Zoom marriages have been made legal in New York.
State governor Andrew Cuomo has issued an executive order for couples to marry via the app in the state, which has been hit hard by coronavirus.
Melissa DeRosa – secretary to the governor – announced the order at a conference, saying: “Video marriage ceremonies.There’s now no excuse when the question comes up for marriage. No excuse. You can do it by Zoom.”
The digital nuptials do have to follow certain rules, as participants must actually attend the ceremony with no pre-recorded video allowed.
Daniel Wolfe attended the wedding of two friends in California over Zoom and admitted it was an emotional experience.
He explained: “We were crying, my wife and I holding each other, hand and arm, while we peered into this strange portal to something somewhat like reality and very much our current reality.
“We cried that stuttered disbelief kind of cry, where you’re happy for your friends who have one another. It felt like a wedding.”
According to Vogue Magazine, this is a way of marriage that may well continue after stay-at-home orders are lifted, when large gatherings are still cautioned against.
In a Vogue report, Medical student and bride Lena Turkheimer shared she had to postponed her party until 2021, but still chose to have a Zoom wedding on her original date. She and Mark Owen held their virtual ceremony in the backyard of Turkheimer’s parents’ house in Charlottesville, Virginia. 75 attendees—including their officiant, select family members, and the wedding party—dialed in via Zoom to witness the couple saying their vows and attend a “reception,” at which family members gave toasts.
The key to a successful zoom wedding is to ensure that your technical set-up works. It is truly a new age for nuptials worldwide.
