I mentioned my friend Altair a few posts ago when I was talking about Bunnehs, but what I didn’t tell you is that Altair is a photographer and has now gone into the virtual wedding business as part owner of M.A.C. Weddings. ( The initials stand for Altair, her husband Mo and her friend Crane)
Weddings and wedding services are ten a penny in Second Life as you may or may not already be aware, and are pretty big business too. Because avatars can become partnered it stands to reason that they are going to want to take it a step further by holding a virtual wedding, and why not? There’s a plethora of beautiful dresses in world for the bride, suave and sophisticated suits for the groom, and Second Life embraced alternative weddings long before any states legalised Gay marriages.

If you can’t have the wedding of your dreams in real life you certainly can in Second Life, and many people do just that.

Castles and cathedrals, clouds and dungeons have all hosted virtual nuptials and now M.A.C Weddings have thrown their hat into the ring, but the question is can they step up to the mark? Well, from what I have seen (and heard) yes they most certainly can with a cherry on top. This weekend saw a ‘Martha’s Vineyard’ style service managed by M.A.C. and I was fortunate enough to be invited over for a sneak preview of the location and it is astonishing. Think classy with a capital ‘C’, because this place is pixel-perfect and conjures up a romantic atmosphere, tinged with a smudge of drama provided by the rocky island  in the background. The ceremony itself is held against this backdrop of crashing waves upon a tasteful wooden deck.

To reach the deck the bridal party must walk down towards it across a sandy path strewn with rose petals and as it does so pass through a beautiful vine-covered pergola that separates the main area of the beach from the wedding party. Again, this is a simple touch but one that really works and adds to the ambiance. Guests are seated on individual chairs, with each row gently highlighted by a single white lily.

After the wedding ceremony, it’s back along the path towards the Gazebo, for photographs and congratulations before a skip across the sand into the enchanting cottage for the reception.

Just like in real life, receptions in Second Life either make or break a wedding. All too often the memories of the stunning service are clouded by cringeworthy thoughts of the cheesy venue festooned with pose balls and all kinds of Second Life unsightliness that you don’t need to make an appearance in your wedding album.  Fortunately there are no worries here; with the reception being held in a cottage style structure that is textured in muted shades and decorated with panache.   The lilies that were featured on the chairs outside are here in abundance adorning tables and stands around the room, which is decorated with soft lighting and cool, crisp white linen.  This is evidently a silver service event, and one that is sure to be talked about by all those who were lucky enough to attend for months to come.

M.A.C. Weddings don’t just offer this wedding venue, they also can provide up to SIX different types of wedding to meet your requirements, including a rustic Elven style wooded glen setting, nothing is too much trouble and wedding package prices vary but are amongst some of the most reasonable on the grid. (Attributes vary but can  include venue, photographs, officiant and wedding DJ)

The M.A.C Weddings blog can be found HERE (It’s just been started and is very much a work in progress but will soon feature details of the packages on offer and the costings involved) or you can contact Altair Orellana in-world to discuss your individual requirements.  If you are considering getting married than you really should give M.A.C. a try; I’m not joking when I say it is probably the nicest virtual wedding location and hosting service that I have ever experienced.  (Oh, and before you accuse me of nepotism yes, I know Altair is a chum BUT I have to be totally honest and say that even if she wasn’t I’d be bleating about this location to everyone regardless, it’s that pretty and absolutely perfect!)

You can see more pictures of this location by clicking HERE