will more than likely not be permitted to return to the States for his only sister's wedding.
I'm so scared for so many reasons but most of all I'm scared that on the most important day of my life thus far, I may not get to look down the table to share a knowing grin with my only little brother. I just need to remind myself that he's doing something great right now and there's no use worrying until August when we'll find out.
So I'll just keep showering him with praise for the good he is doing now and find strength in planning the best damn wedding I can plan!
Lena M. Sack is a 25 year old student of life currently working her way through Massage Therapy School. By day an Executive Assistant for a magnet company, by night, writer and artist, Lena's latest mission is planning a dream wedding with her wonderful fiancé, Michael.
