If you were to ask the average man or woman on the street to define marriage they would likely give you a long list of what it is not, but who can blame them? After all, marriage involves two different people with two entirely different systems.

Below are some of the unusual marriages that have occurred across the world. 

An absent husband

A French woman married her dead boyfriend in a ceremony approved by former president Jacque Chirac. The groom was a policeman killed in a drunken driving accident; the baby the woman was carrying was also lost. Christelle Dimichelle tied the knot with ‘Eric’ at a ceremony in Nice, during which she became both wife and widow.

No sheep date

Laws aimed at preventing racism have also legalized inter-species marriage in some countries. UK postal worker Mick Thompson and wife Sharon the sheep followed up their wedding with a honeymoon in a Norfolk farmhouse, despite protest from Britain’s RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

A bright future

Carol Branch married convicted killer Scot Watson with the understanding that they would have no contact for years to come. The mother of four children, all from different dads, saw nothing unusual about the union and was clearly a committed optimist.

World’s Longest Marriage

Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher from New Bern, North Carolina, hold the world record for the longest marriage for a living couple with 86 years. He is 104, and she is 101. They got married on May 23, 1924. They say that one of the most important things in a marriage is respect, honesty and support. They have 5 children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

Greatest age difference in marriage

Sudar Marto of Malaysia, 105, married Ely Maryulianti Rahmat, a 22-year-old maid, in September. That’s an 83-year age difference! At the time, Sudar was still married to his 69-year-old bedridden wife, who welcomed Ely into their union because she appreciated the young girl’s caregiving.

Most marriages

When it comes to most monogamous marriages Glynn Wolfe, also holder of most divorces record is in a league of his own, during his 88-year-life, Lynn was married 29 times, leaving behind 28 ex-wives and one widower, the shortest of his marriage was a mere 19 days and the longest lasted an impressive seven years.

Shortest marriage

Britney Spears wedding to Jason Allen Alexander is the record-holder for shortest marriage. Just hours after tying the knot, they were filing for an annullment.

Longest engagement: 

Octavio Guillen and Adriana Martinez got engaged in 1902, when they were both 15 years old, and married at age 82. That’s a whopping 67 years of procrastination! We’d love more details on the years in between.

Oldest bride and groom: 

Francoise Frenandez and Madeleine Francineau married in 2002 at an old-folks home in France when the two were 96 and 94, respectively. Love knows no age, indeed.

Most expensive wedding: 

Vanisha Mittal, daughter of the world’s fifth richest person, married investment banker, Amid Bhatia, in Versailles. The six-day extravaganza, which included a renewal of the couple’s courtship and a performance by Kylie Minogue, reportedly cost $55 million dollars.

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