A woman has shown us that we don't need to miss out on things if we haven't found the right partner as she has thrown herself a wedding worth $12,000.
Sarah Wilkinson, a 42-year-old credit controller from Suffolk, UK, fulfilled her long-cherished dream of a wedding celebration after years of saving, despite not having found the right partner to tie the knot with.
As reported by the BBC, Sarah hosted her own wedding ceremony with the assistance of her celebrant friend at the picturesque Harvest House in Felixstowe, Suffolk.
"I decided to treat myself to an engagement ring, and it was only natural to follow that up with a wedding ceremony," Sarah said. "While it wasn't an official wedding, it was undoubtedly my wedding day. You reach a point where you think, 'I might not have a partner by my side for this, but why should I miss out?'"
Sarah had diligently saved for her dream wedding over two decades, allocating a portion of her income each month and adding any extra funds from windfalls, such as bingo winnings.
The event, held on September 30, came with a price tag of $12,000. It was an intimate affair, attended by 40 of her closest family and friends during the day and an additional 40 in the evening at the tennis club opposite Harvest House.
Reflecting on her unconventional choice, Sarah shared that her friends weren't surprised by her decision to stage her own wedding. "No one stopped smiling all day, and everyone said what an amazing time they had," she recounted. "Nearly every single one said, 'That's such a Sarah thing to do.'"
For her self-styled nuptials, she crafted 14 personal vows, with the first being a light-hearted promise never to relinquish control of the TV remote. The idea for this unique celebration was born during the lockdown when she turned 40 and decided to fulfill her long-standing desire by purchasing a diamond engagement ring for herself.
The ceremony featured classic elements, including a stunning white sequinned gown, a tiered wedding cake adorned with a figurine of a bride kissing a frog, and her mother proudly walking her down the aisle. Conducting the ceremony was her close friend and professional wedding planner, Katherine Cresswell.
"As much as it was about Sarah, it was about bringing everyone together," Katherine commented. "There's always a need to celebrate, and I think we need it more than ever right now."
Despite having the wedding day she has always dreamed of, Sarah hasn't ruled out the possibility of finding a groom, saying: "Not at all... but it was just a case of giving up looking because it's a lot of effort."
Maybe Sarah might get to have her dream wedding all over again!
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