A former $5,000-a-week sex worker turned love coach who married herself earlier this year has now helped 200 men and women tie the knot to themselves.
New Zealander Emmajane Love, 33, wed herself in February before growing inspired to help other people follow in her footsteps and become their own soulmate.
Now the ex-call girl, known as EJ, has taken self-love to the world stage by acting as a celebrant in a union ceremony for people that travelled from far and wide to commit to themselves.
Former sex worker Emmajane Love, who made headlines when she married herself earlier this year, has now helped 200 people do the same
EJ, as she is known, helped hundreds of men and women tie the knot to themselves in a huge ‘sologomy’ ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday
A sea of brides and grooms paid thousands each to attend the very special ‘sologomy’ ceremony held at a mansion in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday.
EJ, who tied the knot to herself in a romantic beach ceremony in Bali to heal from a string of bad relationships, said: ‘It’s an honour to help so many on their healing journey.’
‘There was lots of tears and laughter when I said “I now pronounce you married to yourself.” Everyone jumped and down and threw rose petals in the air.’
‘There were lots of people coming up and kissing me, telling me how much they got out of it. It’s a real honour that people are now coming to me to facilitate self-marriage.’
‘I was very nervous before – it’s like any other wedding, you want it all to go right. But the meaning of marriage is evolving and that’s what this is about.’
EJ, who now lives on the Gold Coast, said most people who tied the knot to themselves over the four-day event were women aged 20 to 50.
EJ tied the knot to herself in a romantic beach ceremony in Bali on Valentine’s Day to heal from a string of bad relationships
EJ, who now lives on the Gold Coast, said most people who tied the knot to themselves over the four-day event were women aged 20 to 50
They came from as far afield as South African, Sweden, Germany and Korea and there were also a number of grooms in attendance – including a gay married couple who committed to themselves to deepen their own relationship.
The service involved partnering up to recite vows of self-love before attendees declared commitment to themselves and celebrated with music and dancing.
Many donned special dresses and glittering headpieces for the occasion and some even bought wedding rings for themselves as a symbol of their commitment.
Earlier this month EJ revealed how she married herself to celebrate her own healing process after a series of unhappy relationships – and said most people came to her for the same reason.
The former sex worker became a self-described ‘love-priestess’ after running a brothel in Peth for several years and earning up to $5,000 a week.
They came from as far afield as South African, Sweden, Germany and Korea and there were also a number of grooms in attendance
Many donned special dresses and glittering headpieces for the occasion and some even bought wedding rings for themselves as a symbol of their commitment
But she ended up in codependent relationships and partying to numb her emotions and realised people often sought escort services because they needed emotional guidance, not sex.
‘Most people have been through something in a relationship and they haven’t been honouring themselves.’
So EJ bought a ring and got engaged to herself before her ceremony on a Bali beach on Valentine’s Day, where she voewed to stay faithful to herself.
During the massive American ceremony, EJ read a speech about her own healing and recited a poem.
‘Everyone closed their eyes and put their hands on their heart. You could feel how powerful it was,’ she said.
During the massive American ceremony, EJ read a speech about her own healing and recited a poem before everyone closed their eyes and put their hands on their hearts
‘During the ceremony everyone partnered up and looked into each other’s eyes. They had to open up and say, ‘This is why I love myself, this is the commitments I’m going to make”’.
EJ has previously organised 41 self-nuptial ceremonies in retreats across Australia costing up to $2,600.
The ceremony Emmajane performs for these single women includes saying their own vows in front of a mirror, wearing white and even walking down the aisle.
‘All of these women have done work with me around healing and at the end, we’ll perform a ritual,’ she said.
‘It’s really beautiful, but they have to be at a space where they’re ready to commit to themselves.’
EJ said it was the American group ceremony that had the strongest sense of community yet.
EJ said it was the American group ceremony that had the strongest sense of community yet
She believes the sologomy movement is just getting started, as traditional ideas of marriage shift in modern directions.
‘There was more of a communal feeling. There was a multi-cultural connection of people from all over the world,’ EJ said.
‘I think this is transcending a new movement, people are becoming more and more open to this and realising how much they can benefit from honouring themselves.’
One of the participants was Krystal Patience, from Vancouver, Canada, who said she felt as if she had ‘grown into herself’ after the ceremony.
‘I’m not afraid to love myself and have a ceremony to proclaim it. It was so sweet,’ Krystal said.
‘There was more of a communal feeling. There was a multi-cultural connection of people from all over the world,’ EJ said
‘I feel like I have relaxed into myself. It’s a vibrational frequency. It’s subtle.’
PR worker and mum-of-one Linda Sherran also took part in the ceremony – despite already being married.
‘I as a person am a giver and I give to my community, my daughter, my husband, my work and there’s so little time left for me,’ she said.
‘I was not giving myself the self-love I needed. To come here and meet EJ and marry myself was really transformative and something that was a good wake-up call that I really needed.’
‘I’m going to get married to myself every day, because I really had forgotten and lost myself, especially being a mum. I was putting my daughter first 100 per cent and I had forgotten to love myself.’