New Yorkers Can Marry Legally With a Zoom Conference Call

A ruling in New York has allowed residents to get married legally through a virtual ceremony. New Yorkers are following an example set by other countries such as Italy. As in-person group gatherings have become impossible, many weddings across the globe have been postponed or simply canceled. Even so, some couples wanted to stick to the original date of their weddings and decided to do it via a virtual ceremony with conference calls on platforms such as Zoom. While those ceremonies were mainly symbolic, New York has now allowed weddings to be officially carried out online.

Governor Cuomo Allowed Online Weddings With an Executive Order

New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced this weekend that couples in the state could partake in a virtual wedding if they wish to do it this way. The legal capability to do so was given by the governor though an Executive Order that allows New Yorkers to obtain their marriage license remotely. It also specifies that clerks are allowed to perform such ceremonies via video conference.

While this has gotten some people wondering if this way of marriage will continue after the days of social distancing are over and large gatherings become an option once again, others have different concerns. Like, what is the best way to go about organizing such an event?

Some Couples Used the Zoom Platform to Stage Their Virtual Weddings

Lena Turkheimer, who is a bride that had to postpone her wedding party, chose to have the wedding on Zoom and on the original date. She and Mark Owen held a virtual ceremony in the backyard of a house in Charlottesville, Virginia. They were virtual hosts of 75 attendees who included select family members and their officiant. The party was held via Zoom, where the attendees witnessed the exchange of vows and a “reception” during which the family members gave toasts.

The couple said that they had to overcome audio problems in the beginning and replaced a microphone. Still, they also said that practice makes perfect, and a testing round can be very helpful. The newlyweds also made one of their tech-savvy friends a co-host, which allowed them to keep things running smoothly.