The Woman Who Married a Ferris Wheel Named Bruce

In November 2013, Linda Ducharme stood before friends and family in Florida and said "I do" to the love of her life: a 1940s-era Ferris wheel she affectionately named Bruce.

It wasn't a publicity stunt. For Ducharme, it was the culmination of a decades-long relationship with an object she genuinely loves.

What Is Objectum Sexuality?

Ducharme identifies as having objectum sexuality (OS), a rare orientation where individuals experience deep emotional, romantic, and sometimes physical attraction to inanimate objects. People with OS often describe their relationships with objects as fulfilling and genuine—not symbolic or performative.

The condition gained wider attention in 2008 when Erika Eiffel, founder of OS Internationale, famously married the Eiffel Tower. Ducharme's wedding to Bruce brought renewed interest to this little-understood phenomenon.

A Love Story 30 Years in the Making

Ducharme first encountered Bruce when she was a child visiting amusement parks. The connection was immediate and powerful. Over the years, she visited the Ferris wheel regularly, eventually purchasing it when the carnival that owned it went out of business.

Bruce now lives in Ducharme's backyard in Longs, South Carolina, where she maintains and cares for him. She describes their relationship as deeply committed:

• She spends hours each day with Bruce
• She talks to him and feels he "communicates" back through his movements and sounds
• She considers their bond as valid as any human marriage

The Wedding Ceremony

The ceremony was small but sincere. Ducharme wore white and exchanged vows with Bruce while a minister officiated. While the marriage isn't legally recognized in Florida—or anywhere in the United States—that wasn't the point.

For Ducharme, the wedding was about publicly declaring her commitment to the relationship that had defined much of her adult life.

The Science (and Skepticism)

Psychologists remain divided on objectum sexuality. Some view it as a legitimate orientation on the broad spectrum of human sexuality. Others suggest it may be related to synesthesia or autism spectrum conditions, as many people with OS report sensory experiences that blur the lines between objects and personalities.

What's not in dispute is that people like Ducharme experience these feelings as authentic and profound. Whether science can fully explain it or not, the emotional reality is undeniable.

As Ducharme puts it: "People marry people they love. I married what I love."

Bruce continues to stand in her backyard—a 45-foot monument to one of the strangest, and perhaps sweetest, love stories you'll ever hear.