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Boston Globe
05-07-2025
- Boston Globe
Why more newlyweds are honeymooning closer to home
'We had great seafood, cozy dinners, soaks in hot tubs and took walks along the water,' Repetto said. 'We came back refreshed, not exhausted, which is exactly what we wanted our honeymoon to be about.' Get Love Letters: The Newsletter A weekly dispatch with all the best relationship content and commentary – plus exclusive content for fans of Love Letters, Dinner With Cupid, weddings, therapy talk, and more. Enter Email Sign Up Married couples have traditionally used their honeymoons as an opportunity to take once-in-a-lifetime trips that have long been on their wish lists or to book stays at romantic resorts in the Caribbean or farther afield. More recently, however, many newlyweds have been opting for domestic honeymoons instead. Advertisement The shift can be attributed to several factors, including constrained budgets, limited time off, or a desire to avoid the complications of international travel. Many couples are also increasingly drawn to the idea of a more laid-back, relaxed honeymoon without the pressure of a packed itinerary. Domestic honeymoons and weddings have had a slight but steady year-over-year increase between the first quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of this year, according to data from the Internova Travel Group, a travel service provider in New York that has more than $20 billion of travel sales a year overall. The data reflect sales from 20 travel agencies within Internova specializing in honeymoons and destination weddings. Advertisement When choosing where to go, couples appear to be looking beyond beaches, resorts, and other domestic honeymoon mainstays like Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Internova's data indicate that Massachusetts more than doubled its wedding and honeymoon travel sales, while Colorado, Arizona, and Utah also gained momentum as romantic destinations. New York City also had a significant rise in popularity, according to Internova, with bookings more than tripling. Other emerging city destinations for couples include Phoenix; Memphis, Tenn.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Austin, Texas; and Burbank, Calif. The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, released in February, also indicated an incremental increase in domestic honeymoons. Of the nearly 17,000 US couples surveyed who wed last year or planned to marry this year, 41 percent opted for the United States as their destination, compared with 38 percent of couples asked in 2023. Florida, Hawaii, and California were the most popular states for these trips, with Tennessee and Colorado not far behind. In a recent survey of 400 engaged couples by the wedding platform Joy, nearly half said that they planned to have a domestic honeymoon. 'We're finding that many couples are making the conscious choice to simplify, to savor, and to stay grounded in the moment,' Vishal Joshi, the chief executive, said. 'The dream of faraway places meets the reality of time, budget, and logistics.' Related : Advertisement Speaking to this point, Caitlin Bell-Evans, 26, a nurse, and Erica Bell-Evans, 28, a middle-school special-education teacher, who wed last April and live in Philadelphia, took a 10-day honeymoon to Palm Springs, Calif., last November. They stayed at the Mediterranean-inspired Korakia Pensione during the trip and spent their days sleeping until 10 a.m., sitting by the hotel's pool, and visiting local spas to use the hot springs. Come evening, they enjoyed Mexican food with tacos and tequila and treated themselves to a few nicer dinners. Caitlin Bell-Evans said that they chose Palm Springs because the city's mountain and desert landscape offered a stark contrast to the East Coast and made them feel as if 'they really escaped.' 'It was so much less work to stay domestic,' she said. 'We put so much work into planning our wedding and were tired. Plus, I didn't have a passport and didn't want another thing to add to my to-do list.' She noted that they also thought domestic travel would be 'cheaper' than going abroad. 'We really feel that staying in the US was our way to give back to ourselves,' Erica Bell-Evans added. Some luxe domestic resorts also report a bump in honeymoon bookings. The Wauwinet, an oceanfront resort on Nantucket, introduced a 'happy honeymoons' package this spring in response to the rise in newlyweds at the property, according to Ashish Verma, the executive vice president of White Elephant Resorts, the resort's parent company. The offer includes two nights of accommodation, daily breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner. When they arrive, couples are welcomed with flowers, oysters, and Champagne. Kara Bebell and Harlan deBell are the brother-and-sister owners of the New York travel company the Travel Siblings, and planned Repetto's and La Bella's trip. They said that the United States had an abundance of resorts for newlyweds. 'Whatever experience couples find romantic to them, from wineries and small towns to beaches and glamping in the wilderness, there is something fabulous for everyone,' Bebell said. Advertisement The two suggest Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach, Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, and Faena Hotel Miami Beach, in the Miami area. 'These resorts have a Caribbean feel without leaving the country, and for the West Coast, it doesn't get more romantic in Laguna Beach than checking into the Montage,' deBell said. Wine lovers might consider Napa, Sonoma, and Healdsburg, which are among the wine regions in California. For couples seeking upscale camping with activities like fly fishing and hiking, Bebell and deBell recommend resorts in Montana, including Paws Up, a ranch resort in Greenough, or the Ranch at Rock Creek, in Philipsburg. They also recently planned a weeklong honeymoon to the all-inclusive luxury resort Twin Farms, in Barnard, Vt., which offers activities such as archery, ax throwing, cycling, hiking, canoeing, and pickleball. Caitlin Fogle, a travel adviser with Protravel in Miami, suggests couples plan their trips six to nine months in advance, if possible. 'You'll get better rates and hotel availability, especially on premium rooms,' she said. But she added that a memorable, last-minute domestic honeymoon was 'definitely doable.' Fogle also advises couples to splurge on one or a few extravagant activities. This might include a private cruise with a sunset dinner, a hot-air balloon ride, or a lavish private picnic in the middle of a hike. 'These extras go a long way in elevating your trip,' she said. Advertisement This article originally appeared in .
