When thinking, “honeymoon,” most of us are more likely to envision pristine white beaches, snow bound skiers, or luxuriously romantic settings where the bride and groom are in their own little world.

But some couples have heartstrings that tug them much further into the real world than some of us will ever go or ever imagine. For these couples, volunteering to make a difference in another person’s life was the honeymoon they felt they couldn’t do without. Instead of lounging in plush rooms, they build, paint and repair homes for those less fortunate. They choose to work providing healthcare services to children. They volunteer for any number of projects in a wide variety of places like Romania, Ecuador, China or Jamaica.

Some of the organizations that give people an opportunity to volunteer include Habitat for Humanity, the Sierra Club, and Global Volunteers.

If you’d like to read more stories, about these adventuresome couples, see
Bwedd.com’s series on Weddings with Heart, About.com’s article on Volunteer Vacations, and one couple’s vacation that started a lifetime commitment.

If you know a couple who chose to do something really different on their honeymoon, please share! We’d love to hear from you.