77-YO Woman Marries Herself | “I Was Nervous but Then I Was Really Happy”

77-YO Woman Marries Herself | “I Was Nervous but Then I Was Really Happy”
Cover Image Source: YouTube | WLWT

We have often been advised to love ourselves first so that we don't lose ourselves while loving others.  A 77-year-old woman proved this in a remarkable act of self-love as she took wedding vows with herself. A partner is there with you through thick and thin and in this woman's case, it is 'her own self.' Her act makes sense but to actually take such a step is commendable. 

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Dorothy "Dottie" Fideli is a resident of O'Bannon Terrace Retirement Community in Goshen, Ohio. She walked down the aisle on May 13, 2023. The ceremony was a rather emotional affair, surrounded by neighbors, family and friends. It was also quite symbolic—announcing self-love in this form. "I said, you know what, I have done everything else. Why not? I am going to marry myself," Fideli told TODAY. The woman approached the property manager of her retirement home, Rob Geiger to perform the ceremony and he happily obliged. 

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She recalled telling Geiger, "I came in here, and I told Rob, I said, 'Rob, you are going to marry me.'" He immediately said, "You are what?'" Hahaha! It sounded like [something] against the tide but the intention behind it deserved applause. To Geiger, it was an honor to perform all the wedding rituals for a woman who has been a reason for joy and happiness to other people. He grabbed the opportunity with pride. Geiger told TODAY, "She is a very incredible woman and so full of life. She has always thought of others." 

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Donna Pennigton, Fideli's daughter, was equally thrilled to throw her mother a solo wedding. She also acknowledged the idea of 'self-love.' The retired woman told TODAY, "She goes, 'Oh, Mom, yeah, let's go do it. I will go get your dress and I'll get you everything." Wow! Her daughter was delighted to be a part of the ceremony and she took care of all the cooking and decorating of the community room at the retirement home. She handpicked balloons, designed a beautiful arch, and did other special touches. She also arranged a delicious two-tiered cake with red roses and a heart-shaped cookie. Fideli was a sight to behold in a white dress with sheer long sleeves with floral detailing, a silver belt and a veil with an embellished headband. What a bride! She also shared her feelings and said, "I was nervous but then I was really happy." 

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When Fideli had this idea for the first time, she thought it might be "just one of the things that I normally do." She also admitted that she'd normally do many crazy things. "I do crazy things around here just to make people laugh." She added, "When I see them all down in the dumps, I go and get one of my outfits on and dress up and come down and they smile." How adorable! However, the ceremony ended with an emotional note where Fideli held a white lily in her hand and used it as a symbol for cultivating self-love.

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Fideli was first married in 1965. But apparently, she didn't have a proper wedding ceremony. Her ex-husband and she took wedding vows at the justice of the peace, but it seems to have been a rather hasty and formal ceremony because right afterward, her husband went to work and Fideli went home (as Fideli revealed).

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Apart from the wedding, Fideli's act of 'self-love' really promotes the joy of living and being a happy cookie for as long as you live. 

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 77-year-old woman gets married to herself