77-year-old woman marries HERSELF after swearing off men

A white dress, a veil, and a bouquet but at this wedding there was a major component missing.   

A 77-year-old woman has told how she married the love of her life – herself – with no partner to echo her vows.

Dorothy Fideli tied the know at O’Bannon Terrace Retirement Home in Goshen, Ohio, on Saturday with friends and family members watching the solo ceremony take place. 

The mother of three and grandmother once got married in 1965 after a quick, no-frills ceremony. However, she got divorced nine years later. 

The mother of three and grandmother once got married in 1965 after a quick, no-frills ceremony. However, she got divorced nine years later

After swearing off men, the idea to marry herself came to her while she was at church. 

She told Today.com: ‘I have been with myself for 40 years. 

‘Something just came over me one day in church that you ought to do something special for yourself.

‘I said, you know what, I’ve done everything else. Why not? I’m going to marry myself.’ 

After coming up with the concept of a solo wedding Fideli asked Rob Geiger, the property manager at her retirement home, if he would perform the ceremony.

While he was initially stunned by her proposal, he slowly came around to the idea and thought it would be a good way of honoring Fideli who is ‘a very incredible woman’ and has ‘always thought of others.’

Fideli’s daughter, Donna Pennington, also loved the idea of holding a solo wedding  and she went about getting a dress, doing the catering and decorating the venue in the run up to the big event.

Like any bride on her big day, Fideli said she felt a mixture of nerves and excitement.

She explained: ‘This is something new for me. I’ve never gotten married like this before.

After swearing off men, the idea to marry herself came to her while she was at church

Fideli’s wedding took place at 3pm in the retirement home’s community hall

‘It’s emotional for me because this is something I’ve always wanted.’ 

Fideli’s wedding took place at 3pm in the retirement home’s community hall.

As she got changed into her wedding ensemble, complete with brand new white sneakers, the retiree exclaimed: ‘I never thought I would look this pretty in a bride thing.’

Retirement home manager Geiger said getting married later in life isn’t the first dream Fideli has fulfilled during her time at the facility. 

Just a few years ago she taught herself to read by staying up until the ‘wee hours’ to study.  

‘I read more now than I ever did, and it takes me a while to read just one page, but I keep reading until I think I got every word,’ Fideli said.

She is currently reading the Bible for the first time.

Offering hope to others who are yet to tie the knot or see their dream wedding come to light, Fideli concluded: ‘Love, love is the most important thing in this world, and if you love God and love yourself, this world will be a field of roses.

‘If it’s not in the cards… then there’s something out there that will make [you] happy… and fulfill [your] soul.

‘I’m at the point in my life where it’s about me now. My kids are all good, and my grandkids, one of them’s going to have a baby… and I have a set of triplets that’s all graduated from college. So, it’s my turn to do what I want to do.’