A new trend in travel is seeing couples celebrating their nuptials with their closest friends. Maybe it’s time you booked a Buddymoon.
Picture this – you’re beachfront at an amazing villa on a remote tropical island, sipping your second pre-lunch Hemingway Daiquiri. The sun’s glittering off the water as your toes sink into the powdery white sand. And you’re not alone – right next to you is the love of your life, your newly betrothed, going strong on her fourth mimosa. It’s an image of paradise and happiness – is there anything that could make this moment even more perfect?
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In fact, apparently there is, as this is a perfect moment that an increasing number of travellers are sharing with their closest friends. Enter the “buddymoon,” a trend among newlyweds that includes inviting some of their best buds on a post-wedding trip to luxurious, exciting, or exotic destinations that everyone will enjoy. We can identify: What’s better than escaping with your new spouse? How about being able to also bring your closest male consorts along for the ride?
Buddymoons on the Rise
Buddymoons have risen hand-in-hand with their natural partner – the destination wedding. Once you’ve convinced all your guests to travel to a different country for your wedding, continuing the celebrations with an extended buddymoon makes a lot of sense.
“If you think about it, the idea of the buddymoon makes a lot of sense, especially in Asia where leave is limited, where there’s already a communal mindset, and where destination weddings help keep attendee numbers down,” says travel industry veteran David Leung. “Combining your honeymoon with the holiday with your friends you’ve always wanted is a win-win – as long as there’s still time for the couple to enjoy a little romance in the process.”
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So what exactly is a buddymoon? Essentially, after the wedding (and especially in the case of destination weddings), couples are increasingly choosing to stay with their inner circle for a little longer, either at the wedding destination or sometimes somewhere else entirely. In fact, it’s thought that this latest travel trend was, in part, inspired by Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux, who travelled with their best friends after their wedding, booking a five-bedroom residence at Grace Bay Club in Turks and Caicos.
Once you’ve procured the appropriate marital permissions, the possibilities are endless. Buddymoons offer the chance to spend days or even weeks with your loved ones – those you sleep with and those you don’t – instead of just a few hours, as is so common with city weddings.
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“I met my fiancé through a mutual friend,” says PJ, a groom-to-be with an upcoming destination wedding. “Since then, we’ve grown closer, not only as a couple but also as a friend group that includes a few other couples. We are all best friends, so sharing our upcoming honeymoon with this group is a great way to celebrate our marriage.”
Abercrombie & Kent Villas, a luxury villa rental company with properties across six continents, has also noticed this buddymoon trend growing. “Buddymoons are where newlyweds invite their close friends to join them on a group vacation after their wedding,” says a spokesperson for the company. “The trend has become popular as couples want to share their happiness and make special memories with their friends in luxurious settings.”
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So where can you book a Buddymoond? While you can book multiple rooms and invite the gang along to pretty much any resort, some are catching wind of the trend and working hard to accommodate the new buddymooners.
Buddymoon Properties in Asia
Buddymoons are especially popular in Asia, where resorts offer a great marriage – excuse the pun – of affordability and exoticism.
Jawakara Islands Maldives
Jawakara Islands Maldives, the latest gem from Crown and Champa Resorts, offers packages tailor-made for those adventurous newlyweds embracing the buddymoon trend. Spread across two gorgeous islands in the Lhaviyani Atoll and linked by a stunning overwater walkway, this idyllic resort is the perfect metaphor for marriage.
Jawakara Islands takes its group activities seriously. The resort offers water adventures like cast fishing, snorkelling, and scuba diving set against a backdrop of turtles and manta rays. For the sporty crew, there’s padel tennis and a nine-hole golf course – the largest in the Maldives.
After a day of pretending padel is a real sport, unwind at the Ayurveda-based spa or stretch it out in a yoga session. With various restaurants and bars, your group can chow together or go their separate ways, all while basking in an island paradise.
Dunia Baru Phinisi Yacht, Indonesia
The Dunia Baru luxury phinisi charter yacht is one of Asia’s most exciting group travel encounters. Nothing captures the spirit of the buddymoon quite like sailing around the Indonesian archipelago with those closest to you. Luxurious and private, the Dunia Baru, built by harmonising centuries-old traditional building techniques with modern technology, can accommodate up to 14 guests, served by 18 crew.
“Dunia Baru is more than just a yacht; she is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and adventure, seamlessly blending tradition with modern luxury,” says general manager James Sidoti. “Built to the highest world standards over eight years, every curve of her ironwood hull and every intricate detail tells a story of passion, precision, and exploration. She was created for those who seek the extraordinary. Sailing through some of the world’s most remote and pristine waters, Dunia Baru offers an unrivalled experience—where thoughtfully designed luxury meets the spirit of discovery in its purest form.
Groups can book bespoke itineraries that can include destinations such as Komodo National Park, Raja Ampat, and the Spice Islands. As your buddymoon entourage sails through these incredible destinations, you can enjoy activities such as scuba diving, kayaking, wakeboarding, island hopping, beach dinners, and massages, all without having to share the adventure with strangers.
Grand Cliff Ungasan, Indonesia
Villas are another ideal setting for buddymoons as they combine the privacy groups need and the facilities and space of a boutique resort. A great example is Grand Cliff Ungasan, a five-bedroom retreat in Bali that can cater to 10 adults. Managed by Elite Havens, the villa is a contemporary hideaway perched on the cliffs of the Bukit Peninsula, offering stunning sea views as well as a private swimming pool, a breezy terrace, a private cinema, billiards tables and an alfresco jacuzzi. There’s also a full staff on hand, including a butler and private chef.
“We’re seeing more couples turn their destination weddings into extended celebrations by inviting their closest friends to stay on for what’s known as a ‘buddymoon’, says Scott Waters, director of Marketing for luxury villa management company Elite Havens. “A private villa offers the perfect setting for this trend – you get the space and privacy to relax with your inner circle, plus the luxury of dedicated staff and a private chef, but without the formality of a hotel. Elite Havens’ villas in places like Bali and Phuket can easily accommodate 10 or 12 guests, so couples can keep their favourite people around to continue the celebration in a more intimate, laid-back way.”
While the traditional honeymoon is unlikely to fall out of fashion anytime soon, buddymoons offer an alternative experience for couples who find that their relationship is best defined not only by their 1-to-1 dynamic but also by the tapestry of their friends and loved ones.
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“We’ve already travelled together one-on-one many times before,” says bride-to-be Nicole about her relationship with her fiancé. “We have the rest of our lives together to explore new places, so we figured we might as well make our honeymoon extra memorable by bringing along some of our best friends.”
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