Taiwan woman to marry herself for new life in New Year

What is unusual about her plan is that there will be no groom, the TVBS cable news channel reported.

Chen Ching, 45, a popular therapist from the central county of Nantou who has published a number of books, said she spent two months preparing for her wedding in full, traditional Taiwan style.

It is to include lighting firecrackers, serving gluttonous rice dumplings, giving out Taiwan wedding cakes and sending out invitations to friends and relatives for her wedding banquet, she said.

"It is a new life experience I must have," she said.

She said she felt lucky she was able to "meet myself and fall in love with myself".

Chen said her wedding would be held on the first day of the New Year when Taiwan is to also celebrate its 100th year as a republic.

Chen plans to put on a wedding gown, wait for a limousine she is to hire to take her from her home in Mingchien to Sun Moon Lake in Nantou, where her self-wedding is to be staged.

Chen would not be the only woman to marry herself. Last month, a 30-year-old Taipei office worker held her self-wedding after thinking that it was about time for her to get married, even though she had yet to find Mr Right.