Hello everyone.  Today I thought I would tackle a subject that is not necessarily one we want to think about...what if the wedding is cancelled.  Trust me I know that this is not something anyone wants to think about, but unfortunately it happens.  It happened to me.

I started dating a guy in my second year of college.  I was 19 and he was 20.  We dated all through college and beyond (with breakups and getting back together).  After college we got engaged.  It seemed like the natural progression of things.  Throughout the process of planning the wedding, something felt off.  But I just kept saying he was nervous it would pass.  We went to counseling, he went to counseling and I fought for the wedding and marriage.  He called it off 3 weeks before the wedding. I was devastated, to say the least.

Ultimately, it was the best thing that could have happened to me.  I am about to celebrate my 13th anniversary of being married to a wonderful man and I couldn't ask for more.

A broken engagement is painful and you feel embarassed, ashamed and it is like going through a divorce.  I completely understand.  But once the shock wears off there are logistics to handle.

1. Enlist your mom or friends to help you break the news to people.  That is not a conversation you want to have over and over.

2.  Understand that your friends and family will support you and will not judge your or look at you differently.  I found out who my true friends were and they are still my friends 19 years later. (yikes that makes me feel old).

3.  This is one is hard...most likely you will not be getting any deposits or funds back from your wedding professionals.  Cancellation policies are stated in all contracts. Please read them carefully before signing. Here is the logic...that wedding professional turned away other work when you booked your date.  Now that person will not be getting their full income for that day.  Remember, this is how wedding professionals make their living, pay their bills and feed their families.  They aren't doing it to be mean.

4.  Box up and put away your wedding related items from the planning books to the dress, etc. You don't have to deal with it right away, but you don't want to be staring at it all the time either.  When you are ready you will deal with them.  I sold my dress on consignment about a year after the engagement was broken.  You need time to emotionally detach and grieve.  

I know that this may sound like an odd article coming from a wedding planner.   But we are here to help in this situation as well.  We have made calls to wedding pros for our clients in the event of a cancellation.  We have been there to listen and cry with them.  

In time you will feel better and you will find love.  I did, in the most unexpected place - a blind date - and at the most unexpected time.  When it is right the wedding planning will be a fabulous experience and the wedding and marriage will last a lifetime.

So our next blog will be a happier post, I promise.   

Jen, Mandi and Amelia

561-254-2041

Jennifer@fabuluxeevents.com