Divorce parties aren't just for the stars anymore
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes may still be in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, but with the recent slew of Hollywood divorces, you can bet it won't be long before breakup rumors start to swirl.
From Pamela and Kid Rock to Reese and Ryan to Britney and Kevin, divorce seems to be the order of the day for today's celebrities.
But where it may have once been considered a time of sadness or even embarrassment, some are choosing a more upbeat approach, reveling with friends and even holding "divorce parties" to celebrate new beginnings.
Former Meet the Barkers star and Dancing With the Stars contestant Shanna Moakler increased awareness of such parties when she held one, complete with a three-tier cake featuring a knife-wielding bride and bloodied groom, earlier this month at the Bellagio's Light Nightclub in Las Vegas. "She had a great time," said Andrew Wintner, vice president of marketing for the Light Group, adding that public interest after Moakler's party was so great that the company is in the process of creating a party program specifically for the newly divorced. "Instead of celebrating the end of someone's freedom, we'll be celebrating the beginning of their freedom," Wintner said.
Christine Gallagher, author of The Woman's Book of Divorce who runs www.divorcepartyplanner.com, said increased interest in divorce parties is based in part on a need for companionship during crisis. "For most major life events we have some sort of ritual or ceremony or gathering to help us through it," Gallagher said. "With divorce, people are kind of on their own. It can be really depressing. A divorce party can be a very primitive way to gather around and help the person through what is a horrible time."
Gallagher said parties can range from small gatherings on the day the divorce is final to raucous events featuring playlists with songs like I Will Survive and signature drinks like "marriage on the rocks." "I've heard of people spending as much as they did on their wedding," Gallagher said.
Peggy Savant is the owner of www.PartyHearse.com, which opened last month and offers "eternally memorable" hearse rentals in parts of Louisiana and Texas, including Houston. She said she has been surprised by the inquiries for divorce-party transportation. "From time to time I've had friends that would call and say, 'I've got my divorce party tonight,' " Savant said. "I didn't think that would be something that was going to be one of my main menu items."
One of the inquiries Savant received came from a Lake Jackson resident named Ed, who plans to rent a hearse and party with friends in downtown Houston when his divorce is final early next year. "It's kind of the death of this marriage, the death of this part of my life," said Ed, asking that his last name not be used to prevent his children from learning about the party. "I'm somewhat conflicted, because it's not something to be happy about. It's an event in somebody's life, but at the same time it's something that's happened and you make the best of it. It's a new start."
Gallagher said she often hears from critics who are angered by the concept of divorce parties. She said that while the parties are not for everyone, they can be helpful for people in need of closure. "It's more got to do with what's good for you. What do you need to do to get you through this bad time? Do you need to have a good time with lots of fun and laughter? Do you need to do something more serious?" Gallagher said. "What do you need for your own sort of therapy?"
See the pictures at the Houston Chronicle.
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