Couple Marries Virtually as Army Boyfriend Couldn't Get Leave

The couple exchanged vows online in a 100% legal ceremony just 7 months into their long-distance relationship.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Marissa Radford, 22, and her boyfriend Damien, 23, decided to get married virtually in a 100% legal ceremony after Damien, who was stationed in the Army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, couldn't get leave to travel for an in-person wedding. The couple, who met in high school but didn't know each other well, started dating long-distance and got married just 7 months later in a quirky online ceremony with friends. Marissa then moved to Fort Bragg to be with Damien, and they now have an 18-month-old daughter and have moved back to Modesto, California.

Why it matters

This story highlights the creative ways that modern couples, especially those in long-distance military relationships, are finding to get married and start their lives together when traditional in-person weddings aren't possible. It also shows the resilience of young couples who are willing to take risks and make unconventional choices to be together.

The details

Marissa and Damien met at a country music concert in May 2022, even though they had gone to the same high school in Modesto, California without really knowing each other. They started dating long-distance, with Damien stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, about 2,800 miles away. When they decided to get married, Damien couldn't get leave from the Army, so they found an online service called Virtual Marriage that allowed them to have a 100% legal virtual wedding ceremony in February 2023, just 7 months into their relationship. Marissa then drove across the country to move in with Damien, and they now have an 18-month-old daughter named Acelynn. The couple plans to have a vow renewal ceremony and party to celebrate their unconventional wedding.

  • Marissa and Damien met at a country music concert in May 2022.
  • Marissa and Damien got married in a virtual ceremony on February 14, 2023.
  • Marissa moved to Fort Bragg two months after their virtual wedding, in April 2023.
  • Marissa and Damien's daughter Acelynn was born in September 2024.
  • Damien left the Army when his 4-year contract ended in December 2024, and the family moved back to Modesto, California.

The players

Marissa Radford

A 22-year-old admissions representative at a trade school in Modesto, California who married her long-distance boyfriend Damien in a virtual ceremony.

Damien

Marissa's 23-year-old boyfriend who was stationed in the Army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina when they got married.

Virtual Marriage

A company that conducts 100% legal marriages online, which Marissa and Damien used for their virtual wedding ceremony.

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What they’re saying

“I've always been somewhat of a risk taker, so my friends didn't think it was that unusual for me to have a whirlwind romance.”

— Marissa Radford (businessinsider.com)

What’s next

Marissa and Damien are planning to have a vow renewal ceremony and throw a big party to celebrate their marriage, likely on their 5th wedding anniversary.

The takeaway

This story shows the creative and unconventional ways that modern couples, especially those in long-distance military relationships, are finding to get married and start their lives together when traditional in-person weddings aren't possible. It highlights the resilience and willingness of young couples to take risks and make untraditional choices to be together.