Boston Globe
20-06-2025
- Boston Globe
The Karen Read retrial may be over, but we'll never truly be free of the case. (And now what do we do with ourselves?)
Advertisement All around the world, people who couldn't even believe they cared held their breath until, finally, the verdict was read in open court: Karen Read was not guilty of murdering John O'Keefe. Not guilty of manslaughter. Guilty only of operating a vehicle under the influence. Get Love Letters: The Newsletter A weekly dispatch with all the best relationship content and commentary – plus exclusive content for fans of Love Letters, Dinner With Cupid, weddings, therapy talk, and more. Enter Email Sign Up The defense team hugged. The victim's family disappeared from view, as if they had done something wrong. Law enforcement mustered on the steps of the courthouse. The pink bosoms heaved, their hearts full, their eyes on the courthouse doors. It was like waiting for the royal family, or maybe the pope, to take the balcony. Finally, their icon appeared. Read and attorney Alan Jackson flashed the American Sign Language sign for 'I love you.' Attorney David Yannetti pumped his fists. Advertisement 'No one has fought harder for justice for John O'Keefe than I have,' Read said. It was glorious — the release they'd all been waiting for — but eventually the stars left the stage and climbed into dark cars and pulled away, and the crowd dispersed and the traffic in downtown Dedham began to flow, and that seemed to be that. The end of an era. Supporters of Karen Read react after she was found not guilty of second-degree murder on Wednesday in Dedham. Josh Reynolds/Associated Press Or, was it? Painful as it is, perhaps now is a good time to recall the Indeed, no sooner had the jury delivered its verdict than the last three and a half years began to feel like merely the prelude to an even juicer season, starting, of course, with the hunt for the real killer! 'The time has come to scrutinize the actions of [people] who were caught lying — committing perjury during the trial,' a Read supporter wrote on Facebook. On the X platform, the snark and 'gotchas' continued with zest, as if the trial hadn't ended. 'Imagine getting convicted of a DUI and you walk outside to streets full of people cheering you on,' one post read. 'The saddest part of the Karen Read saga is John O'Keefe is still dead and the people who actually murdered him will never be punished thanks to the thin blue line,' read another. It was the same story outside the courthouse, where Read supporters were trying to propel the action forward. 'Bev needs to go! Bev needs to go!' the crowd chanted, waving American flags and gunning for Judge Beverly Cannone. Advertisement Aidan Kearney, the now-supercharged blogger known as Turtleboy, announced that he was at last free to reveal that he's involved with a The plot points kept coming. Some of the trial's witnesses put out a somewhat ominous statement. 'While we may have more to say in the future, today we mourn with John's family and lament the cruel reality that this prosecution was infected by lies and conspiracy theories,' read the statement from Jennifer McCabe, who was with Read when she found O'Keefe's body in the snow; Brian Albert, who lived at the home where O'Keefe's body was found, and others. The town of Canton, apparently desperate to move forward (as if), put out its own declaration. 'We encourage members of the community to move forward together, treating one another with respect through civil, constructive dialogue,' it said. And throughout the region, regular citizens began to face a scary reality: themselves. What would they turn to to take their minds off their own lives now? What are people going to do now that they don't have the Read trial to watch or discuss or argue over? Sure, there are books to read, hobbies to develop, and nonprofits at which to volunteer. Then again, considering the pending Beth Teitell can be reached at
Boston Globe
18-06-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Care for burial plots falls to one family member
Advertisement I guess I don't feel I should have to ask for help. It is expensive and time-consuming. We sure would love to see flourishing plants and no weeds. Get Love Letters: The Newsletter A weekly dispatch with all the best relationship content and commentary – plus exclusive content for fans of Love Letters, Dinner With Cupid, weddings, therapy talk, and more. Enter Email Sign Up TIRED OF TENDING A. This is a beautiful tradition for these sites of memory, and it clearly holds a lot of meaning for you. It's great that you've involved your children and grandchildren, as well, to keep the tradition alive. Sometimes, when we have a need that's gone unmet, the only way forward is to ask for it. So, while you shouldn't have to ask for help, doing so may ease your stress. It may also alert your siblings to an opportunity for service that has slipped their minds. While this is a longstanding tradition in your family, it's possible it doesn't hold the same weight for your siblings as it does for you. So, talking to them about what it means to you and asking for their support could be an invitation for them to dig deeper, as it were. Advertisement Now, when you do this, you should also be prepared for the possibility that the extensive work you do planting and maintaining the plots isn't something that they want to take on. They may prefer a more trimmed back horticultural plan. Everyone commemorates their loved ones in different ways. Try to be open to smaller tasks that they might take on as well. Q. I'm lucky enough to have parents in their 80s in pretty good health and who are celebrating their 60th anniversary next month. The issue is that they want to celebrate it on my birthday. The expectation is that I drive two hours to celebrate them all day, doing whatever they ask of me, then drive two hours to go home. Their actual