"So, we decided: let's make it in the metaverse."
An Indian couple is set to have the world’s first wedding reception set in the metaverse to get around guest limits imposed by the Covid-19 restrictions.
Dinesh Sivakumar Padmavathi and Janaganandhini Ramaswamy, of Tamil Nadu, have spent around £1,490 on the design and hosting of their virtual reception in February 2022.
While weddings in Tamil Nadu are currently limited to 100 people, the couple has invited 2,000 to their metaverse wedding reception.
Dinesh said: “Because of the pandemic, a physical, real kind of reception is not possible with the huge number of people attending.
“So, we decided: let’s make it in the metaverse.”
The metaverse is a term used to describe virtual 3D environments, typically accessed with virtual and augmented reality headsets, where users from across the world can interact with one another.
The couple are Harry Potter fans and have opted for a Hogwarts-themed event that guests can attend via their phones, tablets or laptops.
Dinesh, a blockchain and cryptocurrency enthusiast, worked with metaverse start-up TardiVerse to create a castle-like 3D digital space.
The project will be helmed by Vignesh Selvaraj, who will be using polygon blockchain technology to make the metaverse reception a reality.
On how he came up with the idea, Dinesh said:
“We are the first couple in the nation getting married in the metaverse.
“I have been working on blockchain for the past one year, so I know more about it and crypto. Metaverse is a technology working in blockchain.
“One fine day, I came across a video on metaverse on YouTube. I thought why can’t we do an event in the metaverse? I know the future is big in metaverse.
“Now, companies like Microsoft, Facebook and a lot more are investing in metaverse.
“So I thought by conducting an event, everyone in India will know about the technology. We can work on a start-up and develop it.”
The one-hour event will see the newlyweds virtually address their guests, who will be able to explore the castle and customise their avatars’ appearance and outfits.
The couple will have a legal in-person wedding in front of close friends and family in Janaganandhini’s home village of Sivalingapuram.
The metaverse wedding reception will also allow Janaganandhini late father to attend.
Dinesh told CNN: “My father-in-law passed away last April.
“So, I’m creating a 3D avatar that looks similar to (him), and he will bless me and my fiancée.
“That’s something we can only do in the metaverse.”
Dinesh believes his digital wedding reception will be the first of its kind in India and potentially the world.
He convinced his fiancee, an IT worker, of the idea.
Dinesh revealed that he was later able to get his parent’s approval for the unique event.
He added: “From childhood, I’ve been working with robotics … and for the last year I’ve been working in blockchain and mining Ethereum.
“So my family knows that I’m into tech.”
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