Computer dating old hat; Computer wedding where it’s at

A couple meeting through computers and going on to get married no longer carries any novelty value: indeed some surveys suggest it’s remarkably common. But one Houston couple took things a step further by having a computer conduct the ceremony (or at least that was the plan.)

Miguel Hanson and Diana Wesley had decided on a small ceremony in Hanson’s parents backyard, but struggled to find a family member or friend to serve as a minister. However, the pair — who met thanks to a site named Sweet on Geeks — decided that for every problem there is a technical solution.

Hanson decided that for the ceremony, scheduled for this past Saturday, he would create a virtual minister application: an animated face, text of his address, and simulated speech.

The Associated Press notes that although much of the script for the ceremony was along traditional lines, Hanson wasn’t taking any chances on guests who weren’t prepared to hold their peace. At the relevant moment the priest, known as Reverend Bit, was set to say: ” If anyone here has anything to say that might change their minds or has any objections, they do not want to hear it and I will not recognize your objections since Miguel has programmed me to only recognize his commands.” Of course, the impact of that great line may have been undermined by it appearing in global media coverage.

It’s important to note that although several press reports today refer to the wedding in the past tense, there doesn’t seem to have been any confirmation either way that the ceremony took place as scheduled and without a hitch. However, given Hanson is a web designer with a hobby of overclocking processors, it’s probably a safe bet events weren’t interrupted by Mr Clippy offering his services, or Reverend Bit restarting to install a security update. Let’s just hope there were no Wedding Crashers.

Fortunately we don’t have to worry about GeeksAreSexy readers making judgmental comments about the couple. But in any case, the pair aren’t lacking in self-awareness: rather than icing, their wedding cake was topped with Nerds.

(Picture credit: Flickr user oriolsalvador via Creative Commons license | Picture of Miguel and Diana kissing: The Dailymail)