About Us & FAQ Sheet |
VOWs & Virtual Minister Background
Virtual Online Weddings & Renewal of Vows services are brought to you by Barrett Agent, via DreamTeam Adventures Co. Ltd., a professional team building consultancy established on the tropical island of Phuket, Thailand in 2003.
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Over the years DTA has earned a reputation as one of Southeast Asia's premier corporate team building consultancies, dependably providing very enjoyable and beneficial training programs for a high-expectations client base throughout Thailand and the region.
Our repeat clients include Google, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Citibank, Oracle, GE, 3M, Unilever, JP Morgna, HP, The Rockefeller Foundation, while also proudly servicing another 250+ organizations from around the world over the past 2 decades. DreamTeam Adventures is known for it's dependable and high quality services, and VOWs couples can be assured of this same level of professional care. |
Building teams – both corporate and couples – is all we do, and we absolutely love it!
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The Virtual Minister, Barrett Agent, grew up in Illinois and Alaska, USA, then graduated with Honors from Chapman University in southern California.
After living and working near Tokyo, Japan for 7 years, he moved to Thailand, where he has led hundreds of corporate team building events with up to 1,000 participants, as well as many holiday gala events for large, 5-star resorts. He currently shares time between Phuket and Seattle. Barrett conducted his first wedding ceremony in 2001 while employed at the internationally acclaimed Banyan Tree Phuket Resort & Spa. It was the start of a beautiful and emotion-filled journey that he will never tire of continuing. |
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Also, as an avid adventurer and extreme sports lover for 30+ years, he would be thrilled to assist those who wish to experience a VOWs Ceremony doing whatever outdoor activity they're passionate about, with Mother Nature providing the lovely scenic backdrop.
Further, Barrett always highlights to couples the importance of great teamwork in their relationship if they truly desire long-term success and happiness – because essentially we are talking about the most important kind of team in the world! |
VOWs in the News
Virtual Online Weddings: Bonding Hearts in the Digital Age (2017 Press Release)
VOWs FAQ Sheet
1) Are VOWs ceremonies legally binding?
The Virtual Minister generally conducts symbolic unification ceremonies, not legal marriages – VOWs is more about Love than laws... If a couple wishes to become legally married, they will need to go through the usual steps as dictated by laws and regulations in their state or country of residence. At this time, very few states/countries recognize online weddings as being legal.
2) Where is the Virtual Minister based?
The Virtual Minister is American but based in Thailand for the last 22 years, where besides conducting ceremonies for hotels and wedding agencies, he leads his long-time corporate team building consultancy, DreamTeam Adventures. And don't worry about time zone differences, it's very rarely an issue.
3) Do we need a super high tech set up or ultra-fast internet speed?
Of course the better quality your devices/accessories are, as well as the faster your Internet or wi-fi connection you have access to, the better and clearer the Virtual Ceremony experience will be for you (and your ceremony video recording).
That said, most any decent set-up will do (you could even use your mobile phone if you really wanted or needed to, e.g. maybe you’re in a hospital, or about to jump out of an airplane).
As part of our personalized services, the Virtual Minister can provide more set-up related advice as needed during initial correspondence and your Pre-Ceremony Video Call.
That said, most any decent set-up will do (you could even use your mobile phone if you really wanted or needed to, e.g. maybe you’re in a hospital, or about to jump out of an airplane).
As part of our personalized services, the Virtual Minister can provide more set-up related advice as needed during initial correspondence and your Pre-Ceremony Video Call.
4) How long do VOWs ceremonies usually take?
Both Unity Wedding and Renewal of Vow ceremonies usually take approximately 30 min.
5) What types of ceremonies does the Virtual Minister conduct?
Both Weddings and Renewal of Vows ceremonies are most typically delivered in traditional Western-style format (pretty much like you’d see in many US movies), and focus on the couple, their emotions, as well as the dynamics and future of their relationship. They can be religious or non-religious in nature as the couple prefers.
Note that the Virtual Minister can also conduct:
– Elopements.
– Pagan, Wiccan & Handfastings.
– Friendship Weddings.
– Destination Weddings (bring the VM wherever you need him!).
Note that the Virtual Minister can also conduct:
– Elopements.
