Zoom Wedding - James & Saya - First in NY?

On Saturday 18 April 2020, the New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order to reopen marriage bureaus across the state and give clerks the authority to perform marriage ceremonies via video conferences.  The state previously required an in-person visit to obtain the license.  During a briefing Governor Cuomo joked, “there is now no excuse when the question comes up for marriage. No excuse, you can do it by Zoom."

Earlier that day we had enjoyed our daily family Zoom conference at which son James in New York announced that he was leaving the apartment in Manhattan for a trip upstate to marry his fiancé that afternoon.  James had already planned the wedding to take place in Colombia County in June this year and we had all booked our flight for the occasion.  However, with those proceedings impossible because of the Covoid-19 problems, the two of them just decided to get on with it.  We suggested he broadcast the proceedings on Zoom so that we could all share.  In fact, there was no need to leave the isolation of the apartment and the whole deal was conducted on Zoom.  I set up our usual family conference link an passed it to friends and relatives to join in at 1500 Eastern Daylight Time yesterday.  James’ long-term friend Scott, newly qualified to preside, conducted the remote ceremony whilst about 40 of us looked on.  It was a huge success but - top tip for hosts - be brutal with the mute button to counter unwelcome contributions!

In his opening remarks Scott pointed out that this wedding might be the first, or among the first, to be conducted in the State of New York.  From our point of view, it was certainly the most memorable. Was this, even, a possible entry for the Guiness Book of Records?