After getting married, it's traditional for the newlywed couple to head off on a honeymoon to celebrate their new bond together.
But while these holidays are supposed to be taken without any friends or family present, one woman has been left baffled by her husband's parents, as they now want to come on the trip too.
Sharing her story anonymously on Reddit, the woman explained she and her husband focused more on the honeymoon than the wedding when it came to planning their marriage, and after struggling through some financial problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, her in-laws offered to help contribute some funds to the event.
And now that her honeymoon is just one week away, the woman's in-laws have demanded that they be allowed to come with the newlyweds because it was their money that helped pay for the holiday.
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In her post, she said: "My fiancé proposed to me in a simple conversation. It was basically a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing, but I loved it regardless. We pondered on the wedding for a few weeks, but decided we didn’t want to spend most of our money on the wedding, but on a gorgeous ring and a fantastical honeymoon.
"What doesn’t work for us is that my then-fiance had just gotten laid off, which had left us in quite a financial problem. For the honeymoon option, we asked his parents who are pretty wealthy if they could possibly lend us some money for it and the ring, and they said they’d be happy to.
"Next week is our honeymoon and we’ve been so excited, but five days ago my soon-to-be-in-laws came over for a visit. They basically brought us some wine, some flowers, some things to put into the new house that we had just moved into, and then they asked to talk to us separately.
"My mother-in-law sat me down on my bed and told me that she was so happy for me and that she bet I was excited to go to the US. I laughed and agreed, and started talking about it but she cut me off and started saying things about how we’re so close, and we’re like a little family. Then she said, 'Since we’re so close, do you think me and my husband might tag along? It could be like a fun family trip!' "
The woman immediately told her mother-in-law no, but was branded "selfish" for not respecting that they had helped fund the honeymoon.
She added: "I told her, no, and she followed by saying how much she's 'always wanted to go', and that she 'never got to have her own honeymoon.' I told her I was sorry, but she couldn’t come as this was my honeymoon and was supposed to be a romantic trip between me and my new husband.
"She got very upset and met up with her husband who looked like he was about to rage. They basically teamed up on me and my fiancé and complained that they were the ones paying, they were the ones that raised him, and that they have done so much for us all these years.
"They said that it was my fault, and his dad said before I came along my fiance was smart, had his life together and respected his parents, and called me selfish.
"His parents have been sending me awful texts, and are now refusing to pay for the wedding. My parents have offered to help us pay, and we’re going less expensive now."
Commenters were equally baffled by the post, with many saying a honeymoon is not the time for a family holiday.
One person said: "A honeymoon is not a family vacation. Why don't they go by themselves? What do they think people do on their honeymoon? Postpone the wedding until you and your husband are on the same page."
While another added: "I get that they are paying, very generous but obviously the money comes with strings attached. Why can’t they go on a “honeymoon” by themselves instead of tagging along on someone else’s honeymoon? Just tell them to go on their own trip and let you go on yours."
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