With a trembling voice, Lise, 29, recalled every detail of her wedding ceremony with Elfée. They spent weeks preparing, from writing their vows to choosing the essential pièce montée, a confectionary centerpiece. "When we said 'I do' and exchanged our rings, everyone was very moved," said the young Belgian woman. "Our loved ones gave beautiful speeches; it was truly a wonderful moment." It was a wedding much like any other, except for one detail: The two inseparable women, who met as children, are not a couple but friends. "Elfée and I have always been incredibly close," Lise explained. "With this wedding, we wanted to celebrate the powerful bond that unites us."

To avoid being prosecuted for fraud, the two women decided not to marry at the town hall but instead held their ceremony at Lise's family home with nearly 100 friends and relatives in attendance. Unlike a civil marriage, their "amiriage" (a combination of "ami" for friend and "marriage") remains purely symbolic. "But that's not what matters," insisted Lise. "What's important is that we celebrated the strength of our friendship, which has lasted for so many years, unlike romantic relationships, which come and go."

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