How to Throw the Ultimate Divorce Party. Eileen Velthuis

closure and a fresh outlook.

      Trendsetting early adopters are latching onto this idea of celebrating divorce. It’s clearly the newest trend in event planning and life-milestone celebrating. Shannon McKenna, founder of The Cocktail Cuties, a Vancouver-area-based mobile bartending service, has noticed the divorce party trend’s growth in recent years. She also speaks regularly with many other vendors whose main businesses revolve around weddings.

      "There’s still a bit of a taboo in regards to divorce parties," she said. "I think this is mainly because the old-school way of thinking about divorce is [believing] you’ve failed, that it’s something ending. But there is definitely a growing population who are looking at it as a new beginning, which I think is really healthy!" McKenna said she’s seen parties where, even though the purpose was to celebrate a new beginning, there was an ominous tone to the whole thing. The décor was gothic; colors were black and blood red; cakes sported dead-groom toppers, and people were getting sloppy drunk.

      “That’s not my kind of party! If it were me planning it, I would make it a bright, fun party! Bright colors, maybe a sunshiny Lemon Drop Martini, and perhaps a cake that reflected my first big move as a single woman — a trip I’ve always wanted to go on, returning to a hobby cast aside during the marriage, or something brand new. You’re essentially reintroducing yourself to your friends, most who have only known you as part of a couple and who sometimes feel like they have to pick sides. A fun party is a great way to say ‘It’s over and it’s sad, but here’s what’s next for me!’ And there are so many creative party planners and vendors out there [who] would love to tap in to this growing party genre. It doesn’t have to be an end to your previous life. Your life isn’t over after divorce!” McKenna said.

      Whether the party’s focus is about the death and ending of a part of your life, or the bright new beginning of the next part of your life, there’s a way to mark and celebrate the occasion.