Need some help from the ladies....

[craniums]

I would shoot my husband.

It will be just as much of a surprise if you tell her the night before you go so she can check out your packing skills and tell her kids goodbye--more than just the usual a.m. kiss out the door.

Not a lady but a husband who has pulled off some similar things.....take it from footballfans, novastar, & myself...tell her the DAY before!!! It will still be a GREAT surprise & you will still get all the extra credit for all of the details you have taken care of, but trust me...there will be at least 5 or 6 items that she will have to have for a week that we husbands have no clue of!! Telling her the day before allows her to pack those things PLUS, as stated earlier, saying goodbye to the munchkins is a MUCH bigger deal for a week trip vs an overnighter.

[mchandler83]

First and foremost- you are a sweetheart and your willingness to try to pack for your wife (and planning this wonderful vacation) is very endearing! With that being said, if it was me in the situation, I would be just as happy to know the night before as I would be at the airport. Also, with me being such a worrywart, I would actually appreciate the 14 hour notification. Maybe you could send her the link to this thread as the surprise? Then she can see how many people are jealous of her and you two can share a giggle about how many posts have been made about her undergarments! Good Luck! Happy Birthday Mrs. T!

[Softiee26]

I have to agree, this is a really sweet surprise for your wife! However; if I was in her shoes I would like some notice as well, as I shudder at the thought of my husband trying to pack for me! Have a great trip!

Ashley & Terry

[allisonb543]

What an amazing husband you are!! I know that my fiance would pack a toothbrush and a bathing suit for me and call it a day You seem to have thought of a lot more than I think most guys would. My main question would be, how laid back is your wife? Since you know her best, do you think she would be stressed if she didn't have everything she would pack, or would she go with the flow and make do? And, as far as toiletries, most of us ladies pack vastly different for one night vs a week! That would be a concern for me. But, bravo!! Although it would obviously modify your original plans, I do think that getting a call from the Chief Romance Officer would be pretty amazing

[Ruthjfj]

Randymon's suggestion is really good. That way you keep the drama and the surprise but lose almost all of the risk.

Although most women would love the joy of the initial suggestion, we also like to look our best so 24 hours notice including a few hours to get to the shops for any missing basics would be the icing on a very romantic cake.

Do tell your lucky partner that Couples is not a fashion parade so she does not need to worry about being glammed up, but just bring the things she feels comfortable and pretty in. Mostly she will be wearing a swimming costume, cover ups and beach sandals.

Go for it friend!

R xx

[gonegril]

What a great idea Randy!! THAT'S WHY WE LOOOOOVE COUPLES!!!!

[madtown mom]

no way, the surprise is great. the only issue is saying good-bye to the kids. really anything you need they have for you at the resort. i am a control freak, and i still love this idea. you know your wife. way to go!

[calgontakemeaway]

Excellent idea Randy!

[Lisa531]

OK, I'm not a lady BUT I feel I need to advise you on something. Telling her that you're taking her to Miami for a night is a mistake. She will pack for a night, not a week. And no matter what you pack for her, you will not pack the right things.
My suggestion is tell her the night before you're taking her away for a week, not where, but only what it has... IE: beach, tropics, fancy dining, etc.
Once you are at the airport, she will know you're going to Jamaica and if there's anything she didn't pack, she might panic...lol.
Maybe take her out for a romantic dinner the night before, give her a picture of the beach you'll be at, let her know that you have taken care of all the details like time off work, kids, etc. Let her seeing the sign on the airport gate be the second surprise, and when you land at your couples resort that will be your ultimate surprise!!!
This is something special you want to do for her, so let it be special and not stressful for her. You can prepare her for a week away without letting her know where you're going. Save that for her to experience. You obviously love her and she will appreciate some "heads up".

I agree with every bit of this. Telling her the night before at a romantic dinner seems like a perfect surprise to me!

[lovnrumpunch]

I have read your original post and all of the answers, and as a female, I tend to agree with most of them. TELL HER the night before.. Let her pack what she wants. Most women have this 'control' thing going on and want to make sure they have everything they would want/need for the week. She will LOVE the idea that you went to so much work to surprise her. That being said, I, for one, would really appreciate the chance to pack my own bags for a week trip to paradise! Good Job!!!!!

[randymon]

TandT - No problem, Mon.

You MUST tell us how it all went...AND, Pictures Please!!!!

You're a Brave Man. Congrats and have a great time...

[HCofty]

I think this is a wonderful idea!!! I hope you update us with her reaction to your surprise! My husband never plans ANYTHING, so from the way it sounds you have all of your bases covered, and if she's anything like me, I think you're right that she'll not mind a bit if you "forget" some things! I would just be so thrilled to be going away and that YOU had planned it all Good call on having your sister come take a look; I think by doing that, you'll be a-ok!

Have a great time, and happy birthday to your wife!

[TandT]

TandT - No problem, Mon.

You MUST tell us how it all went...AND, Pictures Please!!!!

You're a Brave Man. Congrats and have a great time...

Thanks Randy - will definately tell you and everyone else how it went!!!

Thanks to all the guys and girls who gave me some suggestions...

Im all done packing, had my mother, my sister, and her best friend over yesterday to help me pack - they are confident that between the 4 of us that we got everything!!

