42 year old woman marries herself in a romantic ceremony under the Eiffel Tower (Photos)

A 42-year-old American woman has revealed she spent up to $7,000 (£5,000) on a trip to Paris – so she could marry herself.

Beautiful Existence – who changed her name from Desiree Longabaugh – from Seattle, splashed the cash on a romantic ceremony under the Eiffel Tower, flights to France, accommodation for a week, and a birthday celebration while there.

The bride, who works in social media and marketing, wore a casual white dress and trainers, and recited vows that she had written to herself as an officiant oversaw the ceremony via Skype – as she couldn’t find anyone in France to do so in person.

Now the mother-of-two is encouraging others to marry themselves ahead of her first anniversary in June 2016.

‘It was hugely emotional,’ Ms Existence said. ‘Looking at myself on that screen as I Skyped the officiant, saying exactly what I wanted to say to myself was soul-shifting.

‘I believe everybody should self-marry before they even marry anyone else. It allows you to drop that pressure of having to have somebody else with you in order to be successful.