Love didn’t come knocking for Italian fitness trainer Laura Mesi, so she decided to celebrate it on her own terms. Eight years ago, she held a lavish self-wedding, complete with a wedding dress, bridesmaids, and a three-tier cake, attended by 70 guests.
“I firmly believe everyone must first love themselves,” she said. “You can have a fairytale even without a prince.” Recently, Mesi went viral again on Instagram with her story, aptly titled “I Would Marry Myself.”
The idea came after a 12-year relationship ended. She told friends and family, “If I hadn’t found my soulmate by my 40th birthday, I would marry myself.” Mesi added, “If I meet someone to share a future with, that would be wonderful, but my happiness doesn’t depend on him.”
Brushing off criticism, she said, “Nothing and no one can turn off my smile.” In interviews, she admitted self-marriage isn’t for everyone—it requires resources, support, and a little “pinch of madness.”
Internet Reactions 😄
Social media users had fun with her story:
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“Genuine question: what’s the difference between this and being unmarried?”
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“She wins every argument.”
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“When she gets divorced, who gets the house?”
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“I see my future and it’s bright.”
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“And when she meets someone, would that be cheating on herself?”
Some shared their own self-love journeys: one user said, “At 51, after being single most of my life, I married myself last year. I had bridesmaids, bought a beautiful ring, and two months later met the man of my dreams—now he’s my husband!” Others commented, “I think I might end up doing the same 😄.”
The Rise of Sologamy 💖
Mesi’s ceremony is part of the growing trend of sologamy—marrying yourself in a celebration that mirrors a traditional wedding. While not legally binding, sologamy is meant to honor self-love and independence. The trend is gaining worldwide popularity: in Japan, agencies offer self-wedding packages; in the US, companies like I Married Me sell self-wedding kits; and in Canada, services such as Marry Yourself Vancouver organize solo wedding ceremonies.
