Breaking an engagement requires a sensitive touch for what is undoubtedly a painful experience. Break-ups are hard no matter who initiated the idea, and when you are in the midst of wedding planning, the pain may feel insurmountable. Try to remind yourself that everything is going to be okay — it just might take a little time to feel that way.
The key is to work toward moving forward with tact and love — for yourself and your former partner — in an effort to ease the hurt. Ultimately, when things aren't working out, ending your engagement is a good idea. But navigating the emotions during this time is a great challenge. We have some helpful tips to get you through this very difficult situation with grace.
How to Break Off Your Engagement
Ending an engagement is never easy or pain-free, but there are respectful ways to move forward.
Give a Truthful Explanation
Tell your partner the truth and don't make excuses. Use "I" statements to share your reasons and avoid placing blame on them.
Avoid Negative Language
Try to avoid negative language when speaking to your ex. Instead of calling out faults, talk about how the two of you were different without either of you being wrong.
Take a Break During Heated Conversations
If the conversation gets heated, take a pause. Allowing each of your bodies to download the feelings and being able to sit with your emotions apart from each other might help you two have a healthy conversation.
Convey the News to Family & Close Friends Privately
Tell both families and any wedding party members about the broken engagement in private if possible. They may feel they deserve an explanation, but it doesn't have to be detailed. Respect your feelings and your ex's feelings and try to decide together how you will break the news to loved ones.
Cancel Your Wedding Arrangements
Cancel any wedding arrangements that have already been made. This might include:
- Reservations for rental equipment or locations
- Vendor services
- Appointments made
- Outstanding orders for invitations or favors
- Honeymoon plans and reservations
- Plans for engagement parties or wedding showers
Decide What to Do With Items You Can't Cancel
If it is too late to cancel some of your wedding arrangements, consider donating materials and services instead. Catering food could be donated to a food bank and floral centerpieces can be donated to a nursing home. Speak to your vendors and check contracts to see what is required of you in your cancellation.
Delete Registries & Return Gifts
Delete any wedding or engagement gift registries and return any gifts you have received, including cash or checks. You can include a simple note of "Thank you, but there is no wedding at this time" to the sender.
Retract Wedding Invites
If you've already sent wedding invitations, you need to retract them. You can use a printed note with wording such as, "We regret to inform you that there will no longer be a wedding for X and Y. We extend our deepest apologies for any inconvenience." If the wedding date is too close to mail retractions, contact families and friends personally. Avoid a mass emailing where folks can "reply all."
Settle Joint Financial Obligations
Settle any financial obligations jointly, such as repaying help that has been given for wedding planning or offering to repay wedding party costs. Selling wedding supplies can help offset the expense, but be aware that many vendors require nonrefundable deposits, so there will likely be some financial loss associated with the canceled wedding.
Decide What to Do With the Rings
Talk about what you will do with the engagement ring or rings. If it's a family heirloom, it's best to be returned to that family. Speak with reverence to the significance of the ring or rings, and try to decide together what should become of them.
Take Some Time to Adjust
Respect one another and give each other time and space to adjust to the new circumstances. While many couples who break an engagement can remain friends, it may take some time to return to a comfortable friendship after the engagement ends.
Always Proceed With Mutual Respect & Understanding
By carefully taking the steps to end an engagement properly, couples can part ways with mutual respect and understanding. While it won't be an easy split, you can do it in a thoughtful, mature way you can both move on with your lives.
Things to Avoid When Ending an Engagement
Ending an engagement is emotionally devastating, but no matter what the circumstances of the break-up may be, there are things couples should avoid.
- Deception: Don't lie about your reasons for ending the engagement. Respect the union you had and channel integrity to move forward in the most peaceful way.
- Yelling: Getting into a heated argument will cause more hurt feelings and heartache than necessary. A calm, respectful discussion is the better option than being accusatory and inflammatory.
- Going public: Avoid calling off an engagement in front of family members or friends, in a restaurant, or while on a date. The decision to end the engagement may be a shock to your partner, and it's more respectful to tell them of your decision privately.
- Being impersonal: It's wise to never use a phone call, text message, email, or Facebook status change to end an engagement.
- Social media blasts: Until both of you have had time to sit with the ending of the engagement, avoid posting about it on social media. You may not want to post about it at all, and you shouldn't feel you have to. Your private life can remain private.
Always practice kindness — to yourself and to your ex. While you are no longer in love with your former partner, you can show love by being kind and gentle with everyone's feelings.
Practice Self-Care
Remember to go easy on yourself and your emotions. You may experience a range of feelings from anger and resentment to regret and longing for your ex. Sometimes, consulting with a therapist can be helpful to navigate and find the clearest path forward.
Some feel shame upon ending an engagement, and that can be a difficult emotion to work through. Remember that each new day is a chance to overcome and gain more clarity. You can also confide in a close friend, asking them to sit with you so your feelings are heard. They don't even have to offer advice — just a good ear so you can process and share what's happening within you without having it fester.
Picking up a new activity like going on daily walks or having coffee in a bookstore — anything you've been wanting to try or do — might also help you nourish your soul in the way that you need.
Take Time to Heal
After ending an engagement, give yourself all the time you need to heal. Everyone is different in how long it may take them to recover from this kind of emotional upset. Try not to let any outside influences pressure you into thinking there is a set timeline. Listen to your instincts about moving on, and for when you are comfortable with dating again. In time, you'll strengthen your emotional well-being enough to move on, but for now, the focus should be on healing.
