girl beach: Taiwanese woman, 30, to marry herself

weekend today October 23 - 24, 2010, Page 18
From http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20101023/2310WPW020.pdf
Source website: http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC101023-0000058/Taiwanese-woman,-30,-to-marry-herself
By REUTERs, 05:54 AM Oct 23, 2010

PHOTO: Office worker Chen Wei-yih (picture) has posed for a set of photos in a flowing white dress, will marry herself.
weekend today October 23 - 24, 2010, Page 18
http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20101023/2310WPW020.pdf

TAIPEI - Office worker Chen Wei-yih (picture) has posed for a set of photos in a flowing white dress, enlisted a wedding planner and rented a banquet hall for a marriage celebration with 30 friends. But there is no groom. Ms Chen, 30, will marry herself.

Uninspired by the men she has met but facing social pressure to get married, Ms Chen will hold her reception next month.

"Age 30 is a prime period for me. My work and experience are in good shape but I haven't found a partner, so what can I do?" said Ms Chen, who will go on a solo honeymoon to Australia.

"It's not that I'm anti-marriage. I just hope that I can express a different idea within the bounds of a tradition."

As Ms Chen cannot officially register a marriage to herself, she said she will wed again if she finds a man later. Her NT$50,000 ($2,100) wedding comes after online publicity that has netted 1,800 largely sympathetic comments.

"I think there will be more and more girls like this," said "divagirl", who did not elaborate.

Taiwanese women are marrying later, and fewer are doing so as their economic status advances, fuelling government concerns about a drop in the birth rate and its impact on productivity.

By REUTERs, 05:54 AM Oct 23, 2010