Man of the Year - Champions of Friendship
Episode #183: Buddymoon’s Over
Date: May 5, 2026
Hosts: Aaron Karo and Matt Ritter
Episode Overview
In this lively episode, comedians and friendship experts Matt Ritter and Aaron Karo dive into the wedding season and dissect the trendy concept of the "Buddy Moon"—a honeymoon you take with friends. The discussion blends personal anecdotes, societal trends, and comedic rapport as they explore how modern weddings and friendships are evolving. The latter half features an extended "asking for a friend" segment, tackling ethical dilemmas about second weddings and gifts, culminating in their own signature solution: the "wedding clawback."
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The End of Wedding Years and Shifting Traditions
- Both hosts reflect humorously on attending fewer weddings as they age. Matt notes (00:50) that he still has a few thanks to his younger spouse Jess.
- They share laughs about Jess's age and Aaron inadvertently implying she was much younger at their wedding, leading to recurring jokes about "child bride" (01:44).
2. The Buddy Moon Boom
Definition and Trends
- Aaron presents the "Buddy Moon" as a post-wedding group trip with friends, not just the couple (03:14).
“Buddy moon is a honeymoon you take with your friends or a group instead of just a couple.” — Aaron (03:17)
- He outlines reasons for the rise of buddy moons (03:24–04:27):
- People marry later; honeymoons are more about celebration
- Adult friendships are more important; bringing friend groups together
- Destination weddings are popular, making the extended group trip economical
- Less-traditional weddings allow for more creative post-wedding plans
Alternate Buddy Moon Concepts
- Matt’s initial idea: courthouse weddings with group trips instead of big weddings (05:01).
- The pair debate the overlap between destination weddings and buddy moons (05:53–06:24).
3. The Role of Dancing and Wedding Rituals (06:24–07:49)
- Aaron voices skepticism about dancing-centric receptions (“Why are we doing a whole thing around dancing?” — 06:46)
- Matt points out some weddings are evolving away from compulsory dancing and share memories of their own wedding celebrations.
4. Downsides & Considerations of Buddy Moons
- Cost & Obligation:
- Hosts highlight the increased expense and logistical burden on friends if both a wedding and buddy moon are done (08:06/13:03).
- Emphasis on not expecting friends to join unless they enthusiastically opt in. (“Nobody’s obligated… I assume you’re doing this because you have buy-in from a group.” — Matt, 14:03)
- Urge for “radical self-awareness” when inviting friends, considering their life situations (14:17).
- Intimacy Concerns:
- The possibility that choosing a group trip over solo time with a new spouse could signal relationship issues, but Matt downplays it:
"Even the most intimate people... sometimes you want to have friends around." — Matt (11:45)
- They share family anecdotes, including how Matt’s parents accidentally had a disastrous buddy moon—with untranslated Hebrew relatives on their honeymoon (09:00–10:10).
5. Generational Differences & Group Travel Trends
- Recognition that for younger generations, group trips are the norm and buddy moons may just be a new name for what they already do (14:57–15:43).
- Matt notes, “If we’re creating a new reason to get together with your friends, I’m all about it” (15:15).
6. Audience Question: Wedding Gifts and Second Weddings
(Timestamp: 19:14–32:08)
- Listener Scenario:
- Gave a generous wedding gift and attended a bachelor party and wedding for a friend whose marriage ended quickly. Now, the friend is remarrying and expecting another expensive celebration and gift.
- “Either give me my gift back from the first wedding or don’t throw a destination wedding for your second wedding. This is bullshit, right?” (20:19)
- Matt’s Solution: The Wedding Clawback
- Ethical Takeaways:
- You are not obligated to attend a second, expensive wedding or give another large gift; you are also not entitled to be angry (30:07–30:42).
"You're free not to go, and you're free not to give a gift. You're not free to get mad." — Aaron (29:54)
- If the bride is new/first time, she should receive a proper celebration (25:26).
- Hosts share personal anecdotes mirroring the listener’s dilemma, including destination weddings and split households (30:42–31:33).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Dance-centric Weddings:
"So much of weddings is about dancing, and that really bothers me because, like, who really dances?" — Aaron (06:46)
- On Buddy Moon Intimacy:
“Is it a bad sign that you’re not wanting to travel solo with your partner?” — Matt (08:37)
- Most Awkward Buddy Moon Story:
“…my dad convinced my mom that his cousins from Israel should join them on their honeymoon. …Two weeks just trekking across the country… my mom spoke no Hebrew at the time… Not your ideal honeymoon.” — Matt (09:04)
- On the Wedding Clawback:
“I propose that they have to stay married at least two years to get the full amount.” — Matt (21:21)
Segment Timestamps
| Segment | Timestamp |
|-------------------------------------------|------------------|
| Opening Banter/Intro | 00:00–01:59 |
| Wedding Years Behind Us? | 01:59–03:14 |
| Explaining the Buddy Moon | 03:14–04:27 |
| Matt’s Alternate “Buddy Moon” Concept | 05:01–06:24 |
| Dance Rituals at Weddings | 06:24–07:49 |
| Downsides of Buddy Moons | 08:06–08:45 |
| Most Awkward Buddy Moon (Matt’s Mom) | 09:00–10:10 |
| Intimacy vs. Group Travel | 10:56–12:44 |
| Discussing Buddy Moon Finances | 12:44–14:47 |
| Generational Differences / Group Trips | 14:57–15:43 |
| Audience Question: Gifting & Clawbacks | 19:14–32:08 |
Conclusion & Listener Engagement
The episode closes on a reflective note:
"We want to hear what you think about our wedding clawback rubric. We want to hear about baby moons. We want to hear about buddy moons and the other moons that you can convince your friends or your husband to take you on a trip. Thank you guys for listening. Always remember, be good to yourself. Be good to your friends. Love you, Buddy." — Aaron (32:12)
For listeners:
- Participate by sharing your own moon experiences or gift dilemmas via Instagram.
- Consider the “wedding clawback” proposal for future wedding gift calculations!
The hosts’ tone is candid, comedic, and rooted in personal experience, making this episode a helpful—and entertaining—exploration of evolving wedding and friendship traditions.