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Some couples will certainly not allow the coronavirus pandemic to stand in their way. From Animal Crossing weddings, to cardboard guests and even risking arrest, people whose weddings have been ruined by the outbreak are stopping at nothing. 

In Melbourne, Australia, a different solution is rising in popularity. Nine News Australia reported that “Drive thru weddings are giving couples a chance to tie the knot amid the crisis.” Since there are several restrictions placed on weddings due to the coronavirus, this has emerged as a way around.

Couples are able to get married for around 400 Australian Dollars (R4 489) with a company called ‘I Do Drive Thru’.

The company offers legal weddings in a drive-thru format. They follow all restriction rules and offer a refund if the wedding is not carried out. According to I Do Drive Thru, couples can arrive by foot, bike, or car. Additionally, if the couple would prefer to choose a special location, the company will meet them there and they are still allowed to remain in the car.

Of course, many would wonder why this is necessary. Why not just wait until the health crisis is over? I Do Drive Thru took to Instagram to explain.

“There are many reasons why couples want to marry during this time, it’s not only for love, it’s also to be able to advocate for each other for medical reasons, comply with visa requirements and also to avoid any conflict around wills and estates. Marriage is an essential service and we have created the I Do Drive Thru in order to protect our couples and ourselves during this time of COVID,” they said.

It definitely is a creative way around a problem that has many people stumped.

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Image: Youtube / Nine News Australia (Screenshot)

Lockdown restrictions in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus outbreak began, are being relaxed after 76 days and allowing its citizens more access to facilities and services. One of the first things people want to do now? Get married, apparently.

According to Chinese tech platform Alipay, there was a 300% increase in traffic on the local marriage application system they run, which caused a temporary logjam that has since been fixed.

Applications on the site have been suspended throughout February and March as residents observed the government-sanctioned lockdown.

With restrictions now being eased, Wuhan can expect a marriage boom in the upcoming months.

This rush stands in strict contract to the high rates of divorce Wuhan experienced during the lockdown. The lockdown has revealed cracks in relationships of many couples who were forced to spend too much time together or were separated during quarantine, leading to many opting to split up

One good thing about the lockdown is it really made people realise who they want to, or don’t want to, be with.

Feature image: Unsplash

 

Bindi Irwin has revealed the wedding gift A-list actor Russell Crowe gifted to her and husband Chandler Powell.

After the newlyweds tied the knot on March 25, Crowe sent the couple a stunning fig tree. Crowe, a fellow Australian, has reportedly been a longtime friend to the Irwin family.

Taking to Instagram, Irwin thanked Crowe for the gift and also wished him a happy birthday.

“Happy Birthday, @russellcrowe ?‬, ” Irwin wrote on Instagram. “You’ll always be part of our family. Even though we can’t see you right now, we’re giving the beautiful fig you gifted us a hug and thinking of you.‬
‪Hope your day is extraordinary.‬”

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Feature image: Instagram / Bindi Irwin

Love conquers all, even a world wide pandemic, self-isolation, and quarantines. “The Real” presenter Jeannie Mai and rapper Jeezy (Jay Jenkins) are proving it with their engagement in the time of the coronavirus.

Mai took to instagram on April 7 to officially announce their engagement and share her good news. “I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life loving you….YES,” she said in her caption.

“Thank you, everyone, for celebrating this journey with us. We are praying love over everyone from here,” she added.

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The couple have been together since November 2018, but only made their relationship public last year.

People reported that Jenkins proposed at their “quarantine date night” in his Los Angeles home. Mai’s rep told People that Jenkins planned to propose on their trip to Vietnam in April this year. However, due to travel restrictions and self-isolation orders on account of the coronavirus, Jenkins had to come up with a new plan.

“Instead, Jay decided to bring Vietman to Jeannie with a surprise quarantine date night in his home filled with Vietnamese food and decor,” said Mai’s rep.

Of course, people are tremendously happy for them and congratulations flooded in on her Instagram post. Co-hosts at The Real were also ecstatic for Mai. The Real congratuated Mai on their Instagram page too, posting a picture of the happy couple.

