Since this is my last week at iVillage, I thought it would be appropriate to have a getaway theme for my last two posts. (Don’t forget, starting Thursday, this blog is moving to http://from-i-will-to-i-do.blogspot.com/)

Whether you’re leaving for your honeymoon straight from your reception, the next day or months later put a lot of thought into it. Your honeymoon is supposed to be your most romantic vacation, so if there’s a place you always wanted to visit, go there! If you can afford the upgrade to first class, do it!

If you’re having a destination wedding, you may want to invite close friends and family down a few days early to have some fun, but just like a wedding held in your hometown, you and your fiancé may not have a lot of time at the pool. You’ll be running around making last minute decisions and meeting with vendors to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.

So, it may make more sense to have your closest friends stay a few days after the wedding so you can actual spend time with them. Even if it does go into honeymoon time.

When we went to a wedding in Barbados last year, the bride and groom went down the week before to take care of the wedding details, and we really didn’t see much of them except at the two pre-wedding events they planned. The day after the wedding, almost everyone flew home, but we stayed for the extra night and so did the bride and groom and their immediate families. We had the best time. The couple didn’t have to tend to any details so they had a lot of time to relax and enjoy.

My point my have gotten lost in the story, but here it is: If you really want to spend time with your friends and relatives at your destination, ask those close to you if they can stay later instead of coming earlier so you’re sure to have quality time with them.  You can then stay longer at the destination for your honeymoon, or fly off to it a few days after your wedding day.

Speaking of Barbados. The image above is a view of the beach at the Sandy Lane resort on the island. Sandy Lane is an unbelievable destination for both honeymoons and weddings. In fact, Tiger Woods got hitched there a few years ago. For something really special (and over the top) you can book The Villa at Sandy Lane and have your family and friends stay with you. The villa offers a private pool, personal staff, a fully-stocked bar and an entertainment system.