In a departure from the traditional romantic honeymoon, a growing number of newlyweds are opting for “buddymoons,” inviting friends and family to join them on post-nuptial vacations. This emerging trend challenges conventional wedding traditions and reflects changing attitudes toward celebrating love and relationships.
Zoe Burke, editor of the wedding planning site Hitched, notes a shift in wedding traditions and suggests that couples are reimagining their post-wedding celebrations. According to a recent survey by Hitched, one in five newlyweds is open to the idea of a “buddymoon.” This trend reflects a desire to maximize the time when all loved ones can come together for a shared experience.
The Rise of Buddymoons on Social Media:
Buddymoons are gaining popularity on social media platforms, with the hashtag #buddymoon amassing over 482,000 views on TikTok alone.
Couples are showcasing their unconventional post-nuptial vacations, sharing glimpses of their trips to destinations like Nova Scotia, Croatia, and the Amalfi Coast. The trend suggests that couples are eager to break away from traditional honeymoon norms.
Real-Life Buddymoon Experiences:
The experiences of several couples provide insight into the budding trend. Grand Prix dressage rider Alex Harrison-West and Johnny Clarke-West invited their moms and friends to join them in Positano, Italy, for a week-long stay after their June wedding. Similarly, “Bachelor in Paradise” stars Hannah Godwin and Dylan Barbour chose to extend the celebration to Mykonos with 13 friends following their France wedding in August.
Motivation Behind Buddymoons:
Couples like Harrison-West and Clarke-West view buddymoons as a way to express gratitude to their loved ones for their support. Since married couples often spend significant time together, the buddymoon becomes an opportunity to include friends and family in their joy. The concept aligns with the idea of extending gratitude for the support received during the wedding preparations.
Planning Successful Buddymoons:
To ensure the success of a buddymoon, experts recommend planning unique experiences and activities. Suggestions include pasta making, cooking classes, and wine tasting to create memorable shared moments. Importantly, conversations about expenses and costs should be had beforehand to avoid any financial discomfort among the group.
While buddymoons are about shared experiences, relationship experts caution that couples should also prioritize alone time. Michael Bennett, founder of the Seattle travel agency Explorer X, highlights the importance of “doing some of your own things” during the group vacation. This balance ensures that couples can maintain their individual connection amidst the group celebration.
Expert Perspectives on Buddymoons:
Relationship expert Lori Zaslow offers a different perspective, expressing concerns about the potential impact on the intimacy between spouses. Zaslow argues that combining the bachelorette party and bachelor party into one event may detract from the bonding experience between the newlyweds.
Despite differing opinions, the popularity of buddymoons suggests that couples are redefining what post-wedding celebrations mean to them.
As the trend of buddymoons continues to gain momentum, it challenges longstanding notions of honeymoon exclusivity. Newlyweds are embracing the idea of celebrating love not only as a couple but also with a larger circle of friends and family.
The evolving landscape of wedding traditions reflects a desire for shared experiences and a shift toward more inclusive and unconventional celebrations.
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