Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
This British teacher and a French horse riding instructor living in Abu Dhabi have got married on the video conferencing app Zoom after their special day was postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The blushing bride, 36-year-old horse riding instructor Solene Montiege, married her dream man, 40-year-old British teacher Liam Bek, over the internet with their family and friends in ‘virtual attendance’.
The wedding was officiated by Reverend Canon Andrew Thompson, senior pastor at Saint Andrew’s Church in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Solene told Newsflash: “In these uncertain times, it is just comforting to know that we are married.”
The gorgeous bride said that she came up with the idea of getting married over the internet and she contacted the church for their approval.
The couple’s weeding was planned for 26th March, but had to be postponed when the UAE authorities closed churches and places of worship on 11th March to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Reverend Thompson said: “We conducted our first Zoom wedding under unusual extenuating circumstances, but then, the coronavirus is making everyone think of new ways to do things.
“The couple wanted to get on with their lives, and since their wedding had already been booked before we closed, we went ahead with it when the couple set it up.”
Reverend Thompson led the half-hour service from behind the church altar while fully robed. Only the officiator, the couple and several witnesses were visible on the Zoom split screen.
Solene said: “After it was over, guests turned on their camera, cheered for us, and we shared a few drinks. It was a two-hour Zoom party!”
The French bride told Newsflash that they plan to follow the online ceremony with a “big wedding in France with around 120 guests in a castle” when the current situation allows it.
She added: “We knew we could postpone the celebrations with our friends and families until 2021, but we were sad to had to postpone our plans.
“We are expats, both from different countries, and we wanted to get married so if anything happens to one of us, job loss or illness, we would feel safer.
“We still wanted to party and celebrate with everyone as soon as we can, but in the meantime, we want to get through this COVID-19 crisis as a married couple.”
When describing how her wedding came about so quickly, Solene told Newsflash: “The reverend agreed to the idea and he contacted the Department of Community Development in charge of weddings here and they gave their approval. So we went ahead and scheduled our wedding for the next day!
“We had no idea of what the outcome would be and to be honest, as our plans had been cancelled or postponed a few times, we didn’t really believe it until it actually happened!
“We sent emails to friends and family we invited for the big party in France and invited them to the Zoom wedding. We ran a few tests to organise the split screens and learn how to mute guests during the ceremony.
“And I subscribed to the paid version of Zoom so we could have unlimited time and guests.”
Describing her wedding day, Solene told Newsflash: “It was really weird to get married in our living room, so I decided to create a nice background with palm trees and flowers from the garden.
“I also had a Zoom meeting with my parents while decorating so they could ‘help’ me!
“Liam and I got dressed with what we have in our wardrobes as our wedding outfits were still being fitted when the shops were closed for the lockdown.
“I did my own makeup and hair, my bouquet as well, and then we took our wedding rings, thank God we had them, and placed them by the computer and got started!
“To our surprise and great relief, we didn’t encounter any technical problems. Zoom can also film meetings so we have a recording of the full ceremony and following party!
“Around 100 guests ‘attended’ the wedding and it was a first for everyone. I believe it was the first online wedding in the UAE as well as a first for the reverend and all our guests.”
The blushing bride added: “It went beyond everyone’s expectation!”
Solene told Newsflash: “Several friends only dressed from the waist up so when they stood, you could see they were wearing shorts and flip flops down below!
“We planned to spend our honeymoon in Belle Ile (an island off the coast of Brittany in northwest France) after the ceremony in France this summer, but looks like this will have to wait as well!”
“With our situation, being expats away from our home countries, I think getting married on Zoom is a great way to gather everyone you love who couldn’t otherwise be there.
“We were really surprised and so happy with the outcome. We are legally married and most of the people we love shared this moment with us.
“It won’t replace the actual celebration though, we can’t wait to meet everyone in person and hug our families and friends.”
The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