Still haven't told her anything... still not sure if Im going to lol... the concensus between family and friends is that I have all my bases covered so just go with it (not tell her)

Limo comes tomorrow at 11:00am - kids are off from school so she can say goodbye to them in the morning and that was one of the main things i was concerned about

Gonna be an interesting ride to the airport tomorrow lol!!!!!

Can't wait!! T-Minus 22 hours!!

[Shartalin]

lots of sunblock. shoes and jewelry to go with dresses. Although she will be so thrilled with you, you could not pack a thing and she probably wont notice. But make sure you pack her passport as well!

[turnanburn40]

You are a brave man........my only suggestion is pack her more than one pair of shorts, maybe 3-4 pairs and pack the woman some panties. You may think she doesn't need them but you won't be the one without any. Are you taking any underwear for yourself????? If you won't pack her any panties, then don't pack any for yourself. See how you like it!

[mikayla73]

TandT - What an awesome surprise! I say it sounds like you have it covered to me. I have no doubt that my husband could pack sufficiently for me for a week (probably even a month, I am VERY lucky!) and even if you forget something, I'm sure it's nothing she couldn't live without for 6 days (unless it's medication or something like that). It's a relaxing vacation, in a wonderful place. It's all about going with the flow and being irie. No worries.

[Bert]

I am really looking forward to the post-trip update. This will be fun!

[lvmcgill]

I really have to agree with the other posters who suggest telling her the night before. Woman can be picky about what they want to wear. Especially on vacation. I think you can start with the one night story so she'll have a good portion of the standard stuff packed and then surprise her with the week info the night before. That way, she can just add more clothes and such. It's still going to be an amazing surprise!

[Mzambo]

I like the surprise, I am always the one who plans everything!!!! I would love for my husband to take the lead on something like this.

Hair items, such as curling iron, flat iron. hair products that she uses pay attention one morning as she is getting ready to what she uses on her hair, and face (moisturizers make up removers) q tips for removing makeup as well. I would be lost without these items.

Perfume, hair ties, accessories, I like a hat at times too, not sure about her.

Jewelry, a choice of necklace or earrings. We must have choices with shoes as well. Make sure whatever dresses you take she has shoes to match.

You live in bathing suits, but dinners I like to dress up. Don't forget your long pants & closed toed shoes in all the worry for her.

Awesome enjoy! Be sure to let us know how it goes.

[cutiger]

What an awesome thing to do! I hope that your suprise and trip went great!! I will be checking back next week to hear. We are leaving on the 16th for our first time trip. I am so excited to go!! Reading some of these posts have helped me decide what I need to pack. We will be clebrating our 10 year anniversary and my 30th birthday...I thought what better place to do that!

[r&cford]

Well i can't wait to hear how this went. I'm sure between you and all your help it turned out great!!! I can't think of much my husband could forget that would make me upset when i find out i'm going to my FAVORITE place.

[killafee]

This is awesome. I'm so anxious to hear about how it went! I'm grinning ear to ear knowing that you two are there right now, even though I don't know you!! My fiance and I (who will be celebrating our honeymoon at CSA in September whohooo!) were just discussing this and we agreed he's capable of packing for me for a week if he decides to do this in the future. (heehee....) I just made him promise to buy me at least one new bathing suit and or cover up so I have something new to wear. It's such an awesome thing that you did! Can't wait to hear all about it!!
Laura

[wileeandrr]

Well i can't wait to hear how this went. I'm sure between you and all your help it turned out great!!! I can't think of much my husband could forget that would make me upset when i find out i'm going to my FAVORITE place.

Absolutely! Hoping hubby will surprise me this year...dropping tons of hints, but to no avail...eh...a girl can dream tho, right? lol....still have my countdown clock

[TandT]

I like the surprise, I am always the one who plans everything!!!! I would love for my husband to take the lead on something like this.

THIS... is the main reason I did this!! My wife always plans everything and always said she would love for me to "take charge" and plan something so here it is!! lol....

[TandT]

Everything went PERFECT!!! Thank you to all the ladies (and guys) for all of your help and input!!

She was definately surprised... or as she puts it "completely shocked"

I ended up telling her the night before (at like 1 in the morning) that we were going to a hotel on the beach (in florida) and that I had packed everything all ready - she was a little apprehensive about my packing ability but she seemed to appreciate the gesture and just went with it..... The limo picked us up yesterday morning (the limo driver was a good friend of mine who was in on it) and took us south towards Ft. Lauderdale - when we turned into the airport she was kinda like "what is going on?" and the limo driver turned and said "I'm sorry, I made a wrong turn - I'll get us out of here in a minute" and she was like "oh, ok" but then 5 min later we pulled up to the curb and he said have a good trip! she got a little nervous and started asking where we were going and what were we doing there and if we were really getting on a plane... I just kinda laughed and held the suspense until we actually got to the check in desk! Once she heard Jamaica - she was blown away - between me packing for her and doing everything with the house and kids - she was definately SURPRISED!!

We got in late last night and was just able to make the beach party - I do have to say though that even she said that I did a good job packing! Today was our first official full day here and by 10:30 this morning we were on the island guess I didnt need to pack so many bathing suits!!

Dunn's River tomorrow and then maybe a return trip to the island!!!

I'll let you guys know how the rest of the week turns out - she's already talking about coming back lol!!

Thanks again for everybody's help and input - without these boards I don't know if I would've been able to pull it off!!