My first Zoom wedding - wow! It was exciting, nerve-wracking and certainly different. Robert and Macrina had decided on a small, very intimate wedding with just their parents attending due to the pandemic. Everything was ready to go at Macrina’s father’s home in Canton. I was anxious to see her father, Tony, and his husband, Gary, again. They were the first gay couple I ever married legally and I remember the wedding well.

The morning of their wedding I received a text that the father of the bride had tested positive to COVID. Oh, no! What to do now? They asked if I would marry them outside in 45 degrees so that her father could see the wedding through a window. I didn’t mind the cold but my husband and I decided that it was just too risky to be there at all because the couple had been in contact with him prior to the diagnosis.

So I suggested a Zoom wedding although I had never done one before. They were all thrilled and said yes, let’s do it. Fortunately, I had been in Zoom meetings before and I quickly figured out how to host the event. We had four screens - the bride and groom, Marina’s parents, Robert’s parents and me.

It couldn’t have gone any better! Everyone was very excited. You could see and feel the energy even though it was through a computer. Robert looked very handsome in a grey suit and Macrina was lovely and beaming in an ivory chiffon dress with a lace bodice. The ceremony was casual and fun because everyone got into it and interjected comments here and there. They even performed the Unity Candle ceremony. The bride and groom were so happy and I am sure they will have a joyful marriage filled with lots of love and blessings. And I see Zoom weddings as a way that I can help couples get married in a lovely and memorable way during this time of challenge.