Saturday November 2, 1996
It's love at first byte

CYBER COUPLE WED AFTER WHIRLWIND ROMANCE ON THE INTERNET
Story: Vanessa Allen - Pictures: Fran Stothard

IT was love at first byte for Internet sweethearts Andrew Hunt and Lisa Grosso, who tied the knot yesterday after a whirlwind romance.
They met in person just 11 weeks ago but last night they tied the knot before a congregation of thousands of logged on well-wishers in what is thought to be the world's first cyber wedding.
There was even a virtual usher welcoming guests as they came on-line, and Lisa's mother logged on from America for the ceremony.
The couple met on the Net when Lisa's best friend, Lee, introduced them on a real-time chat programme. They swiftly organised to meet in person, no easy task as Lisa lived in Florida.
Now Lisa, aged 40, has moved to Somerset to live with her new husband Andrew, 33, in Wellington, near Taunton, after a mammoth seven-and-a-half-hour wedding ceremony.

Wedded bliss for Andrew and Lisa. Inset with their cyber wedding cake.

First they were legally wed at a register office, then their marriage was blessed on-line by Hampshire vicar Peter Murphy, and finally they had an American-style wedding on the Internet at the Taunton Cyber Cafe, with the help of the Rev Mike Bugal, from Florida.
But the couple kept faith with one traditional wedding day custom - Andrew did not see Lisa until the register office ceremony.

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