Yasmin Eleby, a successful Houston native who teaches children in Saudi Arabia, upheld her vow to be a bride by the time she turned 40 years old, despite the fact she has yet to find a lifelong partner. As a result, she celebrated her 40th birthday by marrying herself.

Eleby's wedding on Jan. 3 was complete with bridesmaids, a wedding cake, a DJ and a minister to officiate the ceremony. The only thing missing was someone waiting for her at the altar.

Eleby said she dedicated her nuptial vows to herself and promised to always love and value herself.

"I'd been saying a few years that if I hadn't gotten married by the time I was 40, I'd just have a wedding by myself," Eleby told ABC News. "I decided I didn't want it to be a joke. I wanted to have a celebration of myself. My wedding was going to be about me making a commitment to love myself, to honor myself and to know my self-worth.

"The advice and speeches given during my vows weren't just for me," Eleby said. "Everyone there started reflecting on their life on how you have to forgive yourself for the past and know you are a worthy human being worthy of love. You first have to love yourself. The more love you have yourself, the more you can love others."

Eleby even hired an event planner for the unconventional event held at the Houston Museum of African American Culture in Texas.

According to People magazine, Eleby plans to travel to Laos, Cambodia and Dubai for her honeymoon.

She also revealed she is dating someone right now but is unsure if their relationship will lead to a more traditional wedding.

"I don't know if marriage is in the future or not," she said. "I've thought that about my past relationships, but they all ended amicably because they just weren't going."

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