Going on a honeymoon is supposed to be one of the most joyous weeks of any married person’s life. After months of stressful wedding planning and ensuring that every detail for their big day was perfect, newlyweds finally have an opportunity to relax and enjoy one another. A few days on the beach or atop a scenic mountain to bond and spend some quality time together is the best way to begin a marriage.

For one couple, however, their honeymoon was rudely interrupted by an overbearing set of parents. One bride reached out to the “Am I the A***ole?” subreddit asking if she would be the jerk for running away on her honeymoon. Not away from her husband, she would be running with her husband away from his parents. Below, you can read the bride’s story detailing how her overbearing in-laws have been unable to take a hint, as well as an interview with Dan and Michelle of Honeymoon Always to hear from some experts how important a honeymoon can be.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and then if you’re interested in more dramatic newlywed content, we’ve got the perfect Bored Panda piece for you to read next right here.

After her in-laws invited themselves onto her honeymoon, this bride reached out to Reddit asking if her and her husband would be wrong for abandoning the parents and going to another hotel

Image credits: Anastasiya Vragova (not the actual photo)

After being unable to have any privacy, the couple scouted out options for where they could escape to

Image credits: veerasak Piyawatanakul (not the actual photo)

We reached out to Dan and Michelle, creators of the blog Honeymoon Always, to hear why they think honeymoons are so important for couples. “From the moment a couple gets engaged until the wedding is over, couples are usually bombarded with planning and dealing with the expectations of others,” they told Bored Panda. “The honeymoon gives couples a chance to unwind together after busy and stressful months leading up to their wedding.  The honeymoon is important as a time to start marriage renewed together and to set the tone of the new life ahead.  It is a time to reflect back on your wedding and move forward with new memories.” Next, we asked them what the best part of going on a honeymoon is. “Spending time together and making new memories. In the months leading up to the honeymoon couples are likely spending a lot of time with other friends in family in preparation for the big day, but once it is over they can finally relax and enjoy these moments of their new life together.”

For couples that are on a tighter budget, Dan and Michelle have some tips: “There are so many ways to enjoy a honeymoon without breaking the budget. Consider opening credit cards with signing bonuses and putting your wedding expenses on them to get travel points. Be careful to pay them off immediately or this will end up costing you in interest. Many couples have paid for their entire honeymoon this way. You can ask wedding guests to contribute to your honeymoon fund as a wedding gift. If you still have a tight budget after this you can go on a trip closer to home. A honeymoon can be as simple as a weekend trip away since what is important is that you spend time together. If you are not happy with your honeymoon plans, consider it a ‘minimoon’ and make plans to save for the trip of your dreams on your 1 year anniversary.” Lastly, Dan and Michelle added some words of wisdom, “Remember to ask yourself what is most important for you and your spouse on your honeymoon before you start planning. Keeping focused on this will make sure you have an enjoyable time and make meaningful memories.”

While wedding discussions usually revolve around the logistics of the ceremony and reception (indoor or outdoor, what kind of cake to have, dj or live band, etc.), couples usually look forward to the honeymoon just as much, if not more. The bride in this story mentioned that her in-laws paid for their stay at the all-inclusive hotel, but most couples invest a pretty penny into their honeymoon trips. According to a study including 15,000 couples who got married during 2021, the average honeymoon costs $4,600. Not to mention that prior to that, the average wedding costs $34,000. While 68% of the couples studied went on a honeymoon, and almost half of the trips lasted over a week, it’s no secret that these trips can be a great financial burden. For couples with tighter budgets or harder times getting off work, “mini-moons” are a nice alternative to a traditional honeymoon. The name is pretty self-explanatory, but a mini-moon is just a shorter trip either in lieu of a honeymoon or prior to having a more extravagant trip in the future.

Honeymoons have been steadily rising in price in recent years, with most couples seeking destinations far away from home. Beaches are consistently the most popular honeymoon getaways, though, with 52% of couples choosing to relax in the sand. And for couples who value travel over household appliances and dishware, a fund can be set up for wedding guests to make donations to their travel costs instead of purchasing traditional wedding gifts. This is a great way for newlyweds to feel more relaxed and at ease on vacation, without having to worry about the cost of their grand getaway.

A new couple deserves to have the honeymoon of their dreams, before returning to the stresses and responsibilities of their hectic lives. While it’s wonderful to have in-laws who will provide a luxurious honeymoon as a gift, they should understand boundaries as well. I’m glad the couple in this story was able to salvage the last few days of their trip by finding some privacy in another town, even if they had to step on some parents’ toes to do so. Below you can read responses that the story received on Reddit then let us know in the comments what you think about this situation. And if you’re married, we’d love to hear about your own honeymoon!

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Most of the readers responded reassuring the bride that her in-laws were out of line

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But a few readers called out the couple for not being confrontational enough

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