– Pagan, Wiccan & Handfastings.
– Friendship Weddings.
– Destination Weddings (bring the VM wherever you need him!).
6) How about Guests/Witnesses?
Your ceremony can be very private with just the two of you, or if you would like to have online guests participate or observe, this is accomplished via a live stream or special Virtual Viewing Party. Please contact the Virtual Minister for more info.
7) How should we dress for the ceremony?
Your attire or style is completely up to you! From formal wedding dress and dapper suit, to casual with shorts and flip flops, or even semi-naked on a mountain top for all we care – the Virtual Minister is an open-minded gentleman who places the dreams of couples first.
8) What if we’re shy or not great English speakers?
No problem! – and all the more reason to try a very private VOWs ceremony! – as there are no pressures or distractions, just the two of you and the Virtual Minister – who has lived half his life overseas and speaks clear, easy to understand English.
And further, unless you want to bring in your own personalized vows or poems (which you can read from a paper or phone), you really only have to remember 2 words –for the “I do” part of course – other than that you only have to repeat after the Virtual Minister during your Exchange of Ring Vows – it’s so easy and stress-free!
And further, unless you want to bring in your own personalized vows or poems (which you can read from a paper or phone), you really only have to remember 2 words –for the “I do” part of course – other than that you only have to repeat after the Virtual Minister during your Exchange of Ring Vows – it’s so easy and stress-free!
9) Does the couple need to be together in the same location?
Absolutely not – while it is most ideal if you are together, we can also easily set up a VOWs ceremony to help partners residing in different locations, even if they are on opposite sides of the world!
10) Can the Virtual Minister perform ceremonies in languages besides English?
Apologies, he can only perform VOWs ceremonies smoothly and professionally in English.
That said, Skype for example has real-time language translations if a couple really wishes to have them (though note there is currently some delay between the speaking/translating/listening, and not all languages may be featured).
That said, Skype for example has real-time language translations if a couple really wishes to have them (though note there is currently some delay between the speaking/translating/listening, and not all languages may be featured).
11) What if we want a super private ceremony, without anybody but ourselves ever seeing the recorded video/images?
This is no issue: if any couple prefers to have a totally private ceremony, without their videos/images ever being utilized or disseminated by Virtual Online Weddings or related 3rd parties, then they need only mention this in writing to us via email and we will honor this request.
12) How can a VOWs ceremony help us if we're already married or been together for a while?
In the process of re-connecting your hearts, a personalized, real-time VOWs ceremony is the perfect way to remind you of the essential elements leading to a happy, successful and long-term relationship. Furthermore, it will almost certainly add some spark if not intimate romance to your relationship!
13) How much notice does the Virtual Minister need?
The Virtual Minister's schedule permitting, at least 24 hr. is appreciated so we don't have to rush so much in preparing. For example you'll need to quickly send me your preferences for background, plus any photos you would like in your personalized slideshow segment to start out your VOWs Ceremony.
That said with one couple they only gave me 16 hr. notice and we pulled it off nicely, so the Virtual Minister will help with time sensitive or emergency requests best he can.
That said with one couple they only gave me 16 hr. notice and we pulled it off nicely, so the Virtual Minister will help with time sensitive or emergency requests best he can.
14) What forms of payment does VOWs accept?
While PayPal is currently our preferred mode of payment, VOWs can also accept payment via:
a) Payoneer
b) International bank wire transfer to our company account (since 2003) at Siam Commercial Bank
c) Bitcoin and Ethereum
Please contact the Virtual Minister if you would prefer to use payment options a), b) or c), otherwise we will utilize PayPal by default.
a) Payoneer
b) International bank wire transfer to our company account (since 2003) at Siam Commercial Bank
c) Bitcoin and Ethereum
Please contact the Virtual Minister if you would prefer to use payment options a), b) or c), otherwise we will utilize PayPal by default.
15) Can we skip the Pre-Ceremony Video Call and just have the Main Ceremony Video Call?
Yes, while the Virtual Minister does highly recommend to have a Pre-Ceremony video call for best quality control, it is possible to cut this out if you are pressed for time. Note this applies only to SFx Standard and SFx Plus ceremony packages, not the SFx Plus Movie Theme package, which necessitates a PCV call.