Weddings in the Metaverse Allow Distant Loved Ones of the Bride and Groom to Attend as Avatars
Traci and Dave Gagnon first met in the virtual world seven years ago. They later fell in love in real life and got married in the metaverse last September. They held a simultaneous event, where the bride and groom walked down the aisle at a club in New Hampshire (USA), while their avatars appeared at the online ceremony in the virtual universe.
“In the metaverse, we feel something new and different. In a way, perhaps the world has truly changed and opened up many ways to approach what once seemed impossible,” Traci Gagnon told Euronews.
The groom noted that, quite literally, their avatars in the metaverse kissed at the same time they did in real life.
Avatars of Traci and Dave Gagnon in the metaverse. (Photo: Euronews)
According to Euronews, since the onset of Covid-19, many couples have used online platforms like Zoom to hold virtual weddings. For Traci and Dave Gagnon, the metaverse experience allowed them to take it a step further.
“One of my closest friends, Tom Booth, said he wouldn’t be able to attend the wedding in New Hampshire due to concerns for my health. He travels often and meets many people. Booth was very upset about this until I mentioned the metaverse,” Dave recounted.
“Can I still raise a toast?” Tom Booth asked. Dave Gagnon told his friend that he could even give a speech in the virtual world. “Everyone attending the wedding in real life and in the metaverse could hear the sweet words that Tom Booth shared,” the groom in the metaverse shared.
Traci noted that not only the bride and groom but also the guests were excited to design their own avatars. “Some people said I looked like Dolly Parton, and many others said Dave resembled Jeff Bezos. Those are good compliments,” Traci shared.
Weddings in the Virtual Universe are gradually gaining popularity worldwide. In India, a couple named Janaganandhini Ramaswamy and Dinesh SP decided to hold the country’s first metaverse wedding themed around Harry Potter on February 6. One of the main reasons they wanted to have a virtual wedding was to allow guests who couldn’t attend the real-life ceremony to be present in the metaverse. One of those special guests was the bride’s late father, who “appeared” as an avatar.
As this technology becomes more prevalent, a significant question arises: are weddings in the metaverse legal?
John Cassels, head of the European law firm Fieldfisher, told Euronews: “Getting married in the metaverse is certainly legal in the real world in the sense that it does not violate any rules. This means not doing anything the law prohibits, but the legal implications of a metaverse wedding are limited.”
Cassels further stated that marriage in the metaverse is not legally binding but that doesn’t mean it won’t cause any issues.
“Activities in the metaverse still carry many risks; they can be used as evidence in lawsuits. If a couple separates but has not married in the real world, their ‘wedding’ in the metaverse could be considered if there are claims regarding asset division,” Cassels explained.
Similarly, assets that couples invest in together in the metaverse, such as virtual real estate and cryptocurrencies, could also be examined by the law. Cassels believes that interesting intersections between new technology and the law are emerging, with scams like rug pulls in the NFT market being a prominent example.
“From a positive perspective, the metaverse is set to become an important digital channel. As its role becomes clearer over time, it is very likely that the law will need to update to develop alongside virtual life,” Cassels remarked.
In addition to the legal questions surrounding metaverse weddings, many people are also concerned that relationships in the virtual world may replace real-life connections.
However, based on their experiences, Dave Gagnon believes that while the virtual world cannot replace real-life connections, it can help people connect during this “new normal.”
“The metaverse can never replace the warm feelings of being with a sweet, beautiful soul that you want to spend your life with. Conversations and interactions still need to happen in real life,” Dave said.
“Technology is always evolving. Just like electricity, you can prepare a romantic dinner for a man or hurt him. Technology is always used for both good and bad purposes. But there is an undeniable effect that it helps connect people. That is something we can feel right now,” Traci said.
