Most couples recognize that investing in marriage is important.
But turning that belief into action can get lost somewhere between busy schedules and tight budgets.
Trust me, I speak from experience. We have young children and our finances are often limited.
I’ve been there too many times to count. Life gets messy. And romantic getaway tips are the last thing on your mind.
But there’s something else I’ve experienced first-hand…time away together breathes new life into marriage.
It energizes your relationship. It reminds you of the gift you’ve been given in each other.
And here’s more good news. Making that getaway actually happen might not be as impossible as it seems.
An important goal…
I’m no expert in the romance department. Actually, my husband is much more romantic than me.
He always finds the perfect gift and never fails to make anniversaries special.
He was also the one to push for us to be more intentional about time away together. And I’m so glad he did.
We now make it a priority to have a marriage getaway at least once a year. And we’ve set a goal to make it happen more often than that.
It’s not easy. It requires commitment, planning, and determination.
But it is possible.
And we’ve found the benefits of spending focused time together far outweigh the work it takes to turn good intentions into reality.
So, here’s nine romantic getaway tips we’ve discovered in our journey to keep the romance alive.
Romantic getaway tips for parents…
Prioritize investing in your marriage.
Parents have so many things pulling for their attention. Work schedules, kid’s activities, extended family responsibilities, volunteer commitments…the list goes on and on.
It’s easy for marriage to take a back seat. But your family is built on the foundation of your relationship.
And that family will only be as strong as the two of you.
(Want more inspiration on building a strong marriage? Read this.)
Being intentional about spending uninterrupted time together is the first step to actually making it happen.
Make a commitment.
Getting away together is difficult. It usually doesn’t happen spontaneously or without a strategic plan. And it definitely won’t occur without a serious commitment from both sides.
If you want to spend time investing in your marriage, you have to make the commitment to do just that.
We include two marriage getaways as part of our yearly family goals. Those goals are written down and kept visible.
That commitment keeps us accountable. It also serves as a reminder of our good intentions when life gets crazy and a romantic weekend is the last thing on our minds.
Sometimes we only manage to squeeze in one of those times together. But we’ve rarely let a year go by without some kind of time spent strengthening our marriage.
Refuse to make excuses.
Don’t let challenges like a tight budget keep you from investing in your relationship. For the last several years, my husband and I couldn’t afford to actually go away together.
(Need some great ideas for date nights on a budget? Check out this post.)
So, we sent the kids to my parents and had staycations. We saved up gift cards and used them for dinners out and trips to the movies.
We took advantage of the slow, uninterrupted time together at home. Talking over a long dinner, sleeping in, and enjoying a schedule not dictated by our parental responsibilities was often exactly what we needed.
Prior to our staycations, we spent several romantic weekends in our own city. At that time, we had room in the budget for a hotel and a few dinners.
But that was pretty much it.
So, we booked a nice room in a beautiful part of our hometown and just soaked up the atmosphere.
Admittedly, it was no beach vacation. But we enjoyed every one of those weekends.
We also discovered an unexpected benefit of staying close to home. We were more rested and relaxed when it was time to return to the real world!
Vacations to new and exciting places are amazing and we take advantage of them whenever we can. But those trips can also leave you even more tired when they’re over.
On the other hand, staycations don’t usually have that effect.
Form a plan.
Time for a marriage retreat will rarely work itself into your schedule. You will have to make it happen.
Be strategic in exploring your schedules and finding a time that works best for everyone in your family.
It won’t be perfect. It will probably require sacrifice somewhere.
But planning ahead increases the chance that your romantic getaway will actually happen.
Think about what time of year provides the most flexibility in your schedule. My husband’s busy work season happens during the summer. So, while it makes sense for many couples to plan trips during this time, it doesn’t always work for us.
Another thing to consider is the age of your children. If you’re leaving a toddler or an infant back at home, it might not be the best time to take that dream trip to the Caribbean. A spa weekend or a few days at a nearby bread and breakfast could be more realistic.
Every family is different. Each situation is unique. No plan will look the same.
But one thing we all have in common is the need for a plan in the first place!
Deal with unexpected obstacles.
As soon as you commit to getting away together, refuse to make excuses, and form a plan, one thing is pretty much guaranteed. An unforeseen problem is going to drop itself right in your lap.
A change in work schedules. A school event that didn’t make the calendar. A complication with child care arrangements.
Whatever the issue, refuse to let it derail your plans. Make every effort to accommodate for the changes without calling off your time away together.
And if it’s a serious issue that takes priority over your getaway…
Be flexible.
Last year my husband and I had the perfect staycation all planned out. It had been a difficult season and we were overdue for time alone together. To say we were looking forward to our at-home getaway was an understatement.
A few days before the start of our weekend, my grandmother passed away. Obviously, our plans took a back seat.
Instead of romantic dinners and evenings out, we found ourselves knee deep in funeral arrangements.
Our getaway of rest and relaxation disappeared with one phone call. It was replaced with a trip to another city and filled with hard decisions, unexpected grief, and time spent providing support to our loved ones.
And that’s exactly where we were supposed to be.
Our weekend getaway was put on hold for several months. For good reason. But we refused to let that discourage us from planning another one.
Leave the kids behind.
For me, this is most difficult item on the list of romantic getaway tips. I’ve found leaving our children for any length of time is challenging. I REALLY struggle with trusting them to someone else’s care.
But I also know a romantic getaway doesn’t happen with your kids in tow.
(Read this post about what I learned when leaving my kids for the first time.)
Hard as it might be, I’ve discovered you simply have to take steps to make it happen.
If necessary, work up to the idea of leaving your children for multiple days.
If you and your husband don’t have regular date nights, start there. Saying goodbye for a few hours is much easier than letting go for an entire weekend.
Perhaps plan a simple overnight trip where you’ll be gone for less than day. Or maybe just rip off the band-aid and jump in with both feet!
Whatever works for you, make sure to mentally and emotionally commit to putting your marriage first. And when the time comes to physically walk away, follow the advice of Nike…
Just do it.
Be on the same team.
Planning and carrying out any kind of vacation, no matter how small, can be stressful. Don’t forget you’re both on the same team.
My husband and I usually have some type of issue come up before almost every marriage getaway. They’re usually small disagreements or minor irritations.
But if we’re not careful, they can cause problems in the days ahead.
Big or small, those kinds of issues can derail your getaway–if you let them. Give each other grace. Shake off offense.
Apologize quickly and forgive even quicker. Don’t let unnecessary strife ruin what you’ve worked so hard to accomplish.
Let the rest of the world fade away.
Once you’ve actually started your getaway, there’s one more important thing to remember.
Leave the rest of the world behind.
Focus on topics of conversation that enhance your time together. Steer clear of anything that doesn’t. Be mentally and emotionally present. Do your best to live in the moment.
You probably won’t become starry-eyed and walk on clouds as soon as your kids are out of sight. But with a little work and focus, you can capture that romantic atmosphere that will set the tone for a wonderful time together.
No regrets…
Finding time and energy to plan a marriage getaway isn’t easy. Especially for busy parents.
Yet it may be one of the most important things you do for your family.
Powerful marriages build strong families. But powerful marriages only happen inside of healthy relationships. And healthy relationships require time, attention, and focus.
Use these romantic getaway tips to start investing more in your marriage. Or come up with different ideas of your own!
Either way, commit to making regular marriage retreats a part of your life together. And the next time you’re on one of those getaways, I’m pretty sure you’ll look back with no regrets about all the work it took to get there.
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