Most people dream of a big, beautiful wedding. But what if the right partner never comes along? For 42-year-old Sarah Wilkinson, that wasn’t a dealbreaker—so she threw herself a $12,000 wedding anyway!
Sarah, a credit controller from Suffolk, UK, always dreamed of a wedding day filled with love, laughter, and celebration. But after years of waiting for the right person, she decided she wasn’t going to miss out just because she hadn’t found “the one.”
So, on September 30, surrounded by 80 of her closest friends and family, Sarah had the wedding of her dreams—without a groom in sight.
A Wedding Without a Husband? Why Not!
Sarah’s journey to her solo wedding started when she turned 40 during lockdown. Feeling reflective, she treated herself to a diamond engagement ring. And then, she thought—why stop there?
“I figured if I could buy myself an engagement ring, I might as well have the wedding too,” she shared. “It wasn’t a legal ceremony, but it was absolutely my wedding day.”
With the help of her celebrant friend, she hosted the event at the stunning Harvest House in Felixstowe, Suffolk.
Her guests? Overjoyed but not the least bit surprised. “Everyone kept saying, ‘That’s such a Sarah thing to do,’” she laughed.
Two Decades of Saving for the Perfect Day
Sarah had been setting aside money for her dream wedding for 20 years, never knowing if she’d be spending it with a partner or not. She put away a little each month and even added extra from unexpected windfalls—like bingo winnings!
And when the day finally came, she went all out.
Sarah walked down the aisle in a sparkling white sequinned gown, escorted by her proud mother. She exchanged 14 heartfelt (and hilarious) personal vows—starting with a promise to never give up control of the TV remote.
Her ceremony featured all the classic wedding elements: a multi-tiered cake, a heartwarming speech from her friend and wedding planner, Katherine Cresswell, and even a cake topper featuring a bride kissing a frog—because, well, you never know!
The Celebration of a Lifetime
Sarah’s wedding wasn’t just about her—it was about joy, love, and bringing people together.
“As much as it was about Sarah, it was about celebrating life,” said Katherine. “Right now, more than ever, we need reasons to come together.”
And though Sarah finally got the wedding she always dreamed of, she’s not ruling out a future romance.
“Would I still like to find someone? Sure. But looking for love is exhausting,” she joked. “At this point, if it happens, it happens.”
And hey—if Mr. Right does show up, maybe she’ll get to throw another wedding all over again!
