What Is a ‘Buddymoon’ (and Should You Take One)?

Traditionally, the honeymoon has been reserved for newlyweds as a time to celebrate, decompress, and, well, get it on. That’s at least partially because, once upon a time, many couples didn’t live together or have sex until marriage. Needless to say, times have changed — as relationship coach and counselor Jonathan Bennett told Martha Stewart, “With more couples living together and having sex before marriage, the traditional honeymoon as a romantic getaway to focus on sex has lost a lot of its original purpose.”

Enter a new post-marriage trend: the group honeymoon, or “buddymoon.”

While the idea may seem crazy to some, there are plenty who are interested. When the payment app PingIt conducted a 2018 survey of 2,000 people aged 18-35, nearly half (47%) of respondents said they’d been on, or would consider going on, a trip with friends to celebrate their nuptials. But is it right for you?

You might be ready for a buddymoon if…

If you have a tight-knit group of friends, or a far-flung crew you don’t see often due to geographic limitations, your wedding (and subsequent honeymoon) could be the perfect opportunity for an extended catch-up session. As you get further away from the wedding blitz years, where you might go to three or more ceremonies annually, there are fewer occasions to see old friends you hold dear. (Side note: If you’re planning to become parents in the near future, your honeymoon could be your last hurrah for a while, too.)

If you have a destination wedding, a buddymoon is pretty much a fait accompli. After packing, taking time off work, and setting up childcare to witness you tie the knot, it only makes sense for guests to tack on a few extra days to make the most of those flight prices.

A lag time between the reception and honeymoon can also provide a buffer for the trip to not feel so “sacred” and more like a memory-making trip in an amazing location. Keep in mind that if you do invite friends along, they don’t have to join for all of it. You could do half as a couple and half with friends — and just with a small, mutually-selected group of likeminded buddies. Not everyone.

Who is a buddymoon not for?

For some, the idea of a buddymoon is a non-starter. Namely, if the idea of a group hang for a week after planning and hosting the biggest party of your life is an immediate drain to your social battery. (Raising my hand to that.) If you hold the tradition in high regard, and bringing friends along would feel too much like spring break, or if your primary goal is romance and unparalleled intimacy, steer clear. Or if you just want to relax without asking six other people where they want to go for dinner.