A moment apart: The polarising solomoon trend

A moment apart: The polarising solomoon trend

Planning a wedding is stressful, which is what makes the honeymoon even sweeter. A few days away from reality with your love is the perfect escape to help rejuvenate your senses. But what if your partner is part of that stress?

The unimoon or solomoon is a new trend some modern couples have chosen to embark on. Instead of going on a honeymoon with their partner, they each go on their own separate holidays.

“It’s a very individualistic, modern practice of efficiency over everything else,” William Powers, a groom who had his own solomoon, told the New York Times. “I think that it’s tied with workaholism and being on the work-and-spend treadmill when you can’t even coordinate one of the most important times of your life together.”

There are many reasons why couples may opt for this unusual choice. It could be that their ideal honeymoon destinations don’t match, or that their work schedules don’t align. Or maybe, it’s just that you really need some alone time after months of being surrounded by wedding planners, vendors, family members and stressed out partner.

As with anything, this trend is dependent on you and your relationship. It may work for some and seem utterly strange to others.

“Neither of us wanted to be where the other one was,” one bride told the Times. “We each came back to Dublin full of stories, buzzing of our trips and truly delighted to see each other again to share the memories: It was the perfect imperfect honeymoon.”

The solomoon might be an example of how relationships and modern love is evolving. Online dating expert and a sociologist for the dating app Bumble Jessica Carbino tells the Times that the idea of marriage has changed for many.

“Given the recognition that for most couples today, marriage and partnership is considered all-consuming, with the partner needing to fulfill every role — physical, spiritual, emotional and sexual — perhaps separate vacations is a recognition among some couples that all expectations cannot be met by a single person.”

Feature image: Chen Mizrach on Unsplash

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