Time to dig that pair of goggles out from underneath those dusty boxes of high school memorabilia in the closet.
When my fiancé got down on one knee last summer, I had no idea the whirlwind of wedding planning that awaited us. Even though we opted for the non-traditional, micro-wedding route (hello Airbnb), the stress of planning any event is enough for me to jet off to an island where decision-making frenzies are thousands of miles away. Instead of booking a couples’ retreat, though, I packed my bags for a solo honeymoon in Hawaii. Yes, you read that correctly. While most couples plan honeymoons together after saying their “I do’s,” I decided this was the perfect opportunity to reconnect with myself before committing to a lifetime with someone else, and my husband—then fiancé—fully supported me.
Sure, the concept of a “solomoon,” aka a solo honeymoon, felt radical at first, but I also knew it would be a refreshing chance to ground myself and evaluate my priorities. “Taking time to go on a solomoon is a wonderful way to set the tone for an interdependent marriage, where both people are prioritizing themselves as individuals,” says Morgan Anderson, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and relationship coach. “Self-care isn’t selfish. When you take time to connect to yourself, you are also doing the right thing for your marriage.”
So, what happened after I deliberately chose to travel sans fiancé a few months before meeting him at the altar? I knew taking a solo honeymoon was going to be fulfilling mentally and emotionally, but my actual experience was transformative in a way I wasn’t expecting, preparing me to show up for my husband and our marriage as the best version of myself.
Why I went on a solomoon
Bridal showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, babymoons, and traditional honeymoons all celebrate different shared milestones—getting married to your partner, welcoming a new life into the world, and starting a new chapter in a relationship. A solomoon, however, is a unique pre- (or sometimes post-) wedding retreat dedicated solely to yourself. It’s a chance to pause, reflect, and ensure you’re bringing your best self into your new marria
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