Romantic travel for the two of you

Some trips are about ticking off sights. Romantic trips are different. They are about time: long breakfasts, unhurried walks, a view shared at the end of the day, a place that becomes part of your story as a couple. Lovetripper is a magazine for that kind of travel, whether you are planning a honeymoon, a weekend away, a wedding far from home or a trip to mark an anniversary.

The idea of a journey to celebrate love is an old one. Wikipedia's article on the honeymoon traces the custom of newlyweds travelling together to early nineteenth-century Britain, where couples took a "bridal tour" to visit relatives, and explains that honeymoons as a pure holiday for the couple became widespread later in that century as one of the first forms of modern mass tourism. Today the choice of where to go is almost limitless, which is exactly why a little guidance helps.

Weddings, too, take countless forms. Wikipedia's article on the wedding notes that wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, religions and countries, while most ceremonies share a few elements: an exchange of vows, a gift such as rings or flowers, and a public proclamation of marriage. Whether you dream of a beach at sunset, a castle hall, a small chapel or a garden at home, the features here will help you plan it.

What you will find here

Destinations. Region-by-region guides to romantic travel, from Caribbean islands and the coasts of Mexico to the canal cities of Europe, the lakes of the Canadian Rockies, the lagoons of the South Pacific and the savannas of Africa. Each guide looks honestly at seasons, distances and trade-offs, so that you can choose the place that suits the two of you.

Ways to stay. Cruises, country inns, all-inclusive resorts and spa getaways all offer very different kinds of trip. The guides explain what each is really like and what to ask before you book.

Weddings and bridal traditions. Planning a destination wedding, understanding the paperwork of marrying abroad, Las Vegas and castle weddings, themes, dresses, cakes, music and the proposal that starts it all.

Honeymoons and romance. Everything about the honeymoon itself, plus anniversaries, vow renewals, love letters, legendary lovers, romance on screen and some of the classic romantic places: Niagara Falls, the Great Smoky Mountains, Hawaii and the sunset watchers' hunt for the green flash.

Travel tips. Practical advice on planning, packing, budgets, documents and staying well, including a guide to arriving rested after a long flight.

Where to begin

If you are planning a honeymoon, start with honeymoons: everything you need to know, then browse the destination index. If a wedding is on the horizon, the destination wedding planning guide walks through the decisions in order. And if you simply need a weekend away, the guide to B&Bs and country inns may be all the inspiration you need.

Whatever you are planning, the same few principles run through every page: choose the season as carefully as the place, travel a little slower than you think you need to, protect time for the two of you, and check the practical details, from documents to beach conditions, before you go. Romance is much easier when nothing is nagging at the back of your mind.

Every feature in the magazine is listed below, grouped like the sections of a travel trunk.