What is a Virtual / Online Wedding? The rise of virtual weddings: How to make your online ceremony special.

5 Dec

VIRTUAL WEDDING: WHAT IS IT?
Married no matter what …

VIRTUAL WEDDINGS - TABLE OF CONTENTS

Virtual Weddings are becoming more popular as a way to celebrate a special day, especially in times of pandemics or travel restrictions. But it doesn't mean it's less special. Virtual Weddings can be just as meaningful and memorable as a traditional in-person weddings. With the right planning and execution, couples can include friends and family who may not have been able to attend an in-person ceremony due to distance or other circumstances. Choosing the right video conferencing platform is key, as well as incorporating traditional elements, personal touches, and a theme to the ceremony. Virtual receptions or parties are also a great way to include time for socializing and celebrating with guests and make the event even more special. The rise of virtual weddings is changing the way we celebrate love and commitment, and it can be a unique and special way to do it.

Introduction
First, if all, is it legal?
Get Married online
Assign less time for the Wedding
Celebrate with your close friends and family
Choose a suitable platform
Find a photographer and your other providers
In terms of Expenses
Last but not least. Personal note.

Introduction

We are living in a world where technology has experienced continuous innovations simplifying and making everything easy. It has more people from the traditional norms to live in more advanced ways. Nowadays, virtual weddings have become famous and the most convenient type of wedding. Especially in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult for people to host wedding festivities due to the set rules on social distancing and restrictions on social gatherings. In virtual weddings, the marriage ceremony is conducted over video chat platforms such as face time, Zoom, Google meets, and Facebook live. The following are the steps involved in planning for a virtual wedding.
In Substance, A virtual wedding is a wedding where the officiant, guests, and couple are joined together by a video call. But It can also welcome providers, family, and friends.
Since the start of the pandemic, there has been an increase in Zoom weddings broadcast over the world wide web. It's another modern way for couples to share the wedding day without violating social distancing guidelines.
As coronavirus lockdown restrictions continue in many parts of the world some couples are using video calling apps to host virtual ceremonies and also allow guests, family, and providers to witness the event.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many couples to rethink their wedding plans and consider alternative options, such as virtual weddings. While virtual weddings may seem like a compromise, they can actually be a unique and special way to celebrate your love and commitment to one another. With the right planning and execution, your virtual wedding can be just as meaningful and memorable as a traditional in-person wedding.

One of the biggest advantages of virtual weddings is that they allow you to include friends and family who may not have been able to attend an in-person ceremony due to distance or other circumstances. This is especially true for destination weddings where many guests would have to travel to attend. This also gives an opportunity for the couple to have a wider audience for their special day.

To make your virtual wedding special, start by choosing the right video conferencing platform that can accommodate all of your guests and allow for interactive elements like virtual receptions and gift openings. Some popular platforms include Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet.

Next, put some thought into the ceremony itself. While virtual weddings may not have the same level of physical presence as in-person ceremonies, you can still incorporate many traditional elements such as exchanging vows, rings, and even a first dance. You can also include personal touches like a special reading or musical performance, or even a virtual unity ceremony.

Another way to make your virtual wedding special is to create a theme or decor to give it a unique atmosphere. You can also coordinate the couple, bridesmaids, and groomsmen attire, flowers and even lighting to have a cohesive event.

Finally, be sure to include time for socializing and celebrating with your guests. Schedule a virtual reception or party where guests can interact with each other and the couple in real-time, or set up virtual gift openings or game nights.

Overall, virtual weddings may be a new way of celebrating a special day, but it is not less special. With a little creativity and planning, you can make your virtual wedding a unique and memorable event for you and your guests.

First of all, is it legal?