“OUR HEARTS, HUNNAY!!!” they said. “Screaming all the contratulatory wishes from the rooftops for our very own @TheJeannieMai and her new FIANCE. @Jeezy!!!! We are so thrilled and over the moon for the both of you.”

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Congrats to the happy couple!

Image: Twitter / Complex

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, weddings as we know them are being forcibly put on hold. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t tie the knot at all. Across the globe, lovers are getting creative and turning to technology to allow their closest friends and family to still bear witness to their big day from the comfort of their own homes.

Weddings have now become online affairs, with many couples choosing video conferencing app Zoom as their online service of choice. Zoom has now partnered up with online wedding planner Wedfuly to help couples virtually tie the knot with ease. This service allows for an interactive online wedding experience.

“Wedfuly always provides creative approaches for our couples so the collaboration with Zoom was ideal for couples who wanted to keep their wedding date on schedule during these challenging times,” founder and CEO of Wedfuly, Caroline Creidenberg said to Brides.

Essentially, the service handles all the technical gruntwork. They create a timeline for the couple and virtual guests and control the entire virtual experience. Guests are muted and unmuted throughout the ceremony and given cues to applaud when needed.

Couples, however, still need to consider their own in-state laws and secure an in-person wedding officiant and physical witnesses for the marriage to be legally binding.

While having a virtual wedding may seem unconventional, it is a product of our current time. This service also allows families and friends far apart to connect again and share in a special moment. It’s fair to say that moments of happiness and positivity are necessary as we struggle with the uncertainty of life at the moment.

Feature image: Pexels

 

Sometimes, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. This couple learned this fact in an interesting way when they met…at the woman’s wedding to her first husband.

Natalie Perry, 37, met waiter Fred Kasa, 36, during her wedding reception in Crete. Kasa was one of the waiters at the restaurant, and there are are even pictures of them dancing the traditional Zorba dance side by side!

Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

Flash forward five years, Perry returned to the same restaurant after splitting from her husband. It was here that she and Kasa connected again.

“That night the Greek dancer was watching me – I could feel his eyes,” she told Metro UK. “I went to the toilet to wash my hands and he came up to me and we started chatting. He asked me out for a coffee the next day. We just had this connection and we clicked right away. I recognised him immediately from before, I knew it was him.”

They soon began a long-distance relationship. In 2017, Kasa moved to the UK so they could be together and they became engaged within 6 months.

The pair tied the knot in February, and plan on honeymooning in Crete when travel is allowed again.

“I cant believe still that my husband danced with me at both my weddings!” Natalie told Metro UK. “It’s funny how life can turn out – you just don’t know what’ll pan out.”

“I knew she was the one I wanted to marry,” said Kasa. “The feeling was crazy. I had never been so in love with anyone. Every day I missed her more. Now she is my wife, I am just so happy and we are so happy together. To think I danced with her at her first wedding and then we had a dance at our own wedding is crazy!”

Feature image: Unsplash

 

With the current lockdown in place in South Africa to stop the spread of coronavirus, weddings aren’t the big events we know them to be.  As large gatherings are banned,  Cape Town film-maker Dan Mace got crafty to make sure the seats at their backyard wedding were still filled without breaking any lockdown rules.

Mace and his fiancée, Gabrielle Esterhuizen, had planned on tying the knot but their wedding was unfortunately cancelled amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Shortly after, Mace contracted COVID-19, meaning the pair had to stay shut inside for weeks as he battled the symptoms. After making a full recovery, Dan still wanted to go through with their wedding, albeit it on a much smaller scale.

He devised a sweet plan to surprise Esterhuizen with an impromptu wedding in their backyard. He made rings out of guitar strings, built an altar and spent all night creating cardboard cutouts of “guests” to witness their wedding. In the morning, he surprised his love.

We spoke to the couple about their wedding that was cancelled and how the ingenious backyard celebration came about.

