We’ve heard of polygamy (one man marrying more than one wife); polyandry (one woman, two husbands) and even polyamory (intimate and consensual relationship with several partners).
https://youtu.be/FnJGhB1b8Bg
However, the latest growing trend across the world seems to be more unbelievable. More and more people around the world are choosing to “marry” themselves in symbolic ceremonie
s. But what motivates someone to say “yes” to themselves?
According to the BBC, people who partake in this form of self-marriage called Sologamy are usually single women, although people from all genders and marital statuses have taken part.
Surprisingly, the ceremonies are quite colourful with mock-up chapels, costumes, cakes and most importantly, vows. It has also attracted increasing attention over the last few years.
While it is not legal to marry yourself anywhere in the world, reports of people holding mock ceremonies go for several decades and can be found everywhere from Japan to Italy, to Australia and the UK.
People in support say sologamy is about self-love, acceptance and claiming the social affirmation normally reserved for couples who wed.
While there are no official figures about those choosing to marry themselves, the interest comes at a time when the number of unmarried people is at record highs in many advanced economies, according to the OECD.
Sologamy has now become one of the biggest relationship trends for 2020, with more and more women choosing to honour their relationship with themselves rather than date other people.
Sologamists often go all the way too; there’s a ceremony and a reception for friends and family, while some companies now offer solo wedding packages complete with rings, affirmation cards, vows and professional photography.
In fact, people say it’s an almost spiritual experience, similar to rites of passage in other cultures. It’s about marking their commitment to self-love as well as recognising the value in themselves as a being in their own right, not necessarily needing another person in order to feel ‘complete’.
