COVID-19 is forcing families across India to downsize, even canceling their traditional, large-scale weddings. One pair finds a place unaffected by pandemic restrictions: the metaverse.
Metaverse is a term used to describe a virtual 3D environment where users can gather and interact like in the real world.
Dinesh Sivakumar Padmavathi and Janaganandhini Ramaswamy from Tamil Nadu, invited 2,000 people to their virtual reception. This is not possible in the real world because the wedding party is limited to only 100 people.
Another advantage of holding a wedding party in the metaverse, they can be free to be creative to realize their dream wedding. As Potterheads aka Harry Potter fans, the couple opted for a Hogwarts themed party that guests could attend via their phones, tablets or laptops.
"Due to the pandemic, a physical and tangible welcome was not possible with a large number of people present. So, we decided let's do it in the metaverse," said the bride Padmavathi, as quoted by CNN.
Incidentally, the groom is a blockchain and cryptocurrency enthusiast who works with start-up platform TardiVerse. As such, she's equipped to create a digital space like a Hogwarts-inspired castle for her wedding metaverse.
The official wedding ceremony will still take place physically in front of close friends and relatives in Ramaswamy village in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district, about 170 miles from Chennai. But after that, the couple would step in to join their metaverse reception, which cost 150,000 Indian rupees to design, develop and host.
The hour-long event will see newlyweds virtually greet their guests, who will be able to explore the castle and customize their avatar's appearance and outfits.
Apart from being able to invite guests who couldn't attend, the couple said digital celebrations had another unique advantage, they were able to involve Ramaswamy's late father in the event.
"My father-in-law died last April. So, I made a 3D avatar that looks similar to (him), and he will bless me and my fiancé. That's something we can only do in the metaverse," he said.
Padmavathi and Ramaswamy aren't the only married couple to decide to have a virtual reception in the metaverse. There are also reports that a US couple held a physical ceremony along with the digital version on the virtual platform, Virbela.
Given that Indian law requires witnesses to be present at the wedding ceremony, Padmavathi believes their metaverse reception will be the first in the country.
After convincing his IT-worker fiancé of the idea, Padmavathi also got her parents' approval for the unusual event.
"Since childhood, I have worked with robotics, and for the last year I have worked on blockchain and mining Ethereum. So my family knows that I love technology, and don't mind having a wedding in the metaverse," he concluded.