SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — A childless Bosnian couple have staged and attended their own funeral saying they wanted it to be an opportunity to celebrate life with friends and family.

Dragan Maric, 61, and his 65-year-old wife Dragica had sent invites to their pretend funeral and some 200 people turned up.

During the ceremony at a cemetery in the northern village of Pojezdina, Dragan held a speech about the couples' love-filled life. The "mourners" then proceeded to a traditional post-burial feast in a local restaurant which turned into an all-night celebration with music and dancing.

Dragan said: "We do not have children so we had to organize a proper funeral for ourselves before we die."

He added: "Our only obligation now is to die when our time comes and that is just a formality."