by Stephanie Dempsey

The vows have been said and the reception's over. All that remains is for you and your spouse to have a wonderful honeymoon! If you want to get your marriage off to the right start, try these Feng Shui cures for your honeymoon suite. Just a few simple adjustments are all that's necessary to make this the first in a long series of wonderful journeys together.

Underwear That's Fun to Wear
The color of your lingerie sets a certain tone for your lovemaking. Colors that evoke the passionate fire element will result in a memorable evening. Choose red, hot pink or vermillion to keep your honeymoon hot and spicy. If you prefer slow, sensual lovemaking, wear tones that evoke the earth element. Cream, dusty rose and cocoa are all good colors to wear if you want to enjoy a long, languorous session that will last all night. The metal energy contained by the color white promotes intimacy, but you may want to wear white as an accent color, as too much metal energy makes people critical.

Flower Power
Keeping a vase of fresh flowers in your honeymoon suite will remind you and your spouse to stay in the moment. An even number of flowers will cultivate harmony and stability. Choose red flowers for passion, pink for gentle nurturing or white for intimacy. Place the flowers in the far right corner of the room, which governs love and romance.

Sweets for the Sweet
A decorative bowl filled with candy is an ideal addition to any honeymoon suite. Mix your favorite bonbons with those of your spouse in a big bowl, and then put the bowl in the center portion of the right side of your room. The center right portion of a space rules joy -- keeping sweets will help you laugh and savor life.

Establish Your Roles
A tip for honeymooners: whoever chooses the position in the bed closest to the entrance will assume the role of protector in the relationship. Stake your claim early, as it will set the tone for your marital life. If you are unhappy with your current position, ask to your partner to switch. Use a backrub as bait.

Keep the Television Off
Nothing kills romance like television. If at all possible, arrange to have your honeymoon in a hotel that doesn't put TVs in the bedroom. If that's not possible, you can always drape the boob tube with a sheet or towel. Out of sight, out of mind!

Trip the Light Fantastic
Nothing cultivates romance like candlelight. Keep a pair of red candles in the far right corner of your honeymoon suite, and light them every night of your stay. Fire energy encourages passion and excitement, and should be integrated into every couple's bedroom, no matter how long they've been married! By lighting candles during your honeymoon, you'll set the precedent for a physically fulfilling marriage.

A Scent-sational Wedding Night
If you'd like a fabulous wedding night, sprinkle a few drops of ylang-ylang essential oil onto a cotton pad, and then slip the pad between the sheets of your bed. Ylang-ylang inspires passion. In the event you don't like this scent, you can try jasmine, ginger or rosemary.

Get Into Hot Water
With your spouse, that is! The bath is a place of rest and renewal. If you happen to have a lovers' quarrel, draw a hot bath for the both of you. Adding a few drops of lavender, orange or sandalwood essential oil to the bathwater will help you both release resentments and refresh your commitment.

Reflect on Your Surroundings
Reduce arguments on your honeymoon by covering the mirrors in your honeymoon suite. Mirrors represent metal energy and can make people hypercritical. If you enjoy watching yourselves in the mirror while making love, by all means, keep the mirrors uncovered. You may want to drape a towel over them when they're not in use, however.

Take a Picture … It Lasts Longer
If you're having a wonderful honeymoon, be sure to ask somebody to take a photo of you and your spouse in a beautiful spot. Then when you get home, frame the picture and hang it in the far right corner of your bedroom, where it will serve as a powerful reminder of why the two of you embarked on this crazy journey in the first place!

About the Author
Stephanie Dempsey is an accomplished author, feng shui practitioner and astrologer. Stephanie has authored a weekly home design column for Women.com, which combined the precepts of Astrology and feng shui. She has also contributed to such New Age titles as Love Signs and You: The Ultimate Astrological Guide to Love, Sex, and Relationships. Stephanie holds a degree in feng shui from the Mountain Institute of TRIBECA in New York City.