A 37-year-old woman who was apparently tired of waiting for the perfect man decided take a strange step by marrying herself in a lavish wedding ceremony.
Singleton Sophie Tanner from Brighton, a digital consultant said she waited in vain for 20 years to walk down the aisle with her Mr Right who was not forthcoming.
She bought herself a ring and a £40 ivory dress, and said the vow to the perfect human in existence, although she admitted that it was never her original plan for her life, but she encouraged other women to celebrate themselves.
Her 68-year-old father, Malcolm, walked her down the aisle and her best pal, James McGeown, 34, delivered the ceremony dressed in an arch bishop’s costume.
It’s been one year since Tanner took the traditional Christian wedding vows that had been specially adapted for the occasion on May 16, 2016.
According to Mirror UK, after saying ‘I do’, Sophie’s wedding guests partied on the beach and watched as the newly wed took part in her solo first dance.
Tanner said: “Marrying myself was never something I had planned but I was single and happy and I wanted to make a commitment to myself and no-one else.
“Self-marriage addresses the notion that being single and thoroughly enjoying it is a viable lifestyle choice.
“Surprisingly my family and friends were all so supportive and my dad couldn’t wait to walk me down the aisle.
“Even though the ceremony wasn’t legally binding, I wanted there to be all of the traditional symbols of marriage so I bought myself a ring and a beautiful vintage wedding dress.
“I adapted the traditional wedding vows and made a commitment to love and treasure myself.
“I asked 15 of my closest friends to be my bridesmaids and we danced in the street afterwards, everyone was in such high spirits.
“People probably think I’m crazy but it doesn’t bother me, I hope I encourage more women to commit to loving themselves.
“My wedding day was one of the best days of my life and if I could do it all over again I would!
“It was my first wedding anniversary on May 16 and to celebrate I spent a quiet night in with the wife.
“The book was fiction based and the more I started writing, the more I could relate to the main character.
“She was unlucky in love and got so fed up with everyone asking her when she was getting married that she decided to marry herself.
“I wrote to my local registry office and asked if marrying yourself was a possibility, but I got a resounding ‘no’.
“Of course, being told that I couldn’t marry myself made me even more determined to have a big day, why should I miss out on the best day of my life just because I hadn’t found my Mr Right yet?
“I was single and happy and I wanted to make a commitment to myself and no-one else.
“I sent a Facebook invite to all of my friends and family and planned to the date to coincide with a festival that was happening so I knew people would be in high spirits.
“I asked my closest friends to be bridesmaids and requested they wear the brightest coloured dresses they could find.
“I bought myself a wedding dress for £40 and a ring that I could wear during the day – I wanted to keep as many of the traditional aspects of a wedding as possible.
“I haven’t given up on love and as my marriage wasn’t legally binding I will be able to marry someone else without committing bigamy.
“When I look back at my wedding photos I remember how just how liberated the whole day made me feel, I was happy and felt strong in my own company.
“My wedding day was the best day of my life and I would do it all over again if I could!”
Below are some photos from the wedding ceremony, (Click on any image to enlarge).
