Ask any married couple about their wedding and you’re bound to get various stories about the one thing that went wrong at the worst possible moment. But for couples planning their nuptials in 2020, that one thing gone awry has just one name: coronavirus.
With social distancing recommendations brought on by Covid-19, many engaged couples have been forced to postpone their celebrations. Not only has the virus put a damper on couples’ plans, but it has severely impacted the wedding industry as a whole. In an effort to help couples avoid placing their lives on hold while also providing vendors an avenue to continue working, Charlotte-based startup Bustld has introduced LoveStream — an all-new platform designed to support a 100% virtual wedding celebration.
Livestream your celebration of love
LoveStream is the first-ever virtual solution created specifically for hosting weddings, the company says. The platform is meant to capture all of the key highlights guests most look forward to, including the ceremony, cake cutting, toasts, first dance and even the reception.
“Every aspect of your wedding is captured through a high definition screen without all the noise and interruptions experienced through video conferencing tools like Zoom or Skype,” says Ryan Roberts, Bustld's co-founder. “It doesn’t feel like a typical work call, so it’s super beneficial in that way.”
Weddings are streamed directly to a custom web page that couples can share with their guests. No log-in information or passwords are required and the livestream can support unlimited guests, minimizing the effort necessary for less tech-savvy friends and family to participate. All a couple needs is a smartphone, tablet or webcam with a tripod to hold it in place.
“I think one of the cool things too is we can have up to nine devices,” adds Samie Roberts, Bustld co-founder. “If you wanted to shoot from multiple angles, we can do that and invite guests into the stream that aren’t even there. For example, one of our couples is having their father officiate the wedding while he’s in a separate location. Through our platform, we’re able to patch him in seamlessly so he can officiate virtually.”
After a couple signs up for a LoveStream wedding, the Bustld crew will hold a planning meeting to talk through the timeline. A rehearsal is then scheduled to ensure all devices are working correctly ahead of the livestream. Technical support is provided by Bustld for the first two hours to assist guests and couples in navigating the platform and addressing technical difficulties.
LoveStream for Covid-19 and beyond
Couples interested in hosting their weddings through LoveStream can do so by visiting the Bustld website and requesting a free consultation. Pricing starts at $750, which includes the wedding processional, ceremony, recessional, cake cutting, toasts and first dance. From there, couples can select from one of the many add-ons that help make their day even more special.
“We have a virtual guest book add-on where people can upload their well wishes as well as a picture of them celebrating from their couch,” said Samie. “Couples will have the option to upgrade and have us create a beautiful bound guest book containing all of their guests’ pictures and well wishes.”
Bustld also offers an interactive reception integration, allowing couples to bounce back and forth to interact with each guest. They can even coordinate special deliveries, such as a signature drink recipe, slice of cake or catering service.
Even when coronavirus concerns subside, Bustld anticipates that LoveStream will be a highly sought-after solution for the wedding industry.
“We still think virtual weddings are going to be a big part of the industry beyond the current scenario,” said Samie. “Ryan and I got married during a hurricane, so we definitely wished we could have had something like this to help those people who couldn’t be there in-person feel included. It might not be your plan A, but it’s still allowing you to celebrate your love in an exciting, happy way with those people who love and support you. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what a wedding is all about?”
