How To Have An Amazing Virtual Wedding

More and more, couples are opting for a virtual wedding.

In case you don’t already know, what a virtual wedding is, let me tell you. A virtual wedding is one where the wedding, either the ceremony, reception, or both, is broadcasted to guests who attend remotely online. It could be recorded and watched after the fact. It can also be experienced “live time” so the moment is shared with the couple getting married.

Now, virtual weddings have definitely become more trendy and mainstream due to the pandemic. There are many other reasons why a virtual wedding may be right for you. Perhaps your family or friends aren’t able to travel to be with you on your wedding day. Or maybe you don’t have the budget for a large wedding but want to make sure everyone important to you is still able to see the ceremony. You may be in a rush to get married, and a virtual wedding condenses the timeline by a lot.

There are tons of valid reasons why a virtual wedding may be a great option for you. As I’ve mentioned before, this is your wedding and you need to do what’s best for your situation. It’s possible that you had a large in-person wedding planned and it’s had to be postponed or cancelled and you’re just ready to get married Right Now. If you’re still excited to have that large wedding one day, do it! But if you’re in a situation where you really do need to get legally married sooner rather than later, this is the next best option in order to easily include others.

BENEFITS OF A VIRTUAL WEDDING

While in-person weddings are very special, there are some cool side benefits of virtual affairs.

You Can Invite Anyone and Everyone

The biggest benefit is that you can really invite anyone, without adding to your costs.

Of course, you could invite those closest to you, and leave it at that. Or you can open up the invitations to people who you wouldn’t have necessarily included at your in-person wedding. Because the costs don’t really have to go up with each guest, a virtual wedding invitation can be extended to anyone. I will caution, though, that if you do have an in-person wedding planned one day, keep in mind that some of these virtual guests may not make the cut if you extend the invite to literally everyone you know.

Flexible Dates

Another cool thing about virtual weddings is that if you had to postpone your in-person wedding, you may be able to hold the virtual wedding on your original wedding date (unless it’s already passed). Maybe this date was of great importance to you, and this is a nice way to honor it.

Additionally, you can hold your virtual wedding on an alternate date that may have been originally unavailable. Dates can have huge significance in your life, and virtual affairs make it so much easier to pick and choose what’s best for you and your partner.

They Cost Less

While you may have some in-person guests at your virtual wedding, it’s likely that it will be very small. This means huge cost savings.

You may opt to get married at your own home or backyard, saving so much money on venue fees. You won’t have to worry about feeding a crowd (though you should treat yourself afterwards to some yummy food), and you can dress however you like. From favors, to rentals, to invitations, you really can save a ton of money.

HOW TO INVITE OTHERS TO A VIRTUAL WEDDING

I suggest if you’re having a virtual wedding, you send your invitations virtually.

If you’re a traditionalist, you may want to send paper invitations to anyone who might be in attendance in-person for a nice keepsake. However, if you go virtual for other guests you’ll have to inform them of a link to attend anyway, so email is the way to go. Email is fast, and you find out right away if it didn’t send properly. Plus, you can see real-time “RSVP’s”, and it’s an easy way to communicate any tips or considerations ahead of time (more on that below).

WHAT PLATFORM TO USE

When you’re planning a virtual wedding, the first thing you need to do is figure out which platform you will use to host the affair. Much like planning a virtual bridal shower, you have quite a few options.

Interactive Platforms

An interactive platform is one where the audience can interact with you. They may have the ability to speak, their cameras may be on, and they are truly “present” in your wedding. Examples of this type of platform include Zoom, Google Meet, and House Party.

The upside of these platforms is you can see your guest’s reactions and talk to them in real time. The downside is guests may be the focal point for other guests, and if they aren’t properly muted they may overshadow your wedding. I suggest that if you invite more than a small handful of people to your virtual wedding, you look into how to limit interactions with your guests, or you use a broadcast platform.

Broadcast Platforms

Broadcast Platforms are those that are literally just watched by an audience.

Examples of this are YouTube, Facebook Live, or a Microsoft Teams Live Event. Essentially a host has guests tune into an event and they are not seen or heard unless they are specifically invited to by the event host. This live stream is a great option for large amounts of invitees.

The upside of this type of platform is you can better ensure that your wedding will be the focal point for those watching. The likelihood of guest’s background noise is greatly reduced and in the host’s control. Noise can be a huge distraction for those who really want to hear and see what you and your partner are doing for your wedding. For a broadcast, guests can usually even “pause” an event if they need to, or watch it again if you have a recording feature set up.

Hybrid

An alternate option is to use the best of both of these worlds.

There are ways to have certain people, like your closest friends or family, on an interactive platform and then everyone else has a “watch party” on a broadcast. This allows those watching a broadcast to simply click a link and watch without opening accounts to interact, while those who really should “be there” can interact.

