The world has come to a standstill following the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the globe, every industry has been affected. What’s meant to be a happy, special moment in peoples’ lives have been postponed or cancelled. This couple, however, got creative and decided to hold a virtual wedding.

Andrew and Cassidy Dayton from Missouri had planned to tie the knot on April 25. However, as the pandemic worsened, they realised their dream day could not go on the way they had planned.

“The important part for us was being married,” Cassidy said. “Getting married was kind of secondary to becoming husband and wife.”

So, they hatched a plan. They contacted all their wedding guests and invited them to their big day which would be streamed live on Facebook. The pair said ‘I do’ at the Community of Christ’s Arnold congregation where they first met. They always wanted to get married there but because of their large guestlist, they needed a bigger venue.

“When we got the notification yesterday that the pastor was going to allow us to go inside the church, I just started crying because it was literally something I had dreamed of being able to do. So, it made yesterday even more special for us,” said Cassidy.

200 of their friends and family tuned in for their wedding, including quarantined family members all the way in Italy.

“Even though there weren’t people there, it turned out to be a bigger wedding than we planned,” Andrew said.

Their guests even got into the wedding spirit.

“We had several friends send pictures to us or Snapchat of themselves all dressed up: ties, dresses, with their little kids,” Cassidy said. “They were watching as a family. It was amazing.”

While the decision to go ahead with their wedding despite not being able to have their family physically present was a hard one to make, Cassidy could see that it was necessary.

“I was convinced by [Andrew] and some other family members that, especially right now, people could use some joy,” Cassidy said. “And if we could share that with them, even just a little bit, by letting everyone see us get married and be there with us virtually, that we should do it.”

Also read:Don’t cancel your wedding, live stream it

Feature image:Unsplash

As the COVID-19 situation worsens, people across the globe are cancelling their big days to do their part in flattening the curve. This couple decided to go through with their wedding while still maintaining social distancing in a very creative way.

Reilly Jennings and Amanda Wheeler from New York City were set to marry in October. However, the current climate has shown that even the best laid plans can go awry.

“We were supposed to get married in October. The reality of that happening in our current climate seemed slim,” explains Reilly in an Instagram post. “Amanda’s business closed and everything has just blown up. We got our marriage license yesterday and were walking out the door to get hitched at the courthouse when the mayor announced the immediate closure of the marriage bureau.”

Luckily for the couple, they had a very good friend who could lend them a helping hand.

“After several hours of crying (& drinking), one of our dear friends @iknowmattwilson sent us a message saying he was ordained and could marry us through the state of NY (NYC has weird laws that you have to be married by someone ordained by this county clerk). We said YES, finished our work meetings, walked down the street to his apartment and got married below his fourth story window as the neighborhood looked on alongside 4 of our best friends @kktapper @harold_gibbons @joselynmujica (& @erikahenningsen through a car because #socialdistancing).”

While still maintaining social distancing, the couple tied the knot in an incredibly creative, memorable way. While unusual, this moment was meaningful for the pair.

“What a day. Amidst the uncertainty and despair we all feel right now, marrying the love of my life in the most NYC moment was perfect. I’ve waited 4 years to call @wheelsfit my wife and this was all just the cherry on top of the love i feel every day. ❤️”

Watch the amazing video below:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9_98yxpw7Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

We’re happy to see couples still keeping the love and positivity alive. Please remember to stay safe and responsible during this time

Feature image: Instagram / Reilly Jennings

Couples across the world are unfortunately having to postpone their weddings due to the spread of the coronavirus. This, understandably, is devastating to them. Months or even years of planning and thousands spent on the event, all gone to waste. This South Carolina bride, however, wanted to do something good despite her disappointment.

Keali Lay teamed up with her florist to donate her wedding flowers to “people in need of happiness and cheer”.

In a Facebook post Lay said, “We are beyond devastated that our wedding on Saturday 3/21 had to be postponed. ? There are no words to describe this feeling, especially when we were 4 days away (FOUR!!). We were engaged on August 30 I was ready to have a wedding and had most everything booked and planned by September 6.”

