LET’S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF

Approximately 20% of engagements were called off before the wedding. Nearly 50% of all the breakups across all stages were caused by financial stresses. Less than half of the couples going through break ups tried to make it work and only 83% are happy with the decision to end it all. Once you’ve decided that you need to call off your wedding, there’s a lot you need to take care of, including yourself. You’re going to get through this, YOU will be OK!

Getting engaged is a significant milestone in a romantic relationship, it is not the point of no return. If you’re engaged and are feeling like you’re not in the right emotional headspace, or you’re not sure about your decision, there’s nothing wrong with taking a step back or even ending your engagement. It’s better to take the time to figure out your feelings and make the right decision than to push forward and committing to a marriage that you knew was doomed from the start.

Research shows that there are over 115,000 weddings per day worldwide. The average engagement is 12-18 months long. What is not commonly known is 20% of all weddings are called off after engagements. There are numerous factors to why a marriage might end before it begins. The leading cause for broken engagements are infidelity, money and family - all things that are deeply interlocked and challenging to untangle once you’ve tied the knot.

“Approximately 20% of engagements were called off before the wedding…YOU will be OK! “

Sometimes, red flags don’t show themselves until faced with specific circumstances or issues. It’s important and more so empowering to see the red flags and wave the white flag of surrender. We are taught not to surrender or to quit our sports, our jobs and our relationships. Sometimes quitting or stopping before you get in too deep is the bravest and smartest decision one can make for themselves.

Social media, movies and reality tv will have you believe that dating results in engagement, which leads to happy marriage and the rest of your life is worry free because you’ve found “the one.” People in seemingly happy relationships, living the dream family life on Instagram are some of the most unsatisfied and unhappy people on the planet. You would be shocked if I shared some of the conversations I’ve had in the DMs about souring relationships. Take comfort in knowing that reality shows aren’t real, scripts are founded in a screenplay writer’s imagination and Instagram posts are just a snapshot of the part of life someone decides to share with the public. You do not know what the people around you are going through - they don’t know what you are going through. While there are authentic love filled relationships surrounding us, there is also great suffering all around us masquerading as perfection.

We live in a culture that has encouraged us to find a partner and live happily ever after, even at the sacrifice of our intuition and happiness. If you feel you need to stop, pause, slow down or even end your relationship there is likely good cause. Make the decision about what is best for you and your future. It might be the hardest and bravest decision you ever make and you will be, OK!