“Our wedding was planned for 21st March, the same day we found out Dans test result. We were looking forward to our afternoon wedding in Stellenbosch. I think the most special thing was having a day we could share just the 2 of us, we know the bride and groom are usually busy the night so to be able to share this day was incredible. Just to celebrate with all our family and friends in one space,” said Esterhuizen.

Mace explained to us how his idea came about.

“I think the idea came from something that I probably would have chosen to keep more personal between Gabs and I.

“But the reason I decided to create a film about is because the world needs positivity right now and I really wanted to share a positive story about two people in love. It’s something that is relatable.

“With the right idea you can still create the same sensation as a big wedding with lots of people all around. With some creativity and thinking outside the box you can do something that is even more special than a generic wedding. Through utilising creativity and restriction you can make something really awesome.”

Mace continued, “I wanted to showcase ways to be creative during lockdown and I think it combined itself with the question I asked Gabs on camera about how she felt about postponing the wedding. I hadn’t asked her that before and had assumed that it made her bummed. Once I heard her say it though I knew I had to do something about it.”

Take a look at their big day below:

Feature image: video screenshot

Across the globe, healthcare workers are working tirelessly to help contain the spread of coronavirus. With all the hard work they are putting in, Spanish luxury bridal group Pronovias wanted to do something to say thank you.

In an effort to recognise all that they do, Pronovias is offering engaged healthcare workers the world over the chance to wear a Pronovias gown, free of charge. Any hospital-employed bride-to-be, from doctor to nurse to janitor, is eligible. This forms part of their Heroes Collection, which is dedicated to all the healthcare workers.

Pronovias Group Artistic Director Alessandra Rinaudo curated the collection, saying, “It is an honor to show my support and raise awareness for all of these women doing their best to overcome this pandemic. Love will conquer all.”

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“We would like to show our support to all heroes around the world on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” wrote Pronovias. “To celebrate their extraordinary and selfless dedication, Pronovias Group is offering wedding dresses to hospital-employed brides-to-be. The Heroes Collection will be available until 31st August 2020 at selected flagships. ? Tag a hero in the comments. ​#LoveConquersAll *Our stores reopening dates will be in line with local authorities recommendations.”

Participating stores include those in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid -Velázquez, Sevilla), Italy (Rome, Milan), France (Paris, Lyon, Marseille) Portugal (Lisbon), United Kingdom (London), United States (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston), and Mexico (Mexico City).

Feature image: Instagram / Pronovias

Many couples are facing the disappointment of having to cancel or postpone their weddings due to the coronavirus pandemic. While some are planning to simply wait until the health crisis blows over, others are finding creative ways around the problem.

With the forced cancellation of their wedding, Sharmin Asha and Nazmul Ahmed had to get past the disappointment. They decided they would start playing the popular Nintendo game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. While they played, Ahmed had an idea.

He put together a surprise in-game wedding for his wife-to-be. “Nazmul invited me over to collect resources [on his island] since he had been playing longer than me. As soon as I got there, he was at the airport and there were arrows on the ground. He told me there was some special in-game event, so we followed them,” said Asha to The Washington Post.

As they followed the arrows, Asha collected virtual flowers that Ahmed left for her. At the end of the path she found a beach, where her friends waited with their own Animal Crossing characters.

Ahmed told The Washington Post that the entire thing took him four to five hours to set up. He said that their friends were happy to get on board with his plan, since they already played the game.

Of course, this is not a replacement for the New Jersey couple’s wedding but it has served as a great way to celebrate what would have been their wedding date.

Ahmed and Asha are not the only ones to have celebrated their nuptials this way. A host of other couples have made their way to Animal Crossing too as it serves as a proxy for real-world social interaction.

Image: Twitter / GoNintendoTweet

Gwyneth Paltrow and hubby Brad Falchuck tied the knot in 2018, but the actress recently posted a never-before-seen picture from her wedding for good friend Robert Downey Jnr’s birthday.

Paltrow captioned the picture of her looking surprised at something he said, saying “Here he is, making a toast at our wedding, during which his humor elicited my usual look of pure joy/shock whenever he is near. He is my brother, friend and supporter. A mega genius, and the weirdest comedy writer of all time.”

Image: Instagram