Why millennials are swapping traditional honeymoons for a ‘buddymoon’

Why honeymoons with friends and family are on the rise among millennials

The more the merrier? (istock )

Millennials across the country are swapping the traditional honeymoon with their partner for a "buddymoon" with friends and family.

In a poll of 2,000 people in relationships aged 18-35 conducted by payment app Pingit, 47 per cent have been on, or would consider going on, a "buddymoon".

More than half (52 per cent) of those surveyed claimed to have more fun with a bigger group, compared with just their partner, meaning the traditional holiday for two may be falling out of fashion.

The millennial mindset of "the more the merrier" appears to be on the rise, with almost two thirds (64 per cent) stating that they are more likely to holiday with friends than they were five years ago.

Group anniversary celebrations and "friendgagements", where those getting down on one knee invite friends along for the experience, have also become increasingly popular with millennials.

Wedding planning website Hitched estimates that the average honeymoon costs £3,630, a figure that could explain why some millennials are opting to travel with their squad.

One in six of those surveyed (17 per cent) believed they could save money with a group booking, while 14 per cent felt that a group celebration would give them an opportunity to experience more expensive activities, such as renting a boat for the day.

“Positive relationships have been linked to good health, happiness and longevity, and group activities can lead to a different kind of fun and adventure that we may not get from being in a couple," says relationship expert Sam Owen. "Being with a large group of loved ones is another way for us to benefit from what I call ‘people power’, namely harnessing the positive health and well-being effects of human-to-human interaction.”

In recent years, "babymoons" (a holiday before the birth of a baby), "minimoons" (a short break taken before a longer honeymoon break), "maximoons" (a longer holiday following a minimoon) and "jobbymoons" (the holiday you take in between leaving one job and starting another) have all increased in popularity, contributing to the ever-increasing lexicon developed to describe the different ways in which we choose to travel.