Love knows no age, and it certainly knows no bounds. This was perfectly exemplified by Dorothy “Dottie” Fideli, a 77-year-old woman from Ohio, who recently got married to herself in a symbolic ceremony at the retirement home where she lives. Fideli had always wanted to get married and have a happy life, but since things did not work out during her first marriage, she decided to take matters into her own hands and marry herself over the weekend. The idea of getting married to herself started as a joke to bring joy to others in the community but turned into a more serious event as Fideli reflected on the importance of self-love.
She wore a lacy white dress and a fluffed veil for her big day, which was witnessed by family, friends, and residents of the retirement home. Her daughter was reportedly in attendance, and Fideli admitted to feeling nervous but happy during the actual event. She had never had a formal wedding ceremony before and had been previously married to a man back in 1965. According to WLWT, Fideli’s previous marriage lasted nine years after tying the knot at a courthouse in 1965.
She has three children and is also a grandmother. Rob Geiger, the property manager of the retirement home, was the officiant at the ceremony, and it was clear that it meant a lot to her. The wedding was an affirming moment for Fideli as she celebrated self-love and made a bold statement about her own worth. In an interview with TODAY, she said, “I came in here and I told Rob, I said, ‘Rob, you’re going to marry me […] I was nervous, but then I was really happy.”
She continued, “This is the best thing that I’ve ever had, outside of having you kids. This is what I’ve always wanted and I’m so happy that you (gave) it to me.’”
What’s interesting about Fideli’s story is that she’s one of many women who have recently decided that they were going to marry themselves instead of getting married to a partner by their side.
Per Insider, since the pandemic, more women have made the decision to marry themselves at rates that continue to increase by the year.
A woman named Nneka Carter said the famous words, “I do,” to none other than herself in a private ceremony held out in Tampa, Florida. He shared, “The pandemic reminded me that I just need me to be happy,” she said. “I didn’t want to feel alone or lonely because I didn’t have a companion, or I wasn’t in a relationship.”