Going through a divorce can trigger many emotions and leave those involved feeling emotionally drained.
So it’s unsurprising that some choose to throw ‘divorce parties’ once the papers are signed to celebrate their newfound freedom.
One of those divorcees was Maja Proescholdt, who decided to commemorate the end of her marriage after separating from her ex-husband in 2020.
The 30-year-old had been in a relationship with her former partner for almost seven years and married for more than four when they decided to call it quits.
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But rather than wallowing over the divorce – which took two years to finalise – Maja decided celebrate the newest chapter of her life instead.
Maja, who is originally from Minneapolis in the USA but now lives in York, threw a party with an Ariana Grande-inspired ‘Thank U, Next’ cake and decorated her home with banners – all while glammed up in a sash and tiara.
“I decided to have a divorce party for myself where I invited all my close friends, I'd have invited family too if they weren't all in the US,” she said.
““The party was at my house for cake, before going out for drinks and dancing in town. Hearing the DJ call out, ‘And let's have it for Maja's Divorce Party,’ while I was on the revolving dance floor at Popworld was a top life moment!
“My cake was custom-made by a local bakery, who created the divorce cake of my dreams! They sorted all of the details exactly how I wanted, particularly the "Thank U Next" writing on the cake.
“For my party decorations, I had a banner that said, ‘Finally Divorced,’ and one that said, ‘Boy Bye’. I also had a ‘Finally Divorced’ sash and crown to complete my outfit!
“I created a divorce party playlist for music at the party, featuring so many great songs (a lot of Beyonce!). One of my friends also gave me a gift basket which included a card that said, ‘Congrats on getting divorced’ and I loved it!”
When asked why she wanted to throw a divorce party, Maja said: “There were a lot of reasons, but mainly to celebrate my freedom and me.
“The legal process of getting divorced is complicated and takes a long time. I did this myself, without a lawyer, which was an insane amount of administrative work on my part.
“In hindsight, if I'd known just how difficult it would be, I'd have just paid for a lawyer to sort it! Although we split in October 2020, my divorce wasn't finalised until the end of March 2022.
“The process dragged on for so long, and towards the end, I often worried that I'd never actually get divorced and never be free from my ex. This was the last thing tying me to him. So, when the divorce was finalized, I definitely wanted to celebrate!
“At that point, my sadness and grief from the loss of my relationship had faded with time, and my overwhelming feeling of getting divorced was one of relief and empowerment. It felt amazing to get together with my friends and celebrate being divorced, being single, and being free.”
Wedding and engagement ring specialists at Jessica Flinn claim they have seen a 300 per cent increase in people wanting to remodel their ring after a divorce.
Jessica Flinn-Allen, the CEO and founder of the firm, added: “I feel like more people than ever before are now moving away from social stereotypes regarding life timelines such as career, buying a house, getting married and having children.
“Instead, we see customers coming in with so many stories to tell, including those wanting a bespoke design to celebrate their divorce.
“Divorce is normally something that is frowned upon and tends to have negative connotations, which is why we love it when customers come in to celebrate themselves because they are doing what’s right for them.
“We love it when a customer comes in to celebrate their divorce with a new ring. It’s an important part of their life and a mark of a new beginning. We expect to continue to see an increase in divorce parties, divorce cakes and divorce rings.”
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