I never pictured myself getting married via Zoom. But sometimes things happen differently than expected.

My partner and I had been talking about marriage for some time, but with living in different states, planning a traditional wedding felt overwhelming. We weren’t even sure when we’d be in the same place long enough to make it official.

One night, while scrolling Reddit, I came across a post about virtual weddings. At first, I thought it was a joke, but the more I looked into it, the more legit it seemed.

Turns out, in places like Utah, you can legally marry completely online — even if you're in different countries. It's recognized in all 50 states.

We decided to go for it. Why wait?

Here’s what the process looked like for us:

• We secured a time with a licensed officiant through an approved platform.
• We uploaded our IDs, completed a few online forms, and got our virtual marriage license approved quickly.
• On our wedding day, we dressed up from the waist up, sent the Zoom link to our closest inner circle, and said our vows live on camera.

In less than 20 minutes, we were legally joined. We toasted over Zoom, smiled at each other through the screen, and let it all sink in. It was emotional — even from hundreds of miles away.

Honestly? It was one of the most authentic experiences we could’ve asked for. No overpriced venue. No awkward seating charts. Just us, the copyright we meant, and a handful of people who love us cheering from their screens.

If you’re looking for a way to get married without the drama, I highly recommend looking into online marriage. It's an option more people should consider — especially if you're in the military.

You don’t have to wait for a perfect moment or a perfect venue. You just need someone you love, a decent Wi-Fi signal, and a little bit of paperwork.

Love doesn’t follow old rules anymore, and honestly? That’s kind of amazing.

Whether you're across the street or across the ocean, you can make it official — and make online wedding it yours.