The World Wide Web is buzzin’ about Yasmin Eleby, the 40 year-old Houston woman who recently married herself. That’s right folks, there was no spouse.Eleby vowed that if she didn’t find love by the time she turned 40 she would say “I Do” to herself — and that is exactly what she did. The Houston Museum of African American Culture was the venue of choice for Eleby and the ceremony took place on January 3 with 10 bridesmaids in attendance, plus family and other guests on hand for the celebration. Eleby’s mother walked her down the aisle. The bride wore a purple one-shoulder gown while her bridesmaids wore silver.
Sources have indicated that Eleby, who apparently travels internationally often for work, expressed interest in honeymooning in Cambodia, Laos, and a jazz festival in Dubai.
As expected, many are clowning Eleby on social media for the unconventional “nuptials” calling her everything from crazy to wasteful, yet there are those who find her bold act innovative and empowering.
Read more about Yasmin Eleby’s wedding here. (Image by Eric B. Blackshire.)
What do you think? Share in the comments!
ADDENDUM – My former ESSENCE co-worker Demetria Lucas D’Oyley (aka A Belle in Brooklyn) actually interviewed Eleby. Read the Q&A here, it is quite enlightening.
Um…Why not just have a big 40th birthday party to celebrate your life? She seems to be a little thirsty for attention and I guess it’s working since everyone is talking about this crazy “wedding”
I respectfully disagree with Sistah Shawna. Society conditions little girls from early on to dream about their wedding and getting married. This sister probably wanted to bring to fruition those decades of dreams. Plus why deny yourself or anyone else something they really want if it doesn’t hurt one single being. A birthday party and a wedding are worlds apart. I encourage all but, especially women, “Do You!”
Keep the comments coming, folks!
Well, my initial response to her throwing a ‘wedding’ is an emphatic NO. This is not a wedding. A wedding is a commitment to another person. Let’s be okay with calling a thing what, but only what, it actually is. I would have favored a lovely birthday bash or celebration cruise over this affair. Calling this a wedding perpetuates the unhealthy perception that one can’t be happy/complete unless one is married/has a wedding. We all can agree that there are other paths without taking anything away from the absolute bliss that does reside in a healthy marriage.
What concerns me more is the sexual innuendo and size-shaming that has been directed at her [on other websites]. I’m glad that BBB would NEVER tolerate that kind of behavior. Regardless of what I think of her decision to call it a ‘wedding’, I am absolutely down for her loving herself and knowing how to celebrate her worth. At the end of the day, she is her and I am me and she did what makes her happy with her money, time and effort. No harm, no party foul. People here in Houston aren’t even really talking about it that much…
I must say I heard about this yesterday afternoon on the radio, but I didn’t get to hear the comments because I got out of the car. But reading about it here adds another dimension to the story, i.e. why she did it. She did not ask for my permission nor opinion but I think the idea is quite insane -not that she is crazy but the idea is. What’s wrong with just growing older and accepting life as it comes. Just because your goal to be married did not materialize does not mean that you marry yourself! In fact, I’m sure that she is the recipient of many other blessings in her life, great things, that she did not plan; did she incorporate those things in her life or did she refuse them. Anyhow, I bet she’ll enjoy the honeymoon!
I appreciate all of the thought-provoking comments. Again, keep ’em coming! And please read the addendum — it might give you a tweaked perspective on this story.
@Ronda – I’m so surprised folks in Houston aren’t buzzin’ more about this! Interesting. And many thanks for the Triple B integrity kudos…I try to keep this platform as encouraging and uplifting as possible.
Ok, I admit it. The small circle of work colleagues, friends and kiddos I hang out with aren’t talking about it ;-). I’m not that much of a socialite.
I pray I can live to see the day that my people don’t negatively project judgement on each other for thinking or doing something outside the box. That negativity like what was directed at Gabby Douglas concerning her hair (and Wendy William’s comments that Viola Davis’ natural hair wasn’t Red Carpet appropriate and the ugly assault of comments about Solange Knowles wedding day hair or even Blue Ivy’s hair) pains me. Of course I recognize that people are entitled to their opinion but to project it in hurtful ways needs to stop. That isn’t what Triple B displays but so many outlets do. If you watch “Dark Girls” or “Light Girls” films by Bill Duke, the repercussion from such hurt is devastating. Our treatment of the LGBTQ community is so atrocious that many commit suicide. And we wonder why others don’t respect or even consider us, we don’t respect or consider ourselves. Myrlie Evers was right on when she stated “hurt people hurt people.”
The Q&A helped with what i was initially thought of this… Great read and I didn’t even hear of this until seeing on triple B