Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I pray God will give you both a lifetime of happiness and children and grandchildren in your old age. You and your fiance are to be commended for actually waiting for marriage before having sex and for not living together beforehand as so many people do now.
As a single woman of 38, I bring a slightly different perspective on the sexless honeymoon. Having been alone for so much of my adult life, while at the same time doing what I could to find the right person, I have come to focus on marriage differently. I practice chastity for my state in life and thus sleep alone every night- not just for one week. Now don’t misunderstand me. I hear what you’re saying about having waited patiently to give yourselves to each other, resisting temptations along the way, and being in love. I have been in long term relationships that looked like they would lead to marriage, so I know how you feel. Still, not having been married and feeling the pressure that I do to marry soon and have children, I look on you with envy (not in the seven deadly sin kind of way). You will soon be united forever with a man who loves you. You are still young enough to have children, even many children. Still, as a Catholic I try to offer up the suffering I experience from the loneliness, anger, sadness, and hopelessness. I offer it up, in union with the sufferings of Jesus on the cross. I know you are Protestant and this is more of a Catholic spiritual practice, but you might try offering up the fact that you may have to wait several days to consummate your marriage. You could even offer it up for your husband. Thus you would be giving of yourself to your husband at least in a spiritual way, just as Christ gave of Himself for all of us.
On a more practical note, when I was in my twenties like you, I used to receive a magazine from the Couple to Couple League. I knew I was called to marriage and thought I should learn all about NFP. Obviously my knowledge of NFP and charting that I did is of no use to me now, but maybe it can help you. I remember that this organization also published a series of informational pamphlets, one of which I believe was called “Creative Continence”. It talked about how to handle the abstinence of Phase II. It also talked about what sexual behaviors were morally acceptable during the abstinence period. You might want to contact this group and see what they can do to help you. There is also the Paul VI Institute, of which I have heard wonderful things in regard to their teaching of NFP.
I hope this gives you some helpful ideas. I truly wish you and your fiance all the best. God bless you both.
