Your honeymoon is the trip of a lifetime, and you will want to bring home a few special souvenirs to help you remember the trip. On the other hand, you don’t want to come home weighed down by a bunch of tacky touristy stuff that will end up stuffed in the back of your closest. This is a guide to how to pick the best honeymoon souvenirs.
The first thing that will go into finding the perfect mementos is your honeymoon destination. Some places offer shopping that is out-of-this-world, while others don’t have much more than a t-shirt stand. This will help to determine how many things you decide to bring home from your trip. Really, though, it is quality that counts when you are picking the pieces that will help you to remember a wonderful trip, not quantity.
One of the best honeymoon souvenirs is not something that you will buy on your trip at all. It is a scrapbook or travel journal that you can fill with all sorts of little things that tell the story of your first vacation as husband and wife. You can include items such as train tickets, snapshots, postcards, menus, and more. Jot down a few notes about each item in your travel journal to help you remember all of the fun sightseeing and experiences that you shared on your honeymoon.
Another thing that is wonderful for holding sentimental meaning over the years is jewelry. If you get a piece of jewelry on your honeymoon, you will always think of your trip when you wear it. A nice idea is for the groom to buy his new wife a handcrafted piece of jewelry that completes her bridal set. For instance, if your new wife wore handcrafted freshwater pearl bridal jewelry on your wedding day, you could surprise her with a pearl pin or bracelet that you purchased from a local artisan on your honeymoon.
Local art and crafts are a terrific way to capture the spirit of a vacation spot. Pick up a piece that is native to where you are honeymooning. Give it a place of honor in your new home to remind you of your honeymoon every day. It could be anything from a piece of pottery from Arizona to handblown Venetian glass to a small oil painting done by a local Parisian artist. This is one type of souvenir that you can be sure will bring joy to your new home.
Of course, the new bride might want to pick up a souvenir or two just for herself. So much of what is sold in touristy areas is really low quality; your best bet is to find out where the locals shop. In some hot honeymoon spots, particularly in Europe, there are iconic brands or products that you just can’t live without. Examples would be French perfume or an Hermes scarf from Paris or a pair of Ferragamo pumps or a gold charm from Florence. These are timeless pieces that you will be glad to have splurged on!
When you are shopping for honeymoon souvenirs, it is always gracious to bring a little something back for your parents. It can be as simple or elaborate as your budget allows. A silver picture frame with a picture of the newlyweds on their trip is a perfect thank you for your family, who no doubt did so much to help with your wedding. After all, one of the hallmarks of a happy marriage is that you are always thinking of doing nice things for someone that you care about.