An increasing number of married couples are seeking new ways to add meaning to their honeymoons by volunteering abroad.

While the traditional honeymoon often means relaxing on tropical beaches and lounging around five star hotels, there is a growing trend for couples to start their married life living and working in underprivileged communities.

Honeyteering couples usually spend one or two weeks volunteering abroad, where they feel they can do their bit for good causes. CNN highlighted this phenomenon recently and spoke to Aaron and Kristen Berlin, an American couple who dedicated their honeymoon to volunteering in an orphanage in Thailand.

Aaron describes the experience: “We learned a lot about the culture. That was one of the great things about volunteering. We were really incorporated into the daily lives of the children and the volunteers who ran the orphanage.”

Those who volunteer abroad do so for a number of reasons: to immerse themselves in a new vulture, to give something back, to seek camaraderie or learn more about themselves, but for honeyteers it can be a powerful bonding experience. According to Tonic.com “It’s a great way to learn more about your mate and discover new reasons to be attracted to him or her.”

“Besides the numerous mental, physical and emotional benefits of volunteering, honeyteering encourages couples to explore parts of the world that they might never have experienced. On a typical honeymoon, couples tend to stick to their resort and other touristy parts of town. A volunteering honeymoon forces couples off the beaten path.”

Read more about honeyteering on Tonic.com

I​f you’re looking for something memorable to do on your honeymoon, have a look at our range of volunteer projects in Africa, Asia, South America and Europe.