Dottie Fideli, a woman who had long cherished her dream of a perfect wedding day, decided to take matters into her own hands at the age of 77. Rejecting the idea of waiting for a man, she embraced self-love by marrying herself in a remarkable ceremony held at her Ohio retirement home.
In an interview with NBC’s local affiliate WLWT5, Dottie expressed her joy at finally having the wedding she had always yearned for. “This is something I’ve always wanted,” she shared. “I desired to be married and have a happy life, but things didn’t work out that way. Now, I have a second chance to do something that will bring me happiness.”
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Reflecting on her past, Dottie revealed that she had been married once before, back in 1965. However, the ill-fated union quickly dissolved after exchanging vows at a courthouse, with her ex-husband going to work while she returned home. “I wore a black dress, so I was doomed before I even started,” she recalled.
Despite feeling that it might be too late to have her own grand wedding, Dottie’s daughter, Donna Pennington, was determined to make her mother’s dreams come true. Together, they transformed the community room of O’Bannon Terrace Retirement Home in Goshen, Ohio, into a beautiful setting adorned with balloons. Donna took charge of preparing all the food for the occasion.
Surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones, Dottie appeared radiant in her dream white dress, featuring delicate long sleeves and a silver belt. She completed her bridal ensemble with a white veil embellished with a headband.
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Like any bride, Dottie experienced nervousness leading up to the big day. However, when the sun set on her long-awaited wedding, she found herself genuinely happy after marrying herself. During the heartfelt ceremony, she held a white lily in her hand, symbolizing self-love.
Explaining the significance of the lily, Dottie shared her thoughts with Today, saying, “I said, ‘Everybody takes this outside lily. And they live their life, and they think they’re happy, and everything’s going to be hunky-dory, but they don’t consider the inside, the little petals inside.’ The inside is what’s important. That’s where God’s love flows. That’s where he gives you wisdom and he gives you hope. And nobody ever takes time to think about that.”
Dottie concluded by encouraging others to contemplate the same perspective, stating, “So that’s what I’ve done, and I’d appreciate it if all of you people would do it and think of it that way.”
Dottie’s inspiring decision has earned admiration and support, celebrating her independence and determination to create her own happiness. She is a shining example of a woman who doesn’t need a man to define her life, both now and forever.
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