I recently caught the travel bug, and I blame it on a girls’ trip I took a few months before my wedding to a hidden gem in Eastern Europe.
I was a very stressed-out bride-to-be. Can you blame me, though? Planning for a wedding is not easy, especially when you’re Pakistani and the weddings last 5-7 days (which means multiple wedding dresses, makeup appointments, venues, etc)
In the midst of planning and feeling nervous, my best friend Hiba and I decided to pack our bags and flee at the last minute. Off to the old streets of Tbilisi!
Here are some great excuses to take a solo trip (or a girls’ trip) before your big day!Cool Off: Like a perfectionist bridezilla (not proud), I wanted everything to be on point! Despite my best efforts, the uncertainty around my wedding dresses made me feel like everything was going wrong, and it was all my fault. Taking a last-minute trip helped me forget all things wedding-related for a week and truly ground myself. Not being surrounded by designers, catering, venue decorators, and wedding talk for a few days, in another country with my best friend, is all I needed to come back with a new mindset.
Perspective Shift: This may sound cliché, but my short trip helped me rethink my priorities and rediscover myself. The simple yet joyful lives of the Georgian people inspired me to plan a smaller, more modest wedding than I had initially intended, and to avoid overspending on pre-wedding shopping. I realised that in our materialistic world, we often become so caught up in superficial concerns that we forget to pause and focus on what truly matters.
Honeymoon, Bestiemoon?: I was moving to a different city after the wedding, which meant less time with my friends than ever before. I am so grateful I was able to take the time and make core memories with my best friend before life got too busy, and I can not recommend it enough! Hiba and I even made a pact to travel together once a year post wedding (so expect more travel content 😏)
Learn What You Love: Whether you travel frequently or it’s your first time, taking a trip before you say “I do” (Or Qabool hai in my case lol) will help you figure out what you love. Some people travel for adventure, some to party, and some love to just lie on the beach and soak up the sun. I discovered that I’m somewhat of an adrenaline junkie and luckily for me, so is my man! So we decided to plan our honeymoon to fit in as much adventure as we could!
Rejuvenate: Sometimes, a relaxing little vacation is all you need to reset. The nature and simplicity surrounding Tbilisi and its people felt so different from the usual hustle and bustle, glitz and glam of Dubai. Shortly after landing in Tbilisi, I learned it is exactly what I needed which helped me go easy on myself after returning to Dubai, and get even more excited for what’s to come – The Wedding!
Countless Memories!: Whether you go solo, with your fiancé, or with a friend, you are guaranteed to make memories that will last forever! The Tbilisi trip will forever hold a special place in my heart because I got to do it with my best friend, and we made countless irreplaceable memories during that week. From going on late night food hunts, to doing each other’s makeup before a night out, the whole experience made us come closer than ever and I wouldn’t change it for the world!
Have I convinced you to pack your bags and go on an adventure yet?
