February 1, 2023
By Anjali Kochhar
An Indian couple from Tamil Nadu hosted their wedding reception in the metaverse last year. Dinesh SP and Janaganandhini Ramaswamy got married on February 6 in Sivalingapuram, a small tribal village in Tamil Nadu. However, relatives from across the world were able to attend the wedding reception that followed as it took place in a virtual world.
Metaverse is a virtual 3D setup where users can ‘live’ and interact with others through digital avatars. It combines multiple elements of technology like augmented reality, blockchain and virtual reality.
Various platforms have been developed such as Decentraland, The Sandbox, Cryptovoxels, and Somnium Space where users can engage in this digital space. And, it’s going to keep on growing.
According to Bloomberg Intelligence, the metaverse could be worth more than $800 billion by 2024. In this new virtual landscape, there’s a whole new realm of opportunities for social connection—including weddings.
“We hosted our wedding reception in the metaverse. We had a real wedding which happened in my wife’s native place. Due to the pandemic, I didn’t want to spoil my life’s most special event so I thought of an alternative. At that time, a lot of people were doing Zoom or Google meet reception but I wanted to do something different because I am a tech guy,” Dinesh told NFTMetta.
Another interesting fact about their metaverse wedding was that they were able to invite the bride’s father who passed in the previous year as an avatar in their virtual wedding reception. This makes us think about what wonders technology can do when coupled with tradition. Isn’t it?
“I knew metaverse so wanted to have a meta wedding. The main thing was that my father-in-law passed away in April so it is something emotional between me and my wife we thought let’s bring him since in the metaverse it is possible so we brought him as an avatar. We had a scene where this avatar blessed us in the metaverse,” he added.
Not only in India, but the culture of metaverse weddings also gained attraction at a global level.
Candice Hurley and Ryan Hurley had a metaverse wedding in February 2022 at the Rose Law Group property on the platform Decentraland. For coordination purposes, the bride, groom, their son, and the officiant were physically present in the physical offices of Rose Law Group, who planned their metaverse nuptials. The couple got legally married back in 2008.
Explaining why they threw a metaverse wedding after 14 years of marriage, Ryan told Brides.com, “I am always fascinated by new and exciting things and have kept up with the emerging technologies around blockchain. I suggested to my wife that this would be a fun way to both renew our existing vows and extend our marriage to a multiverse that would last forever.”
Rebecca and Peter Kacherginsky, who had a traditional Jewish wedding in March 2021, pledged their love with an exchange of NFT art besides the physical rings.
If you’re thinking whether metaverse weddings are legal or not, so let us clarify that meta weddings are not currently legally binding. People indulge in metaverse weddings just to leverage the power of technology and make their special day even more memorable.
But, most definitely, this tradition has gained traction in the last year and more and more people are excited about such weddings now.
Prayag Singh, the co-founder of the decentralized social media platform SOCLLY, says, “Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the concept of weddings in the metaverse into the limelight. With physical distancing becoming the norm, couples in India have had to get creative with their wedding celebrations and many have opted for virtual ceremonies held in the metaverse. People are also choosing to marry in the metaverse as it provides a unique and exclusive experience.”
“Going forward, we may see a rise in the number of couples opting for virtual wedding ceremonies, as they can be hosted in the comfort and safety of their homes. Additionally, they can be attended by friends and family located in any part of the world. However, metaverse weddings may not be able to replace traditional weddings, as they lack the personal touch. As such, it is likely that the two forms of weddings will co-exist in India,” he told NFTMetta.
Another important point to note is that metaverse weddings are cost-effective. You can design the wedding venue as per your liking but still, save thousands of dollars that you might have spent on a real wedding.
Did the appeal of metaverse and blockchain weddings excite you? The possibilities are endless. They just might become the most popular wedding destination where everyone can pledge their true love.
But, just think, will you prefer a metaverse wedding any soon? Or you still wish to have a traditional wedding?
About the author
Anjali Kochhar covers cryptocurrency stories in India as well as globally. Having been in the field of media and journalism for over three years now, she has developed a sharp news sense and works hard to present information that goes beyond the obvious. She is an avid reader and loves writing on a wide range of subjects.
