Woman Arrives for Her Honeymoon Flight—Then Gets ‘Surprise of All Time’

A woman expecting a short honeymoon flight to Mexico was left stunned at the airport after learning her husband had secretly planned an entirely different, far grander surprise—a dream honeymoon to the Maldives.

The moment, captured in a TikTok video posted by Luckaia Strand (@luckaiastrand), has gone viral, racking up more than 4.1 million views since it was shared on September 9.

Text overlaid on the video reads: “POV [point of view]: Your husband pulls off the best honeymoon surprise of all time.”

In the caption accompanying the post, she shared more details: “I thought we were getting on a 4hr flight to Mexico, instead we got on a 16hr flight to DUBAI! Maldives here we come!! MY DREAM HONEYMOON!”

The viral moment highlights how important honeymoon travel remains to many newlyweds.

According to a study by wedding planning website The Knot, which analyzed data from 17,000 couples in the United States who got married in 2024 as well as from couples getting married this year, around 69 percent of couples opt to take a honeymoon after their wedding.

The study noted that the main motivation for most couples is “to spend quality time with their significant other and create new memories together,” with time of year and weather playing key roles in where they choose to go.

In 2024, 41 percent of honeymooners stayed within the U.S., while 18 percent headed to the Caribbean and 17 percent traveled to Europe. Domestically, Florida and Hawaii tied as the top destinations, each chosen by 17 percent of couples, the study found.

The cost of a honeymoon varies significantly by destination, with couples spending an average of $5,300. Those who traveled domestically in the U.S. spent around $3,400, while international honeymoons averaged $6,800. The study also found that just over half of all couples paid for the trip themselves, while others received help from family or wedding guests.

‘This Isn’t Real Life’

In the case of the wife in the viral TikTok video, the Maldives—often cited among the world’s most luxurious honeymoon destinations—was a total surprise.

Her husband’s detailed months-long deception delivered a honeymoon she hadn’t dared to expect.

The viral clip begins with the wife innocently posing for a photo at the airport near a large window overlooking a plane. Her husband can be heard off-screen saying: “So cute, say cheese.” Moments later, he adds: “I gotta tell you something Kaia.”

“What?” she asks, and he responds: “We’re not going to Cancun [in Mexico].”

Confused, the wife presses further: “What do you mean? Where are we going?”

Her husband points to the plane behind her and says: “That’s our plane, we’re getting on that plane.” When she asks “Why?” he delivers the full reveal, saying: “We’re going to the Maldives.”

Still in disbelief, she replies: “No, we’re not,” prompting him to confirm: “We really are, I promise.”

“You’re lying,” she says. “I’ve been lying to you for nine months,” he replies.

As the realization sinks in, the wife says: “We’re getting on that plane?…I’m shaking, this isn’t real life,” as the video ends.

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.