JAKARTA, Indonesia – Rita Sri Mutiara Dewi’s fiance couldn’t get time off from his job in the United States for their wedding. But that didn’t stop the couple – who have never met in person – from tying the knot in cyberspace.
A Muslim cleric who witnessed Thursday’s ceremony declared it legal, Dewi said.
“We are happy that we’re married now, even though we had to do it via the Internet,” said Dewi, 50, noting that the two used a video link so her relatives could see her 52-year-old groom.
Dewi met Wiriadi, a physiotherapist who works at a hospital in California, in an Internet chat room several months ago. They exchanged pictures and contacted each other almost every day, she said, speaking usually online but sometimes by phone.
Wiriadi proposed in November – over the Internet, of course.
Dewi, who works as a teacher in Malaysia, returned to Indonesia for the virtual wedding. Wiriadi, who uses only one name, was in California. It was the second marriage for both.
Dewi said Friday she plans to travel to the United States in February to meet her new husband.
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