"Calling off my wedding was the hardest thing I have ever had to do"

A TRIM woman who made the painful decision to call off her wedding just weeks before the big day has shared her story in the hope of inspiring others to keep going after tough life events. Ashley McGee (31) took the brave move to cancel her wedding and end the relationship with her children's father just as final preparations were underway.

Ashley, mum to Harry (6), Jack (4) and Molly (18 months) began to use her blog Beauty By Ashley to share her story with others. The former make-up artist captured the imagination of local women who were inspired by her refreshing honesty and she now hosts a support group for women every Sunday in The Good Life Gift Shop in Trim. 

 

Ashley uses social media to connect with and inspire women

“Five years ago I was engaged to be married and I had two young children. Calling off my wedding was the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. At that point, I could have crumbled but I believe that everything in life happens for a reason and if things don't work out you can either sit and be bitter or you can put that energy into moving on. I literally had to start my life again from scratch.” 

Ashley didn't waste any time in drawing the positive out of a heartbreaking situation and even went ahead with her hen party plans. 
“It might sound crazy to go on a hen when you have cancelled your wedding but life has to go on.  We obviously pared everything back and nobody mentioned the word ‘hen’.”

 

The group meets every Sunday in the Good Life Gift Store in Trim 

The hen night in Tullamore had been organised through a party planning service who also admired Ashley's tenacious spirit so much so that they added divorce parties to their list of services!

The blogger has since tied the knot and welcomed the arrival of baby Molly with her husband Ian but says her relationship with her ex-fiance is now better than ever.

“We are the best of friends. He is the most amazing dad and we have a great co-parenting relationship and he my husband get on brilliantly,” she says, adding, “I get so many messages from women struggling whether they are getting separated or having children and feeling lost in themselves. Social media is so fake because everyone chooses to post a well-curated highlight reel. Everyone is trying to portray the image of having a perfect life but a perfect life does not exist. 

 

Ashley has been  inundated with request to attend the support group

 “I got the idea of hosting a little group and received 20 messages from interested women within two hours of posting about it. Theresa who owns the Good Life Gift Shop in Trim contacted me saying she loved the idea and kindly offered her shop as a venue.”

The group is a much-needed resource in the community according to Ashley.

“Women are the glue that holds everything together. We just instantly become all things to all people. If you haven't given anything back to yourself you are going to burn out. There is such a stigma around being honest and asking for help and I want to use my platform to break those barriers down.”

For more information on the group, you can contact the Beauty By Ashley Facebook page.