The Groom is in New Zealand, but the Bride... 'This Kind of Wedding is a First'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] Amid the non-face-to-face era caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), an unprecedented case of holding a wedding ceremony via online video call has emerged.

John Morris, who lives in Wellington, New Zealand, held a virtual wedding ceremony with Daisy Kainglet, who appeared wearing a veil at a hotel wedding hall in the Philippines more than 8,000 km away from his apartment two days ago, New Zealand media outlet Stuff reported on the 9th.

The officiant was a wedding service company located in Utah, USA, and guests watched the wedding online from the UK, Dubai, Australia, and other locations. The media reported that relatives shed tears seeing the groom welcoming a new bride at his twilight years.

Online video wedding ceremony scene. Photo by Stuff site capture

Morris is 63 years old, Kainglet is 40, and they are known to have first met on Facebook a year ago through an introduction by an acquaintance. Although Morris met Kainglet online, the media stated that he traveled to the Philippines a month later to propose.

Morris said, "At that time, COVID-19 was already emerging, so I knew I wouldn't be able to visit her again soon. So I took a ring, proposed, and received her acceptance."

He then tried several times to bring Kainglet to New Zealand, but the plans did not go as intended due to the spread of COVID-19.

Morris, who works as a station attendant, said, "If my bride cannot come to New Zealand until next year when I can apply for a pension, I plan to go to the Philippines and hold another wedding ceremony at a church."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.