34k
  85 Comments December 29, 2014

I got left at the altar: turning heartbreak into artwork

As the day that was supposed to be my wedding day approached, none of us knew what to do, think or feel. I knew that a pity party was the farthest thing from what I wanted or needed. A few people brought up the idea of trashing the dress, and at first it sounded crazy. But after thinking about it, I knew that doing something to mark the occasion was the perfect thing for me. I was not going to let my ex-fiancé's mistake of letting me go take away my happiness.

6.4k
  10 Comments November 27, 2013

It took a camping trip to gain the perspective that saved our wedding

I hear it said that "everyone has pre-wedding jitters" — what ifs and cold feet. But I had a full-on panic. Like, "I woke up crying and told my fiancé that I wanted to cancel the wedding" kind of panic. I came home that same day to a living room full of camping supplies. My fiance said that he had to get me out of here. Too tired to fight it, I allowed myself to be scooped into a car packed with blankets and hot dogs, and driven two hours out into the wilderness. It saved our wedding.

40k
  26 Comments October 21, 2013

How postponing my wedding saved my marriage

We were at the two-months-till-the-wedding mark, and I was losing it. I've never handled stress terribly well, and I have this nasty habit of taking that out on whoever's closest. I didn't realize the wedding stress and our constant arguments were related. In fact, it didn't even click until I sat in tears on my best friend's bed after yet another stupid argument. She asked me, gently, "Are you sure you want to go through with the wedding?" I realized that I couldn't say yes.

48k
  58 Comments April 8, 2013

So I canceled my offbeat wedding…

I was nearly there, you know. I'd bought a second hand dress and Irregular Choice shoes. I had booked my venue and I was organising my independent honeymoon to India. I had invited just eight people to my little ceremony. I had made 500 paper cranes for my Senbazuru decoration. I had chosen music and a menu and started to stockpile little bits and pieces for my small but no less special day. And then my relationship ceased to make sense. It was a very hard, very sad time. And I really remember feeling very alone when it all happens — plenty of people talk about divorce, about second marriages, about boyfriend breakups… I couldn't find other people who had cancelled their wedding. So, without further ado, here is my guide to canceling your offbeat wedding. These are just some of the things I wish I'd heard last year.