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Love comes in many forms, but some take romance to a whole new level. While most people form relationships with other humans, there are individuals who have chosen to ‘marry’ objects, food and even imaginary beings. These stories may sound unbelievable, but they are 100 per cent real!
Psychologists suggest that these cases could be linked to objectophilia, where people form strong emotional connections with objects. Some experts believe that loneliness, social anxiety, or past experiences play a role in shaping these unusual relationships. While society may see them as strange, these individuals believe their love is as real as any other.
Here are some of the strangest love stories that have ever happened.
1. The woman who married the Eiffel Tower
In 2007, a woman named Erika LaBrie made headlines when she held a commitment ceremony with the Eiffel Tower in Paris. She claimed to have a deep emotional and physical connection with the structure, even changing her last name to “La Tour Eiffel”. Erika identified as an objectophile, meaning she feels romantic attraction towards inanimate objects.
In 2022, a video of Erika stradling a red fence as she expressed her love for the inanimate object went viral. “I’m definitely physically attracted to this fence and I would like to get to know this fence better,” she said.
2. The Japanese man who married a hologram
In 2018, Akihiko Kondo, a man from Japan, made global news when he married Hatsune Miku, a virtual pop star. Miku is a hologram with artificial intelligence and Kondo spent over $17,000 on a wedding ceremony with her. Even though the marriage isn’t legally recognised, he insists that his love for Miku is real, saying she provides him with emotional support.
3. The woman who fell in love with an alien
Abbie Bela claims she was abducted by aliens and has fallen in love with one. Frustrated with earthly relationships, she joked about wanting an alien romance. Soon after, she dreamed of a white light and later saw a UFO outside her window. A green beam pulled her inside, where she met tall, slender beings. The encounter lasted 20 minutes, and now she eagerly awaits her next date with her extraterrestrial soulmate.
4. The man who married a pillow
@the.emanuela.rose/InstagramIn South Korea, Lee Jin-gyu shocked the world when he married his favourite body pillow. The pillow featured an anime character from a Japanese series and he took it everywhere — on dates, vacations and even formal events. His wedding ceremony included traditional elements, and he treated his pillow as a real spouse.
5. The woman who married a ghost
Rocker Brocarde claims she was in a relationship with the ghost of a Victorian soldier named Edwardo. She even "married" him in a spiritual ceremony but later said he became controlling and ruined their honeymoon. Their paranormal romance ended in divorce when she performed an exorcism to banish him from her life.
6. The man who fell for his car
A man named Nathaniel from the US admitted to being romantically involved with his car, a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo. He described his car as his soulmate and even kissed it, hugged it and slept inside it. Nathaniel’s story was featured on TV, where he explained how he developed feelings for his vehicle over time.
7. The woman who married a bridge
In 2013, an Australian woman named Jodi Rose married the Le Pont du Diable bridge in France. She claimed to have felt an instant connection to the historic structure and even held a spiritual wedding ceremony. Although the marriage wasn’t legally recognised, Jodi considered the bridge her lifelong partner.
8. The man who married a tree
In 2016, an environmental activist from Colombia named Richard Torres married a tree in an effort to raise awareness about deforestation. Dressed in a white suit, he held a ceremony where he kissed and embraced the tree. Though symbolic, his gesture went viral and sparked global discussions on environmental conservation.
9. The woman who married a briefcase
A Russian woman named Rain Gordon shocked many when she announced that she had fallen in love with a briefcase. She claims the briefcase, which she named Gideon, is more than just an object—he is her partner. Rain says she has always been attracted to inanimate objects and shares a deep emotional bond with Gideon. She considers him her soulmate and even holds "dates" with him at home. She married the brifcase in 2020 and calls it her husband.
10. The woman who married a train station
Carol Santa Fe, a woman from California, claims to have been in love with the Santa Fe train station since she was nine years old. In 2015, she "married" the station in a symbolic ceremony. Carol visits her "partner" daily, hugs it and even talks to it, believing they share a deep spiritual connection.
