Matthew Huntley and his wife were in the final stages of planning their May 2020 wedding when COVID-19 hit.

By mid-March, the Fredericton, N.B.-based couple had already paid for their celebration in full, moved their date once, and spent an estimated B次元官网网址�600 daysB次元官网网址� preparing, Huntley says. So when restrictions on large gatherings and inter-provincial travel were imposed, the pair werenB次元官网网址檛 ready to give up. Instead, they opted to hold a small ceremony in a friendB次元官网网址檚 backyard with a few guests in-person. The rest tuned in via Zoom and Facebook Live.

B次元官网网址淲e wanted to get it done,B次元官网网址� Huntley says. B次元官网网址淚t was just a little easier just to do it now. ItB次元官网网址檚 about being married, itB次元官网网址檚 not about anything else.B次元官网网址�

The duo are among countless couples who, in recent months, have faced the seemingly impossible decision to change longstanding plans for one of the biggest days of their lives. While many couples across Canada have opted to reschedule their weddings and hold out for the day they can safely celebrate in person, a handful are leveraging technology to recreate this magic online.

But Huntley cautions other couples going the Zoom route to be protective of their privacy. The end of his own wedding was B次元官网网址榸oombombedB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� infiltrated by malicious hackers in other parts of the world, who replaced the ceremony feed with disturbing images B次元官网网址� and heB次元官网网址檚 spent the weeks since trying to get his $20 subscription fee refunded.

B次元官网网址淭hank goodness we had our friend [running Facebook Live] as well,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淪o, we have that memory and it got all of it, from start to finish.B次元官网网址�

The pair are still planning to hold an additional in-person celebration next year in the venue theyB次元官网网址檝e already paid for. And they managed to keep their remote ceremony relatively low-cost, as friends offered up space, food, and decorations for free as wedding gifts. Their photographer, whoB次元官网网址檇 already been paid $200 for the night, was eager to show up after losing a number of other gigs to cancelled ceremonies this season. HuntleyB次元官网网址檚 wife purchased a new weather-appropriate wedding dress for an additional $600, plus alteration fees, and her best friend made the pair a cake.

Beyond the technological challenge of configuring a livestream, virtual weddings are typically much easier to plan than traditional weddings, says Toronto-based wedding planner Trevor Frankfort.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e not planning for hundreds of people B次元官网网址� youB次元官网网址檙e really just kind of tailoring it to yourself,B次元官网网址� Frankfort says. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 really need all the food, you donB次元官网网址檛 need the band, you donB次元官网网址檛 need any of the bells and whistles that come with having the wedding at an actual venue.B次元官网网址�

The legal requirements of a wedding B次元官网网址� like an officiant and pair of witnesses B次元官网网址� are still necessary to ensure that the matrimony holds up in court. But beyond these staples, going the virtual route can be a low-cost, low-stakes way for couples to safely celebrate their love with friends and family.

However, those looking to add additional touches can get creative. Frankfort has seen some clients send champagne and other celebratory trinkets to guests for opening mid-ceremony. Others have hired caterers to deliver pre-prepared meals to guests to eat while livestreaming and conversing with one another. Much like at a traditional wedding, the possibilities for pampering attendees are limitless, and can cost as much or as little as the couple-to-be can afford.

B次元官网网址淵ou can do a cute little package for under $30; you can also do one thatB次元官网网址檚 more elaborate for anywhere upwards of $100, it really depends,B次元官网网址� Frankfort says.

He notes that couples with additional room in their budget may consider hiring a professional videographer to run a high-quality livestream through a personalized website with secure software. A service of this kind starts at around $3,500, Frankfort says.

B次元官网网址淐onsidering how much youB次元官网网址檙e saving on having the wedding in a venue, maybe this is a way you want to splurge,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭o make sure that people can see it from overseas, or even locally.B次元官网网址�

Frankfort urges couples considering virtual ceremonies to think critically before committing to hosting a virtual wedding. While itB次元官网网址檚 an affordable option for those on a deadline, couples with time in their schedule may one day be glad they waited.

B次元官网网址淓verybody wants to have the big party, everybody wants to have everybody together, family and friends,B次元官网网址� Frankfort says. B次元官网网址淚f itB次元官网网址檚 not dire to have the wedding right now, then why not wait?B次元官网网址�

While Huntley says heB次元官网网址檚 glad to finally be legally married, heB次元官网网址檚 still looking forward to uniting with loved ones at his B次元官网网址渞ealB次元官网网址� wedding next year.

B次元官网网址淲e want [our guests] there in person,B次元官网网址� Huntley says. B次元官网网址淲e wanted everyone to be able to enjoy it with usB次元官网网址� We are 100 per cent having another wedding. WeB次元官网网址檙e having the big reception, the big everything. The big day.B次元官网网址�

Audrey Carleton, The Canadian Press