A couple of gamers who were nervous about their first dance on their wedding day decided to hold a first Mario Kart race as a married couple instead.
Huy Nguyen and his wife, Justine, from Dallas, Texas, had childhoods that were tied to a love of video games from an early age.
Huy had a baby photo of himself holding a Gameboy Color and playing Pokémon Yellow, before going on to play hits like Mario Kart, League of Legends and Smash Brothers.
Justine, meanwhile, fondly remembers playing Mario Kart, Halo and Guitar Hero with her siblings, before seeing gaming become a natural part of her and Huy’s relationship.
The couple would walk around their college campus playing Pokémon GO, while also using online games to stay connected during the two years their relationship was long-distance.
Ahead of their wedding, Huy and Justine wanted an event that reflected them as a couple, and they decided to incorporate a number of gaming-themed elements.
First, guests received save-the-dates and invitations that were Mario Kart-themed, before arriving at The Grand Ballroom at The Pearl in Grand Prairie, Texas, to find other references.
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There was a photobooth where guests could make their own Pokémon cards; QR codes to play a game that involved Huy and Justine; and a bar menu that had references to League of Legends.
The bridesmaids and groomsmen were gifted Poké Ball replicas and soft toys of their favorite Pokémon characters.
And after Justine and Huy had arrived at their reception on kiddie cars – another homage to Mario Kart – it was time for what would traditionally be a couple’s first dance.
Instead, Justine and Huy donned headsets, sat on a pair of chairs, and played their first Mario Kart race as a married couple, which Huy went on to win.
The moment was captured on video by Alora of Little Mrs. Content, whose post about the unique moment went viral.
Meanwhile, the other gaming elements throughout the day – arranged by wedding planner Allison Thuy Wallace and event designer Viktoria Decor – were captured in photos by 7th Story Wedding.
Speaking of their viral first race, Huy said: “We weren’t really big on a first dance because we don’t dance and we get stage fright.
“We thought playing our first game as a married couple would feel a lot more natural because the focus isn’t just on us.
“It was on us playing a game. Everyone already knew us as gamers, so why not?
“We picked Mario Kart because we both grew up with it and it was something everyone could recognize and get excited about.
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“Everyone was definitely surprised at first, but they loved it. We wore headsets, as gamers do.
“They weren’t connected to anything, but they blocked out a bit of the noise and we could still hear everyone cheering while we were racing.
“It was a really fun moment.”
Justine, reflecting on adding such gaming themes, added: “It was the only answer.
“I couldn’t imagine not doing it. Gaming is what brought us together.
“It’s how we became friends and eventually how our relationship grew.
“It kept us together when we lived apart, introduced us to different sides of each other, helped us through challenges, and connected us with different communities.”