anniversary is a few days before my birthday and they don't see an issue that I'd like to have my birthday acknowledged (ideally, I could make plans myself). This is not the first time they have hijacked my birthday (or any other day) and will get extremely upset (borderline abusive) when I say I want their party to be on another day. I feel like a prisoner, but they are 80. Do I just suck it up and lose another birthday? I feel like I don't matter. MIDDLE CHILD A. Sixty years of marriage is a significant, and rare, milestone, one that ought to be celebrated. Initially I thought: What's stopping this letter writer from sharing the birthday and being with family? But there are parts of this letter that make me concerned this issue is about more than just what your plans are. Advertisement For instance, you write that your parents have become borderline abusive when you've pushed back on plans before. You write that you feel like a prisoner. So, this isn't just a case of an overcrowded family calendar. There's something amiss in your relationship. I'm curious where your other siblings are in this. I'm curious what you'd like to do on your birthday and ways that your family might make you feel special, even if you did do the actual celebration on another day. If this is bothering you this much, it's worth saying something to your parents about it. Even if you're still planning to come to help them celebrate, you can and should speak up beforehand about what you need. If it feels to you that they've hijacked your birthday, explore that and try to find what can be remedied by them and what's yours to work through. Most importantly, keep yourself safe. If your relationship with your parents is contentious or abusive, you don't have to go. Or you can set a limit for how long you're going to stay. And no matter how long you stay (if you go at all), make sure you do something special for yourself, with people you like and who value you. Even if it's not on your actual birthday, make time to show up for yourself. R. Eric Thomas can be reached at .
Boston Globe
24-02-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Husband keeps kicking wife out of their house
Eventually, I started working part time to pitch in financially and get out of the house. That wasn't good enough either because, according to him, I wasn't making enough money and started slacking at housework. Get Love Letters: The Newsletter A weekly dispatch with all the best relationship content and commentary – plus exclusive content for fans of Love Letters, Dinner With Cupid, weddings, therapy talk, and more. Enter Email Sign Up These days all we do is constantly argue. He has kicked me out of our house twice. Once for a night and another time for more than a week. Luckily, my children and I could go to my parents' house. Advertisement He and I grew up in broken homes and toxic environments, we both swore we didn't want that for our kids, but now I'm not sure what to do. I want to fight to keep my family together and my daughters to have both parents in the home. But any time we have an argument or he's stressed/tired from work, he tells me to pack my belongings and leave 'his house.' He has anger issues and won't seek professional help or get on any medication to help. I'm positive there are other mental health issues, as well. I'm emotionally and mentally drained by the constant fighting and being put down, but I'm trying so hard to fight for my family. Any advice? CONFUSED AND HURT A. Please hear and believe me when I say you don't deserve this. Your daughters don't deserve this. I understand your desire to fight for the family you want, but one has to ask whether this man is currently capable of being a part of that kind of family. Advertisement His behavior is not only mercurial and unfair — the work you do in the home is a more-than-full-time job, for instance — but it's emotionally abusive. Kicking you and your children out of the home whenever he's unhappy is abusive behavior. The National Domestic Violence Hotline ( Do it for yourself. And do it so that your daughters have a stable home in which to grow and flourish, where they'll see their mother being respected and can learn to respect themselves. Q. My sister is a retired career US Army nurse, having reached the rank of lieutenant colonel. This status has led her to believe she's better than anyone without military cred or medical knowledge. I was in the Navy Reserve but for her this doesn't count. Recently, she suggested that six of our family members — we three sisters and our husbands — gather to celebrate that three of them have milestone birthdays this year. We thought it was a fun idea, so we agreed on a date. She then asked if she could invite her husband's sister, whom four of us don't know. My other sister and I said we didn't support the invitation, pointing out that the sister-in-law would change the dynamic in a negative way, noting that my sister and her husband don't even like the sister-in-law, so the invitation seems like a pity invite. Advertisement My elder sister then put the kibosh on the event. My other sister and I still would like to have the gathering. Any ideas on how to approach a bossy elder sibling? This isn't the first time she has co-opted an event, and we're tired of the drama. WEARY OF IMPERIOUS SISTER A. You've already saved the date and made tentative plans, so there's nothing stopping you and your other sister from going ahead with the celebration. You can even tell your elder sister, 'we thought it was a great idea, and we'd hate to not get together. Please consider joining us.' As the person who planned the event initially, she was, I suppose, within her rights to make the guest list. And you were within your rights to voice your objections. But she doesn't get to decide when and how you all gather. If you're willing to do the work to organize it, you should go. R. Eric Thomas can be reached at .
