Computer to Wed Couple in Houston’s ‘My Big Fat Geek Wedding’

In ‘Here Comes the Bride’ meets the future, a Houston couple were wedded by a computer. When Miguel Hanson, who’s a Hoston-based IT consultant, couldn’t get his friend to serve as a minister at his wedding, he and bride Wesley turned to their geeky interest–computers–to fill in at their wedding ceremony.

Instead of looking at a human minister, Hanson’s wedding guests will instead be staring into a 30-inch computer monitor where they’ll be greeted by a virtual minister with an animated face and synthesized voice. The robotic minister, called Rev. Bit, will greet guests, perform the ceremony, and throw in a few jokes.

Bride Wesley says that Rev. Bit fits the couple’s love affair. After having met through an online site called Sweet on Geeks, the couple’s shared passion for science fiction and fantasy are very much in line with the theme of developing the robotic minister. Wesley, a self-professed nerd and a high school sign language teacher, says that the couple’s cake will be decorated with the Nerds candy.

The couple says that friends really liked the idea, but it did take sometime for family to accept a virtual minister. However, as Rev. Bit says, “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.” Looks like with a programmed robot, there isn’t much anyone can do to object.

Initially, Hanson will control the computer through a wireless mouse to interact with guests, but once the ceremony is underway, the virtual minister will be autonomous.

That said, the ceremony itself won’t be legally recognized until Hanson and his bride sign their license in front of a justice of the peace, which the couple plan on doing after the ceremony.

Via: Chron.com