'A fairytale minus the prince': How this Italian woman married herself

Italian woman Laura Mesi on her wedding day. Photo / Micaela Martini

A madly in love couple is usually a prerequisite for any marriage, but a lovelorn Italian woman has broken with tradition by "marrying herself".

Laura Mesi dressed in a white gown and was joined by 70 family and friends for the self-marriage ceremony, which is not legally recognised, reports the Telegraph.

She paid for the €10,000 ($16,000) wedding herself and had a cake made - with a figurine of just her on top of it. Ms Mesi even went on honeymoon to Egypt - by herself.

Mesi heads down the aisle to attend a ceremony for herself. Photo / Micaela Martini

The fitness trainer began exploring the possibility of marrying herself following the end of a 12-year relationship in 2015, the BBC reports.

Following her break-up, Ms Mesi promised to wed herself if she didn't find the perfect partner by her 40th birthday.

She hasn't ruled out eventually marrying another person, but says her happiness does not depend on finding a man.

"I told friends and family that if I had not found my soul-mate by my 40th birthday I would marry myself," she told La Repubblica newspaper.

"If one day I find a man with whom I can plan a future I'll be happy, but my happiness does not depend on him."

She added: "I firmly believe that each of us must first of all love ourselves. You can have a fairytale even without the prince.

"This is my fairytale wedding - only without a Prince Charming."

Mesi chose a fitting cake topper. Photo / Micaela Martini

Self-marriage, or sologamy, is a growing trend among singletons, with ceremonies conducted in countries from Australia to the Netherlands.

In 2015, British PR consultant Sophie Tanner wed herself in Brighton after escaping a bad relationship.

"Everyone celebrates getting together with someone and becoming married, but there's no milestone in society that celebrates escaping something awful or returning to your own happiness and contentment," she told The Telegraph.