Virtual weddings can be beautiful, but of course, most of them are not considered by local laws. Only some countries are allowing it. If you are religious, some clerk offices also allow it. This kind of ceremony is mostly unofficial but more meaningful, special, intimate, and private. Let’s commemorate your union and love after all Virtual Wedding is still a wedding with a twist.
Virtual Weddings are legal in some parts of the US States, but not in the UK simply because the officiant has to be physically present with you. Your option might be to consider an Elopement or a MicroWedding.

if your virtual wedding is legit you may need some official papers such as :

Proof of identity (check state requirement, typically a license or passport)

Witness (Not all states require)
Parental information (DOB, full name, birth state, dates of passing)
Certificate of the previous divorce or partner death (if applicable)
If you’re under 18, you’ll need a parent present
Marriage license fee money

Get Married Online

If you want to get married online, you can create a unique experience that can be aimed at over Zoom, Facetime, and Skype. You can do it from everywhere as far as you have a good internet connection. Just for the two of you or with guests and family.
Find the perfect location for You.

You can stay home or go crazy and book, rent a place you fancy with your partner. It can be a private house rent on AirbnB or a cute hotel, a Family House, a Castle in the middle of nowhere, a Tent, or somewhere in the Nature. You can even combine it with the location for your Honeymoon. Under the northern lights, under an hawaiian volcano, on a boat.
For the perfect private ceremony do as usual, write your vows, prepare yourself to share your emotion with your loved ones and simply express yourself.

Assign less time for the wedding.

Typically, wedding planning takes almost 15 months to prepare before the wedding date. However, virtual weddings prepare everything for some weeks but aim at accomplishing a perfect live stream.
You can of course personalize it and prepare a solemn background, arch, flowers, bouquets, accessories. But logistically, it is less stressful or time consuming. You can talk to your minister before and exchange ideas about texts, religious aspects, read your vows, etc… the sky is the limit.

Celebrate with your close friends and family.

Generally, weddings have a long list of guests such as friends, long-lost high school friends, and distant relatives. For virtual, you need to cull the guest list and come up with a list of a few guests. Mostly, the guest list should have the closest friends and family members joining via the live stream.
Of course, if you are planning a virtual wedding, you can also have a proper time for your reception.
You can invite your friends and family to celebrate your wedding online with you using software like Zoom. Ask them to open a good bottle of Champagne from the other side of the world. Or even cut a cake.

Choose a suitable platform.

The final step in planning for the virtual wedding involves choosing the most appropriate platform to use. For example, a couple could decide to use the Zoom platform since it offers free and paid subscriptions and can host 100 people to go. Also, it provides 1GB of MP4 of clouding, which can last for 24 hours. There are many platforms; the couple can select the most suitable depending on the virtual weeding requirements.

Find a Photographer.

Did you ever envision doing a Virtual photo session online, using Zoom, or FaceTime?

In 2020 and the Covid 19 around, it has been very difficult for photographers to document simple life, simple moments.
Here some little advice for you if you are planning such things :
Get the Right Gear Together: Better using Software such as Zoom, or Facetime. The photographer and the Couple should have the same software.
It would be better to use a good phone, like the latest iPhones or equivalent, Ipad, or even your Laptop. Better camera quality you have better it is.
Perfect if you have a tripod for your phone, but if you have just simple tape and get crazy and creative to try different angles.
Prepare your environment, and clothing (avoid white preferably but of the contrast), and work with your photographer on telling a story, your story.
Every photographer is different but the story matters more than one unique photograph.
Be ready to listen to an expert and let it go. Let s get arty together.

In terms of expenses.

As you probably imagine, Virtual weddings are cheaper than inviting 300 guests. Traditional weddings can cost a fortune. Maybe you can spend a fraction of this budget to celebrate love together or maybe use this money differently by traveling somewhere you never anticipated, buying a more expensive dress, or longer honeymoon.

Last but not least. Personal note.

Different weddings for different people. I understand that during Covid time, people feel the need to celebrate love differently and that is all that matters. We understand the world is changing, and evolving with or without us. For me writing this article makes me realize that no matter the form I want to get married, I just simply want to be married to my special person. Of course I want to celebrate it with my family and friends and I am sure that my partner feels the same. But We also understand that love is more important. So if my partner wants a Virtual Wedding maybe just symbolic for the two of us, well I don’t especially care if the minister is physically or not with us.