'I Married Myself'

When Nicole Russo was 33, she broke off her engagement and embarked on a journey of self-love. It was a journey that ended in her marrying herself - ring, cake and all...

- Sarah Browning-De Villiers

As I stared down at my engagement ring, my heart was sinking. My wedding was in two weeks. I’d been engaged for five years. But as I twisted the ring on my finger, all I could think was, ‘How had I committed to someone else without committing to myself?’

‘In that moment I knew I shouldn’t be marrying someone else; I should be marrying me. And so, in June 2014, I called off my wedding. Soon afterwards, I found myself googling “self marriage” – and realised it was an actual thing. In fact, an American, Dominique Youkhehpaz, had already married herself and set up a course to help others do the same. I signed up for the course,’ says Russo.

Committed