Long-Term Couple Explains Why They Chose to Spend Christmas with Their Respective Families Instead of Together (Exclusive)

This longtime couple does the holidays a bit differently.

Ally and Justin, who have been dating for five years, made waves on TikTok when they shared a clip about their decision to spend Christmas apart in order to celebrate with their respective families. 

“I actually don’t feel like this was a conscious decision on our part,” Ally tells PEOPLE exclusively. “Justin and I have been dating since we were in college, so of course back then the unspoken decision was to go back to our parents’ house for Christmas, and things just never really changed.” 

Both Ally and Justin’s families live on the East Coast while the pair live in Colorado, so spending Christmas with loved ones holds significance as they can’t see their families easily throughout the year.

“We’ve both lived across the country from our families for the last three-ish years — we get to see each other all the time, but only get to see our families a few times a year,” Ally shares. “With parents and grandparents getting older, you have to cherish as much time as you can with family.” 

Despite their separate Christmas celebrations, the couple have found ways to create their own holiday traditions when together. This year, they decorated their shared apartment and celebrated Christmas on Dec. 13. “We did presents and made homemade pasta and watched Christmas movies. So it definitely felt like Christmas even with just the two of us.”

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While the two have kept up with their tradition for the last five years, Ally anticipates plans will evolve in the future as their relationship progresses. “I definitely anticipate things changing,” she reveals, adding, “Probably sooner rather than later.” 

The couple are considering various options to change up the tradition, including potentially hosting a combined family Christmas or alternating between their families’ locations. 

Though the two plan to keep both their families in their holiday plans, Ally anticipates she and Justin will continue to create their own traditions. “Even if we do combine Christmas with our families in the future, I’m sure we’ll want to do things with just the two of us going forward as well,” she adds. 

Some commenters on the TikTok expressed their inability to spend the holidays away from their partners, but Ally says she and Justin haven’t felt such pressure. “It’s just always been how it was and I don’t think either of us or anyone else really ever questioned it,” Ally notes.