Alaska Honeymoon? Hawaiian Honeymoon? Why not both!

Are you familiar with the "Gift of the Magi" by O Henry? To jog your memory:

A couple very much in love without any money, want to buy each other Christmas presents. 
The man sells his beloved watch to buy a comb for his wife. The woman sells her hair to purchase a new
watch band for her husband. They sacrafice for each other in the name of love.

I recently worked with a honeymoon couple that reminded me of this tale. Avi wanted an adventurous experience, something unique, active and beautiful. He felt that Alaska would be his ideal honeymoon spot.

His fiance, Leah,  wanted a relaxing vacation filled with lazy days on the beach, fruity drinks and pampering. She envisioned Hawaii as her perfect honeymoon. They clearly wanted very different experiences, but both wanted the other to have the honeymoon of their dreams.

As we sat and talked, they were each ready to give up what they wanted to make the other happy. It was so sweet and refreshing to see such committment!

I suggested that since they had plenty of time for the honeymoon, they visit both! It had never occured to them to go to Alaska AND Hawaii in one trip since they are so different! I pulled up a map and we looked at the distance between Alaska and Hawaii and then we looked at flights between the two locations.

They explained to me that the honeymoon was actually perfect for them - as they are so different. They called the trip the "Fire and Ice Honeymoon" and embraced that opposites attract. They even referenced the honeymoon in their toast to one another at the wedding.

The couple was married in May, in the Hudson Valley at  Brotherhood Winery and then off to their perfect honeymoon. They spent one week on an Alaskan Cruise where they enjoyed water cycling in Ketchikan and experienced calving at Hubbard Glacier. Then one week in Maui, Hawaii where they enjoyed the sun, took a submarine ride and relaxed on the beaches of Kaanapali.

Fortunately, unlike the Gift of Magi, Leah and Avi did not have to make any sacrafices. I am so happy I was able to give them each the fairtale ending they deserved.