Special effects and virtual guests: China weddings go online

Bridegroom Ma Jialun (centre) and bride Zhang Yitong (2nd right) during their livestreamed wedding ceremony in Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province. Like many couples in the era of social distancing, Chinese lovebirds Ma and Zhang had their wedding online – with a twist: They invited over 100,000 strangers to watch a livestream of the ceremony. — Beiyin Studio/AFP

BEIJING: Like many couples in the era of social distancing, Ma Jialun and Zhang Yitong held their wedding ceremony online – but they added a twist by livestreaming the event to more than 100,000 strangers.

Coronavirus lockdowns and travel restrictions have forced people around the world to delay their nuptials or adapt to the unusual times by celebrating via web link.