Sologamy, the act of marrying yourself, is on the rise across the globe.
Last week, Italian woman Laura Mesi made worldwide headlines when she celebrated a wedding complete with bridesmaids, dozens of guests, a three-layer cake, but without a groom.
The 40-year-old claimed the first ever self-wedding in Italy, splashing out more than $16,000 for her big day.
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On Valentine's Day this year, Christchurch-born Emma Jane Love married herself on the Gold Coast.
So could we see a sologamist marriage in New Zealand?
Well, kind of - although such an arrangement wouldn't be legally binding. Sologamy is not recognised in law anywhere in the world, including New Zealand, so none of those who go through with it here would be recognised as being married under current legislation.
There are still a few question marks over whether that would change, even if it rose to popularity, due to stringent laws that stop you from marrying relatives.
It's not clear whether sologamy would be considered incest, however, considering it hasn't been included on the list of relatives you're not allowed to wed in the Marriage Act 1955.
But what happens if you get stick of yourself? Can you get a divorce?
Well, considering it's not legally binding, there's probably no point going through the rigmarole. But even still, Ms Tanner says it would go against the spirit of sologamy to attempt it.
"Once you've married yourself, there is no option of divorce because that would mean you can no longer live with yourself."
But she says even if you have got a bit stick of being married to yourself and wanted to pursue a relationship with an actual other human being, there's nothing stopping you - it's simply a way of combating loneliness and celebrating oneself.
So why are people only hearing about sologamy now?
Well, that's a mystery to us too.
It isn't like the idea's not been around for a while - there are entire businesses dedicated to sologamist wedding ceremonies, and the act of has been featured on popular TV shows such as Glee, Sex and the City and Doctor Who.
So while sologamy is on the rise, it could be a while before we see a self-marriage in New Zealand, and perhaps even longer before we see the first sologamy divorce.
Newshub.