An example of how this works is to have your small group of guests on Zoom, and then live stream it onto YouTube.

HOW TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY

When you choose a platform, you’re ready to plan your set-up.

Research Limitations and Communicate With Guests

Depending on your platform, you need to research how to use it best for your event. Look into ways to properly use it, what you need to communicate to guests, and any special requests you may have of others so there are limited interferences. I suggest looking up best practices for your host platform, and taking note of the ones that apply to your virtual wedding.

Examples of items that can interfere with your wedding are audio issues, proper views of your wedding instead of other guest’s screens, improper links, timing limits, or limits on attendees. Looking into what can “go wrong” and what you need to share with others will ensure everything is smooth on the big day.

Obtain Any Equipment Needed

Once you determine the best way to use your platform, and can communicate it out with all guests, it’s time to source your equipment.

At the very least you’ll need cameras (either on a device, or stand alone), but you may also want some enhanced microphones, lighting, or other items that will improve your ceremony broadcast. For cameras, you may want to set up multiple angles, strategically placed throughout your wedding space.

Test It All Out

It’s super important to do a dry run ahead of time, to make sure you work out any kinks before you have a bunch of “guests” showing up.

To do this, try out the functionality of your platform with a remote participant. See how the different views look, try out ways to mute others, set yourself in “speaker view”, and ensure that you set your wedding up to be the focal point of the event. Make sure you know how to stay in control of your guest’s views so they have the best experience as well. Because this is still a wedding, it’s important to plan out the “guest experience” even though it’s virtual.

VENDORS

Since this is a virtual wedding, you may have thought you could avoid all vendors, right?

Well, this is kind of true. While there are many vendors you can avoid if you choose, you will probably still need a few.

Officiant

This varies based on location, but you probably do need an officiant for your wedding. The rules are ever changing, but in some locations they might have to be present with you, while at others they can be virtually able to marry you. An officiant will also be able to help you with logistics of where you should stand, how to enter onto a screen, placement of props and rings, and all those types of items to figure out. They should also be able to guide you on local rules when it comes to witnesses and licenses.

Photographer

You’ll definitely want photos of this event. For a virtual wedding, you could have your photographer be there in person (safely, at a distance), or virtually. I recently listened to a podcast where the photographer literally took photos of his laptop during the virtual ceremony. He was able to capture photos of guest’s reactions and the pictures turned out really cool and special for the couple.

Videographer

A videographer is totally optional. However, you may want to outsource all of the live streaming and video to a professional. If you aren’t techy, it’s nice to let them take care of it all for you. This is a super cool way to ensure fantastic footage and take the techy part of a virtual wedding out of your hands. Plus, videographers are readily available right now and willing to work with lots of budgets.

Florist

You may also still want to have a florist provide some flowers or décor for your wedding. It’s entirely up to you, but you might want a professionally curated bouquet. Perhaps you have an outdoor space you want to use, and your heart is set on a sea of flowers attached to an arbor. You can still make this happen.

Attire and Alterations

Depending on what you want to wear, you may need a new outfit for this occasion. Perhaps you have already purchased a wedding dress, or a suit you love, but chances are you will want to save those clothes for the “big wedding” one day. If this is the case, you’ll need something else to wear and maybe some tailoring for it to fit right.

OTHER TIPS

Having a virtual wedding can be a really fun way to celebrate your wedding with your family and friends (and literally anyone else you want to invite). Here are some other considerations for you as you go through this process:

Make the best of this situation, and focus on the benefits. This might not be your first choice to on how to have a wedding, but at least there are some positives that come from it. And how cool is it that we can even do this in this day and age?
Decorate as much you want! Even if you’re at home, or it’s a simple affair with just you and your partner in the room, you can still have your DIY crafts, candles, and flowers, if you so choose.

Ask attendees to dress up, wear fancy clothes, or have a drink nearby for a group cheers.
Don’t forget about speeches, toasts, or special messages from guests. If you want someone to say something, plan ahead with them so they know how to prepare for that moment.
Celebrate after the virtual wedding! Even if it’s just the two of you. If possible, get outside. Enjoy some beverages that you love. Order some great food. Have a fantastic evening. You just got married and you should feel great about it.

Your wedding can be as elaborate or simple as you want it to be

CLOSING THOUGHTS

A virtual wedding might not be something you ever thought you’d do. However, if you’re considering having one, I hope this advice helps. As with any wedding, make the best of it, and plan ahead. When in doubt focus on your partner and the amazing experience you’re having of planning a wedding and getting married.

More From Hummingbird Wedding Advice:

Virtual Bridal Shower: Ideas For Games, Activities, & Entertainment

7 Things Wedding Guests Actually Care About

How To Have A Wedding For Less Than $5,000

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