Skip to main content

Computer conducts couple’s wedding ceremony

We’ve created robots that will do everything from fight in wars to make pancakes, so why not a robot that conducts wedding ceremonies?

That’s exactly what a Texas couple created for their big day when they had difficulty settling on a living, breathing person to serve as officiant.

According to the Associated Press, Miguel Hanson and Diana Wesley were married Saturday in Houston by Hanson’s computer, which he programmed to greet the guests, share some stories about the couple, and proceed with the ceremony. Nicknamed “Rev. Bit,” the computer even made a joke or two.

“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,” the computer reportedly announced at one point during the ceremony.

A web developer and IT consultant, Hanson created the virtual minister after he and his wife decided to go all-out with the “geeked-out wedding” theme. The pair collaborated on the script, and Hanson controlled the progress of the computer’s speech using a wireless mouse.

Appropriately enough, the pair met on the dating site “Sweet on Geeks.”

“We’re both friends of the computer. So it’s kind of like our best friend is still marrying us,” said Wesley. “The computer is a huge part of our lives, so why not be a huge part of this?”

It’s worth noting that as novel as the idea is, this isn’t the first time a robot has presided over a real-life couple’s wedding. Back in May, a Japanese couple were married by a robot in Tokyo — though that robot was controlled by a human sitting nearby.

Photo via Etsy

Editors' Recommendations

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
Celebrate modern computing and technology with Dell’s Techfest deals
Celebrating best in Tech with Dell laptops on sale

As part of a month-long celebration of modern computing and nearly everything tech-related, Dell is kicking off Techfest with a wide variety of deals, discounts, and promotions that you don't want to miss. March is hardly the time to expect great deals, but that's about to change. A precursory look reveals that everything from desktops and laptops to monitors and PC peripherals are on sale -- there's a lot of gaming gear, too. We'll have a few call-outs below, but you should also know why Dell is one of the best places to look for your work, school, or entertainment-related computer buys.
Shop Now
 
Why Dell is the ultimate one-stop tech shop
 

Surely, you're no stranger to Dell, and neither are we. Its eclectic yet invaluable stock of computing gear is second to none. From productivity-enhancing workstations, whether you work remotely or in the office, to high-performance gaming desktops and laptops, there's a little something for everyone on offer. Alienware, Dell XPS series, Inspiron, you name it. All systems deliver good specifications at ideal price points, and you can spend as much or as little as you want. That variability is surprisingly difficult to come by these days and is certainly the mark of a great brand.

Read more
How to find your computer specs on Windows 11
Windows 11 Woman on Laptop Lifestyle

With more and more people upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11, many users are having to adjust to the new layout and style of Windows 11. One feature that's important to be able to locate is the specs of your PC, as being able to see what components you have can help to figure out if you need to upgrade a particular component.

There are a few easy ways to see your PC specs in Windows 11, so here we'll show you how so that you'll be prepared for next time you need to look up some information about your computer.

Read more
How to shut down a computer with keyboard shortcuts
A man using a PC to view an Excel spreadsheet.

There's more than one way to shut down a Windows PC. You don't always have to use a mouse. You can use your keyboard instead. Plus, keyboard shortcuts are faster, easy to learn, and can even help you bypass certain problems if your mouse isn’t working.

Read more