Coronavirus can’t stop love!

Crystal and Joey’s original plan was to have their wedding at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego July 4, 2020.  They had already postponed it once before and were determined to make it happen this time. With so many of their guests being from out of town, they decided instead to host their wedding virtually from their home to keep everyone safe. They had most of the traditional elements of any wedding, a short, but sweet ceremony exchanging vows, first dance and cake cutting. However, they had to make a few adjustments to make things work. Their wedding arch was made out of a squat rack decorated by the bride with flowers. Crystal had a dress reveal with her bridesmaids, her mother and the mother of the groom by zoom. Speeches from the bride’s family, the grooms family, Matron of Honor and the two co- Best Men had to be pre-recorded. 

After the live event concluded, they took pictures on their property outside and with their handsome dog, Kudo. Having Kudo running around was one of their favorite parts during their virtual wedding. He dressed in his best fur, and totally stole the show! They had a really fun time and were truly able to capture and share their love with their families and friends.

We asked Crystal and Joey if they were happy with their decision to have a virtual wedding.

“Yes, we are very happy with our decision! Most of our guests were traveling internationally, as well as from the east coast, and with border closures, this way we could include everyone from a safe distance, ensuring zero health risks for all. At the end of the day, we considered that the main point of getting married is to celebrate our love for one another, regardless of life’s obstacles or challenges.”

Here’s their advice for any couples out their considering switching to a virtual wedding:

“The advice that we would give a couple who is considering a virtual wedding, is to remember that the day is about you two and your love. Nothing will be perfect, apart from the moment you celebrate your love for each other, wherever that may be. We felt as though we would feel lonely having a virtual wedding, but we learned that it turned out to be quite the opposite. We got to invite 5 times the amount of guests that our original venue could occupy. We also felt that the virtual wedding allowed the camera crew to get different angles and close ups to make it feel much more intimate, and give every guest a front row seat – kind of like a basketball, sometimes sitting at home on your couch watching the big screen is much better than being stuck in the nosebleeds, not knowing what the score is.” 

Venue: Private Residence

Photographer & Videographer: Stockham Media

Bridal Gown: Enzoani from The Bustle

Menswear: Men’s Warehouse

Wedding Cake: Jessie’s Bake Shop

Jewelry: CMR Jewelers