Utilizing Online Live Streaming Services such as YouTube and Zoom
On the 4th, a couple-to-be held an "online wedding" using YouTube at a wedding hall in Seoul. / Photo by YouTube broadcast capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Seunggon Han, Intern Reporter Juhyung Lim] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads, weddings are being canceled or postponed, and some prospective couples are attempting so-called 'online weddings' using live streaming systems such as YouTube and Zoom. Such attempts are also increasing overseas.
On the 4th, a unique wedding was held at a wedding hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Only the minimum number of people, including the groom and bride, appeared at the venue, and no guests attended.
Instead, guests attended the wedding by connecting to the video conferencing program 'Zoom' through their smartphones. The bride and groom were able to meet guests and parents through a large screen installed at the venue.
The wedding was broadcast not only on YouTube but also on video streaming services such as AfreecaTV, and people left comments to congratulate the couple.
This wedding was conducted as part of KT's 'Sharing the Heart' campaign. KT explained the reason for promoting the campaign, saying, "It is intended to continue non-face-to-face communication that connects and supports members of society who are having difficulty with face-to-face contact due to 'social distancing,'" and "We hope that warm comfort and encouragement can be delivered to each and every citizen."
Meanwhile, according to the British media 'The Guardian,' on the 20th of last month (local time), British woman Elinia Amrami held a wedding with her boyfriend Elliot Bone in the yard of their parents' home. The couple was able to communicate in real time with guests and both sets of parents using Zoom.
On the 28th of last month, in Croydon, UK, a couple held an online wedding using Zoom after being unable to have a wedding due to the UK authorities' lockdown policy.
The couple said, "It was truly a marvelous moment," and "At first, it was unfamiliar, but soon we realized what is most important in a wedding: the moment when the two people make vows to each other," sharing their feelings at the time.
As a result, wedding planner companies specializing in online weddings have also appeared.
The online wedding company 'Wedfully,' operating in Colorado, USA, said in an interview with the American wedding magazine 'Bride,' "We help about 400 couples with online weddings every year," and "Our goal is to make non-face-to-face weddings feel as real as possible through video streaming technology."
Regarding how online weddings are conducted, they explained, "It is important to coordinate schedules so that couples and guests can communicate without interfering with each other," and "By using streaming services, the ceremony can be made to feel like a real wedding by showing the couple and guests on screen at appropriate times during the event."
They added, "(Online weddings) may feel very surreal, but the love of the couple conducting the ceremony will remain the same," emphasizing this point.
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