After deciding to postpone her wedding, Lay called all her vendors to inform them. Angela Mandigo, her florist, was on top of her list as she was aware that the flowers had already come in but she didn’t want them to go to waste. The two thus devised a plan to donate the flowers.

“It makes me feel a little better that this horrible thing has happened, [but] but something happy is coming out of it,” said Lay to Good Morning America.

The flowers were donated and happiness and cheer was indeed spread.

“I’m hoping as other flower shops and brides see this they will give back to the community and lift their spirits,” said Mandigo to Good Morning America. 

The couple still intend to get married on March 21, 2020 as they have been approved by the State of South Carolina. However, they will be doing so in the presence of immediate family and close friends only. They also still plan to have their planned big day, but they are yet to confirm when it will happen.

Lay is also hoping that couples around the world are able to see the bigger picture during these uncertain times. “You’ve already accomplished the best part of getting married, which is finding your partner and best friend. A wedding is just a big party, but marriage is so much more than that,” she said.

Congrats to the happy couple and hopefully they have their special celebration soon!

Image: Unsplash

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic affecting countries worldwide, the Church of England has taken a definitive stance by restricting wedding parties to five people.

All over the world, people are postponing their big days as governments instill lockdowns and self-quarantine instructions. While people may not have the large event they imagined, they do still have the option of tying the knot, albeit it on a much smaller scale.

The Church of England has sanctioned that weddings will now be curtailed to the legal minimum of five people. This includes the bridal couple, the wedding officiant and two witnesses.While the two partners may stand close together, those attending the wedding will be required to practice social distancing. The priest will not be required to touch the rings to bless them, nor will they have to touch the bridal couple’s hands as part of prayer.

The Church is also putting measures in place to allow guests to attend the wedding virtually.

“Where family relatives or friends are unable to attend given the restrictions on numbering, churches will be happy to explore ways to allow others to join the service, either through platforms such as Skype, or recording the service to send at a later date to anyone unable to attend,” they write. “Where no audio link can be achieved, an order of service could be sent either by email or post.”

“No additional church personnel will attend the service, for example organists, vergers or sound system operator etc.”

Still want to go ahead with your wedding but practising social distancing? Why not livestream it?

Image: Unsplash

On Saturday, March 14, over 140 LGBTQ couples tied the knot in a mass wedding at a central plaza in Mexico City. The ceremony was organised through a Mexico City government campaign – whose aim is to eradicate discrimination against the community – called Rainbow Caravan.

This event was held as a celebration and commemoration of the 10 year anniversary of legalisation of LGBTQIA+ marriages in Mexico City. The General Directorate of the Civil Regsitry of Mexico City called for a day of equal marriages and gender identity change in 2020, on March 14. Everything was free of charge for those participating.

Since LGBTQIA+ marriages were legalised in 2010, around 13 000 same-sex couples have tied the knot in Mexico City.

Ana Scarlett Vargas, a transgender woman, married her now-husband at this mass ceremony. Hector Aaron Roman, Vargas’ husband, said that as soon as Vargas got word of the mass wedding, she proposed. Of course, Roman accepted just as quickly.

“I am now 36 years old, and my dreams have finally come true,” said Vargas to NBC News. After the ceremony she said, “I’ve been given a second chance at life with someone who loves me for all my defects and virtues.”

Kenya Cuevas, an activist for the rights of transgender women, recently opened a community centre to support transgender women. She said that these are the gains they have worked toward for many years. “We deserve this celebration for all the happiness that we have lacked in all these decades,” said Cuevas to NBC News.

Fernanda Delgada, founder of the organisation called Transformado Vidas (Transforming lives) helped 11 people –  who live in other states where there are no equal marriages – travel to Mexico City for the mass wedding.

After the ceremony, all participants toasted in celebration.

Congrats to Vargas and Roman and all the other happy couples!

Image: Twitter / @crewislife