TORONTO – Married for nearly three years, Charles Bronfman, and his wife Bonnie called it quits in 2011 and they did it in style by inviting 100 of their closest friends to a so-called “divorce party”.
Mr. Bronfman, the former chairman of the Seagram Company, and Mrs. Bronfman, an architect, broke up in a way that’s gaining in popularity.
“You initiate that process of saying I’m okay – you can talk to me about it,” said Martha Chan, Director of Marketing at Divorce Magazine. “How great to just flip it upside down and just celebrate it.
When Toronto resident Sophie Nicole’s two-relationship came to an end, she moved into a new apartment and celebrated her fresh start with a bang.
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“I called it a freedom party,” said Nicole. “I was just chomping at the bit to get out there again, not necessarily to date, but to just be free.”
She’s part of a growing number of women who instead of wallowing in heartbreak following separation, have decided to embrace their new found single status.
“It was fun to be out, there was a big group of us,” Nicole said. “We were being asked where are you going, what are you guys celebrating? And it was kind of funny to be saying ‘actually, I’m celebrating my breakup – i’m free!”.
There are over one hundred thousand Canadians who call it quits every year.
So it’s no surprise there’s an entire section of paraphernalia to support this life changing event, and it’s clear the D word, is no longer an ugly one.
At party shops, there are dozens of items on sale like streamers and balloons for that special occasion.
“Every year there’s a couple of new supplies that our manufacturers are coming up with,” said Amazing Party & Costume employee Diane Hamilton. “So it does seem to be picking up speed in terms of how it’s selling.”
Some couples host parties together to display their commitment to remain friends.
Rocker Jack White and model Karen Elson sent out embossed invitations before they parted ways.
No matter how it’s done, divorce parties have become an event to try and make the transition from married life to single life as smooth as possible.
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