Woman Marries Herself After 20 Years of Searching for Partner

Finding the right person for you is definitely a journey. Knowing that you need someone who understands you, is patient with you, and still showers you with love is definitely not an easy task. However, what happens if you were looking for over 20 years? Well, you either keep looking or do as this woman decided to! Meet Sarah, the bride who decided on a self-marriage ceremony, after not finding her soulmate for over 20 years. Here is her full story.

The Story of Sarah Wilkinson

A 42-year-old woman named Sarah Wilkinson, who had saved for 20 years for her dream wedding but didn’t find the right partner, decided to throw her own wedding. She held the ceremony at Harvest House in Felixstowe, Suffolk, with the help of a celebrant friend. This celebration came after she treated herself to an engagement ring, making it a significant personal milestone in her life.

She told the news outlet: “It was a lovely day for me to be the centre of attention. The ceremony wasn’t an official wedding, but I had my wedding day. I think you get to the point where you think ‘I might not have this with a partner by my side, but why should I miss out?’ That money was reserved for my wedding – it was a case of it’s there and why not use it for something I want to do.”

When asked if this means that she will not continue looking for a partner, Sarah replied: “Not at all… but it was just a case of giving up looking because it’s a lot of effort.“

The Self-Marriage Ceremony

Ms. Wilkinson, a resident of the town, spent £10,000 on her self-organized wedding celebration. She diligently saved money each month and used any additional funds she received, including bingo winnings. The ceremony took place on September 30th, with 40 close family and friends in attendance during the day, and another 40 in the evening at a nearby tennis club. Ms. Wilkinson’s friends were not surprised by her unconventional decision to host her own wedding, and the event was met with smiles and positive feedback from everyone who attended. Many commented that it was a typical Sarah-style endeavor.

Why Did Sarah Opt for This?

Ms. Wilkinson created 14 vows for her unique wedding, including a promise not to relinquish control of the TV remote. She conceived the idea for the self-marriage ceremony when she turned 40 during lockdown and bought herself the diamond engagement ring she had always desired. The wedding featured a traditional white sequined gown, a tiered cake with a bride kissing a frog figurine on top, and her mother walking her down the aisle.

Her friend, professional wedding planner Katherine Cresswell, officiated the ceremony, which was as much about bringing people together as it was about Sarah herself. Despite her self-organized dream wedding, Ms. Wilkinson hasn’t ruled out the possibility of meeting a future partner but decided to stop actively searching, citing the effort involved. Katherine then said: “As much as it was about Sarah, it was about bringing everyone together. There’s always a need to celebrate and I think we need it more than ever right now.”

Are you still searching for your soulmate? Or, have you already found the lucky one? Let us know in the comments below!

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