In Japan, a new trend has evolved where young women choose to have "solo weddings," in which they "marry" themselves and opt out of the traditional rituals
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The bride plans and arranges everything, but omits the groom from the event
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While some women want to commemorate a significant life event, others are driven by the desire to wear a beautiful white gown
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Mana Sakura, an adult video star, is believed to have started this trend
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Putting the ring on her own finger in her March 2019 wedding, she vowed, "I will respect my own life. In health or in sickness, I will always love myself and make myself happy"
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Notably, married women are also participating in the trend. In 2018, a 47-year-old Yukie also held such a ceremony to "relive the feeling of being a bride"
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The trend is gaining popularity as government data shows that the nation had less than 500,000 weddings- its lowest level of marriages in 90 years
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Since fewer people are getting married, the "single economy" has flourished, and solo weddings have become a lucrative new market
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Among the services are photo shoots that the bride might ask her loved ones to be in. Women may also create their solo honeymoon packages
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Many companies are now designing products and services for this wedding trend including solo camping to karaoke